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Standard Job Description
Digital Design Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Digital Design Officer is part of the Creative Services Section within the Global Communications Service and serves as the organization’s lead designer. This role delivers and oversees creative design for use across UNHCR digital and offline properties.
This core function is critical to the success of the UNHCR global digital presence and helps ensure high-quality visual impact for UNHCR communication products.
Internal contacts are with:
Web & Design team, Photo team, Social Media team and other teams in the Creative Services Section
ITS on web development and digital projects
UNHCR divisions producing creative output for internal and external audiences
Focal points in the field to ensure consistent branding of UNHCR designs
External contacts are with:
Designers in other UN agencies
Creative/design agencies and consultants
Contacts with partners e.g. National Partners
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Lead the visual direction for digital and editorial products in line with UNHCR brand guidelines.
Oversee the global design team, prioritizing and managing their work.
Work with user insights and research to shape product experience (UX), focusing on the global UNHCR website, and deliver new and improved experiences that address user needs.
Create user journeys, design concepts and wireframes for web and mobile products.
Present ideas and designs and explain rationale to senior stakeholders.
Establish and maintain shared design guidelines, standards and procedures in line with UNHCR brand guidelines.
Lead the art direction and design approach for flagship events and campaigns, such as the Global Refugee Forum, World Refugee Day and the Nansen Refugee Award.
Design infographics, interactive creative, animations and motion graphics.
Design offline creative assets, including reports and publications.
Decide on feasibility within budget and required timeline for the delivery of requested design projects, and liaise with the Strategic Communications Unit on the broader strategic value of a design project.
Work closely with photo colleagues for a cohensive, integrated approach to visual content.
Advise and monitor design production that takes place in the wider organization, optimizing workflows and setting up aligned ways of working.
Lead and participate in working groups and committees relating to design.
Lead the procurement and roll-out of user-friendly and efficient tools and systems for empowering creative visual design within UNHCR.
Engage with relevant partners and drive cross-functional alignment and collaboration.
Keep up to date on best design practices, trends, data and insights.
Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Graphic Design; Visual communication; Web design;
Art Education; Digital communications; Communications;
Journalism; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in graphic design, visual content, web design, digital communications or related fields. Extensive understanding of creative development in relation to usage across channels and devices, including mobile and social media. Experience working in creative production for digital platforms. Management experience including overseeing a design, creative, or digital team. Strong design portfolio across a variety of projects and devices. Strong knowledge of how design impacts on usability and accessibility across channels and devices. Demonstrated experience with web design software and key Adobe products (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and AfterEffects). Experience in designing for mobile and social media platforms. Experience designing reports and publications. Demonstrable experience in designing and developing assets for large international organisations.
Desirable
Experience with and basic understanding of video editing software.
Functional Skills
IT-Web Application Development
CO-Social media monitoring and evaluation
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Video Conferencing Technology
CO-Photojournalism, photo editing (Photoshop)
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
Competency Requirements
All jobs at UNHCR require 6 core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The 6 core competencies are listed below.
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Empowering & Building Trust
Managing Performance
Managing Resource
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Planning & Organizing
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
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Desired languages
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Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
The Digital Design Officer is part of the Creative Services Section of the Global Communications Service and is the lead designer of the organization. The role delivers and oversees creative design for use across UNHCR digital and offline properties.
The role leads the visual direction for digital and editorial products in line with UNHCR brand guidelines and oversees the global design team, prioritizing and managing their work.
The candidate works with user insights and research to shape product experience (UX), focusing on the global UNHCR website, and deliver new and improved experiences that address user needs. The candidate leads the art direction and design approach for flagship events and campaigns, such as the Global Refugee Forum, World Refugee Day and the Nansen Refugee Award. The candidate designs offline creative assets, including reports and publications.
They decide on feasibility within budget and required timeline for the delivery of requested design projects, and liaise with the Strategic Communications Unit on the broader strategic value of a design project. They work closely with photo colleagues, social media colleagues and other Creative Section teams for a cohesive, integrated approach to visual content. The candidate advises and monitors design production that takes place in the wider organization, optimizing workflows and setting up aligned ways of working.
This core function is critical to the success of the UNHCR global digital presence and will help ensure high quality visual impact for UNHCR communication products.
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
Skills
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Photojournalism, photo editing (Photoshop), CO-Social media monitoring and evaluation, CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations), IT-Video Conferencing Technology, IT-Web Application Development, IT-Web Content ManagementEducation
Certifications
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awarenessUNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearance