Data Visualization Designer - Provost Office

Scheduled Hours
37.5
Position Summary
The Institutional Effectiveness (IE) team in the Office of the Provost is committed to providing the highest quality university information and support for decision-making, planning, improvement, and reporting needs of our university partners. We are looking for a design professional skilled in telling stories with data who also possesses a strong commitment to collaboration, equity, and excellence. This person is intellectually curious and possesses a commitment to ethically unlocking the value of data.
The Data Visualization Designer will develop a variety of Data Visualization products, in particular interactive dashboards along with a suite of other products (e.g., briefs, presentations, website content). You will work with the IE team and campus stakeholders to translate complex datasets into clear and compelling visual stories. The designer will support our analytic team to find the relevant stories and lead the design of the Data Visualizations to communicate insights. The designer will ensure the IE team translates WashU's data in meaningful ways that support our many audiences (e.g., academics, senior leaders, board members, staff, the public) to better understand our work.
This professional is a committed storyteller, searching for the narrative thread that weaves through complex data sets and will influence how we present information to a broad set of audiences. This position will also play a key role in defining the IE brand, build a set of visualization and design standards, and support IE team members in this work.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Data Transformation & Dissemination

• Develops and executes the data transformation and dissemination strategy.
• Leads the creation of IE's dissemination products, including interactive dashboards, presentation decks, pdf reports, and one-pagers, in collaboration with the IE team. Uses a suite of design and visualization software including Tableau, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva, Illustrator, InDesign.
• Ensures all external products are accessible according to industry standards for acceptable color contrast, font size, etc. while adhering to the WashU and IE brand guides.
• Carries design projects from start to finish, owning the feedback loop of discovery, ideation, evaluation, and review, to support our effort to make our content more engaging and insightful.
• Conducts quality assurance and reviews of all Data Visualizations and website integrations to ensure accuracy, usability, and adherence to branding and style guidelines.
• Conducts simple descriptive analysis for visualizes as needed for visuals.
• Engages stakeholders to understand their needs and inform your data storytelling. Collaborates with them throughout all phases of the process.

IE Brand Identity

• Develops and maintains the brand identity and style guide of the IE team that aligns with the brand guidelines of Washington University in St. Louis.
• Trains and supports the IE team to implement our IE style guide and brand. Develop materials (e.g., templates, guides) to build our team's capacity to execute on this brand independently. Includes design-consultation, periodic check-ins, and final review of products. This includes adherence to accessibility standards and research-based visualization best practices.
• Maintains the web presence across the IE portfolio, updating and unifying our presence to ensure a seamless presentation of our brand.
• Stays up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in Data Visualization and design techniques, tools, and technologies.

Performs other duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced visualization skills in business intelligence tools, Tableau.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in creating engaging and impactful Data Visualizations.
• Experienced in advanced Microsoft Excel functions, such as macros and pivot tables.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in Data Visualization tools, techniques, and knowledge of website integration.
• Ability to analyze, summarize, and communicate the message in sophisticated data sets including from academic, financial, operational, or other business sources quickly and effectively.
• Skilled in cleaning, standardizing, filtering, and transforming data to create datasets ready to be analyzed and displayed graphically.
• Knowledgeable in web content management systems (e.g., WordPress).
• Familiarity navigating large data sets/working in a data warehouse environment.
• Excellent critical thinking, data manipulation and analytical skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive data, and a commitment to data security.
• Ability to write SQL queries to retrieve information from a database.
• Experience developing style guides and brand requirements.
• Experience in validating designs through focus groups, usability testing, and A/B testing, leveraging qualitative and quantitative feedback in the creative process.
• Skilled ability to translate academic findings into accessible and engaging designs, dashboards, illustrations, or formatted briefs.
• Experience with implementing accessibility standards, including color contrast, text size, screen reader accessibility, alt text, and others.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal skills, and highly organized.
• Strong attention to detail with experience copy-editing a variety of products.
• Knowledge of UX/UI design principles and best practices for understanding user needs and creating user-friendly interfaces.
• Strong critical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to execute tactically, and navigate ambiguity.
• Experience in conducting ideation sessions with project stakeholders and users, translating complex ideas into visualizations even at a rough early stage.
• Confident communicator, able to express your ideas and convey complicated concepts simply.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail and time management with an advanced ability to prioritize multiple tasks to plan work to meet deadlines.
• Growth-oriented mindset with a strong desire to learn and stay current on best practices and emerging capabilities to visualize and communicate data.
• Proficiency with Microsoft software suite and project management software (e.g., Clickup).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in design or related fields or four plus years of professional experience of digital design including the use of design programs (InDesign, Illustrator, Canva).
• Two plus years of experience with dashboard design and development using business intelligence tools for decision-making.
• Two plus years of experience with data source identification and analysis, and data extracts, manipulation, and compilation.

Grade
G13
Salary Range
$64,700.00 - $110,500.00 / Annually
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Want to Live Near Your Work and/or improve your commute? Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees. We also offer a forgivable home loan of up to $12,500 for closing costs and a down payment for homes in eligible neighborhoods.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University's policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Diversity Statement
Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment - fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.