Open Call – Design Consultants Roster, Office of Global Insight and Policy, New York/Remote

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.

For every child… a future

Child rights are universal, inalienable and indivisible. Yet the pursuit of these enduring rights takes place within a world that is in constant flux. Economic, social and political dynamics, driven by new technologies, actors and challenges, pose important tests for the current and future well-being of children.
The Office of Global Insight and Policy (Global Insight) was established in 2019 to assist UNICEF in interpreting, and engaging in, a rapidly changing world. Global Insight provides UNICEF with intelligence on a range of issues with implications for children and its work, equipping the organization to more effectively shape the global discourse with greater awareness of children’s issues, and preparing it for the future by scanning the horizon for frontier issues and ways of working.  

With dedicated expertise in seven policy areas – digital technology, human capital, governance, the environment, society, finance, and markets – Global Insight serves as UNICEF’s internal think tank, scoping frontier issues and emerging practices affecting children that may inform UNICEF’s approach.

How can you make a difference?

Global Insight is looking to establish a roster of design consultants (freelance designers) who have expertise in one or more relevant disciplines to support short and medium-term communications campaigns and creative projects across the Office. Selected candidates will be placed on a roster from which appropriately qualified design consultants will be drawn for worked planned in 2020-21.

Roster will be established based on the following areas of expertise:

• General graphic design: Communications design for advocacy, including but not limited to social media assets, newsletters, web content, reports/publications, and presentations
• Publication design: Information architecture and page layout design for print and/or digital distribution; advanced knowledge of print production processes; ability to create interactive PDFs
• Illustration: Hand drawn or vector illustrations; ability to digitize artwork
• Collage: Mixed-media editorial artwork that illustrates interconnected concepts or events; ability to digitize artwork
• Data visualization: Data visualization and infographics for print and digital distribution
• Iconography: Pixel-perfect icons for print and digital use
• Video animation: Animated explainer videos that incorporate a mix of photographs, illustrations, graphic elements and charts; ability to collaborate with issue-area experts along with design and communication specialists to develop concepts, storyboards; independently create the final product (explainer video) with voice over and sound effect/music.
• Comprehensive event design: Collateral for both small and large format events, including event-branded merchandise (lanyards, tote bags, etc.) and promotional/informational materials (exhibition signage, posters, event website/pages on platforms like Splashthat)
• Presentation design: PowerPoint templates for webinars and/or large format, in-person presentations

Demonstrated understanding of conceptualizing and producing research and policy products is appreciated. Demonstrated understanding of international development themes (poverty, inequality, health, education gender equality, climate change, basic services, technology and innovation for development) and/or child specific themes is appreciated.

Description of assignment

Projects may range from approximately two weeks to 11.5 months, depending on demand, project specifications and funding availability. Design consultants who are selected from the roster will work under the supervision of the Office’s design lead. Design consultants may be requested to work onsite in New York, or remotely as determined by the specification of the project. The work may include incidental travel to participate in field work, workshops or conferences; any related travel will be governed by UNICEF travel policies for consultants. Tasks and deliverables will vary by specific project and will be agreed per project.

Duration of roster-based consultancies: Consultants who are selected from the roster will work on specific deliverables and with timeframes as determined by the office based on project needs. Selected candidates will be issued a contract for each specific assignment which is subject to UNICEF General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors. The length of the contract will depend on project needs and funding availability. The Roster will remain valid for 24 months.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in communications design or a related field
• A minimum of three years of professional design experience focused on visual communication, branding, graphic design, publication design, animation, interaction design or your area of expertise.
• Technical knowledge in one or more of the design areas mentioned above.
• Advanced knowledge of Adobe CC software including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat.
• Proficiency with relevant software, depending on your area of design expertise:
  o Proficiency with presentation design tools such as PowerPoint and Keynote.
  o Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Excel, Infogram, and Tableau.
• Proven experience in translating complex ideas into unified storytelling visuals; ability to parse through large amounts of information in order to create simplified and clear designs.
• Ability to use and maintain a well-organized library of design assets, including templates, photography, and graphic elements.
• Ability to organize own work and to carry out a research project with limited supervision according to deadlines.
• Experience with CMS such as Drupal; familiarity HTML, and CSS are considered an asset.
• Familiarity with UI/UX design is considered an asset.
• Experience with animation/motion design is considered an asset.
• Experience with design for international development, policy, or research organizations, or current affairs media organisations is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.  The competencies required for this post are: Communication; Working with People; Drive for Results; Analyzing; and Applying Expertise.
View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Payment details and further considerations

• Payments will be based on agreed daily rate, specific tasks and progress reports, approved upon review with supervisor.
• Consultant is responsible for his/her own health and travel insurance
• Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel

Application procedure

Interested candidates are requested to apply via the UNICEF recruitment system. Applications will be considered during the recruitment period and successful applications will remain part of the Roster for 24 months.

Applicants are requested to include:

1. A recent CV (max 2 pages)
2. A cover letter with the following information (see below) on top, explaining how your knowledge and experience match the requirements. When candidates would like to apply for more than one thematic area, they are asked to complete multiple tables and include them all above a single cover letter.

 

First and last name:
Main area of design expertise among those listed:
Current location:
Preferred start date:
Preference of contract duration (in weeks/months) and preferred number of working days per month (up to 11.5 months):

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.