Graphic Illustrator at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP's Science Division is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment.

The Big Science Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Science Division (thereafter, the Branch) produces a broad range of integrated and thematic assessment reports as part of Subprogramme 7 (Environment Under Review) and Subprogramme 1 (Climate Change). Under the biennial Programme of Work 2020-2021, the Branch is expected to deliver a number of key assessment reports, such as derivative products of the sixth Global Environment Outlook, the annual Emissions and Adaptation Gap Reports, the Frontiers report on emerging issues of environmental concern, among several other reports developed on a needs basis. These products aim to provide evidence-based scientific assessments of the state of the environment and emerging environmental problems of international significance as a basis for informed decision- and policy-making on environmental matters.

Effective science communication is an important foundation for evidence-based decision-making. Communicating evidence in an understandable and practically relevant way for stakeholders has shown to increase an audience’s engagement, willingness to act upon the knowledge and use the evidence as a basis for their decisions. Against this backdrop, it is critical for the Branch to strengthen its efforts in communicating the findings of its scientific assessment reports to non-expert audiences in a more effective and impactful manner.

The Branch is recruiting an experienced and talented consultant to work as an illustrator to produce visually attractive, modern, and easily interpretable infographics, illustrations and other types of visualizations to draw attention to and facilitate the understanding of the content, key findings, and key messages of the various reports.

This is a home-based assignment.

Specific tasks and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief, Big Science Branch, Science Division, the consultant will work closely with Project Managers of various reports to produce relevant infographics, illustrations and other types of visualizations, layout of the reports, or other materials as required. The consultant will be required to deliver work according to the timelines required by the Branch with the duration of the consultancy contract. The specific timelines of each product will be discussed and agreed in advance with the consultant. For each agreed report, specific tasks and responsibilities may i.e. include the following:

• Design front and back report covers
• Design and layout each report according to required formats
• Design and layout the GEO newsletter
• Design logos for specific reports when required
• For each infographic, provide a graphic interpretation of technical information to produce a modern, visually attractive and easy-to-interpret infographic for discussion with Project Manager.
• Report on copyright issues in case of redrawing illustrations previously published.
• Submit the preliminary design for feedback and revise the design for approval by Project Manager.
• Submit drafts to Project Manager for proofreading (as many rounds of corrections as needed to meet UNEP requirements)
• In case of revision, ensure all corrections have been incorporated.
• Prepare electronic files for the printer according to format required by specific printers
• Make available all design files to Project Manager.
• Make available graphics in required formats
• Any other related assignment related to the development of illustrations and visuals, as required by the Branch

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications:

First level academic degree in design, illustration, visual arts or equivalent required. Practical knowledge in various design software applications such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, or similar tools required. The applicants will be required to send to UNEP 10 diverse examples of his/her illustrations to demonstrate their experience and knowledge in graphic design in addition to their Personal History Profile (PHP), as part of the selection process.

Experience:

A minimum of seven years of experience working on similar assignments required. Proven experience in commercial print management from start to end as well as color scheme management, and practical experience in designing multiple communications products required. An illustration portfolio must be provided of at least 10 distinct top graphic pieces from previous works which showcase clear and simplified communication of knowledge and information published in technical reports or similar materials. Desirable: it will be an advantage to have practical experience with materials related to different fields of science, the environment, and/or environmental sustainability. Proficiency with data visualization/analytic software is also highly desirable.

Language:

• English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both Oral and written) is required