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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Designer and Layout Consultant – Visual Design for Programme Initiatives, – Programme Group Director’s Office

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Programme Group - Director’s Office – NY HQ

Duration: September 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

The UNICEF Programme Group (PG) serves as the organization’s central platform for advancing programme excellence through evidence-based policies, technical guidance, and strategic programming across sectors. The PG Director’s Office provides global leadership, strategic direction, and quality assurance to ensure coherence and impactful delivery of UNICEF’s programme work.

The Designer and Layout Consultant will provide comprehensive design and branding support to the Programme Group Director’s Office. This includes developing a new visual identity for flagship initiatives, designing strategic communication products, and ensuring high-quality execution across recurring and event-based publications.

The consultant will conceptualize and deliver a cohesive visual identity, including logo design, color palette development, and supporting brand elements that reflect UNICEF’s values while maintaining a distinct academic and strategic tone. This identity will be applied consistently across multiple communication formats, such as digital newsletters, reports, social media banners, and PowerPoint templates.

In collaboration with the PG Director’s Office, the consultant will also support layout and design of key publication series. This includes multiple issues of the At the Frontier newsletter and other knowledge products like Academic Notes and Analytical Notes. Each issue will require document formatting, photography research and selection, cover and thumbnail design, and production of related digital assets. Feedback will be integrated throughout iterative design phases to ensure alignment with UNICEF branding standards and communication goals.

Additionally, the consultant will contribute to the strategic application of the new brand across platforms — including SharePoint, LinkedIn, and email — and help ensure consistency, accessibility, and usability of all designed materials. Close collaboration and proactive communication with the PG team will be essential to ensure that visual outputs meet evolving needs and timelines.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will support end-to-end visual design and layout needs for strategic products led by the PG Director’s Office. Tasks include:

1.         Conceptualization and Visual Strategy

o    Participate in briefing sessions to understand product objectives, target audiences, and tone

o    Propose creative directions, layout options, and visual narratives aligned with product goals

2.         Graphic Design and Layout Execution

o    Design and format digital and print materials (e.g., newsletters, reports, slide decks, event collateral)

o    Ensure brand consistency using UNICEF’s graphic design guidelines, templates, fonts, and color schemes

o    Adapt layouts for multiple formats (e.g., PDF, web display, PowerPoint, social media visuals)

3.         Revision and Quality Control

o   Incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders with precision and efficiency

o   Conduct final proofreading and formatting for professional finish

o   Ensure products are accessible and meet UNICEF’s publication and web standards (e.g., alt text, readability)

4.         File Preparation and Handover

o   Provide final deliverables in requested formats (print-ready, editable source files, etc.)

o   Archive and name files systematically for SharePoint storage 

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Design and layout of PG flagship newsletter     

•           At least 8 full design of At the Frontier newsletter (English version), including layout, visuals, and formatting

•           Delivered in editable format and pdf

•           Aligned with UNICEF branding guidelines and approved by supervisor

•           Design of LinkedIn cover images and custom thumbnails to enhance social media presence

•           Design of custom email newsletter banners for email distribution

At the end of each Month, by 31 December , 2025

Visual support for Africa Strategy donor engagement    

•           6 x 2-page donor brief designed (including cover, infographic elements, and key visuals)

•           Three PowerPoint slide deck (10–15 slides) designed and branded

•           Final versions approved and ready for external distribution

•           Visual concept development aligned with UNICEF’s tone while establishing a distinct, professional identity for the Africa Strategy

•           Close collaboration with the client to ensure brand consistency across donor-facing materials and alignment with broader UNICEF communication objectives     

By 31 December 2025

Templates and reusable visual assets     

•           Development of 15 editable PowerPoint templates for future internal/external presentations

•           Five publications layout template created (InDesign or Word, with style guide)

•           15 custom icons/illustrations for thematic use across PG Director's Office products

•           Creation of long-format report designs and layouts using InDesign or Word, guided by tailored style sheets

•           Infographic layout and transformation of complex information into compelling visual narratives

•           Video editing from raw footage, including visual curation and integration of footage aligned with UNICEF messaging and values

•           Iterative design process with multiple feedback loops incorporated throughout development phases

•           Consistent application of visual identity and resolution of design inconsistencies across all touchpoints    

By 31 December 2025

Debt Event and other event materials    

•           Design and delivery of 10 branded assets for Debt and fellowship event, including digital invitation, speaker cards, agenda layout, social media tile, and slide background

•           Print-ready and digital formats submitted for all

•           Visual coherence and consistency across all materials confirmed by supervisor   

By 31 December 2025

Centres of Excellence Programmes       

•           Visual concept development and execution for multiple CoEs slide decks, ensuring alignment with UNICEF tone while maintaining a unique design identity

•           Design of 15–20 branded PowerPoint slide decks supporting Centres of Excellence activities

•           Custom charts and table layouts to enhance data visualization and clarity of complex information

•           Iterative design development through structured feedback and revisions 

By 31 December 2025

Qualifications

(1) Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in design, communications, etc.

(2) Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

•           Minimum 8 years of professional experience in visual design, branding, or layout for international organizations or media

•           Strong portfolio demonstrating clean, strategic, and compelling design work

•           Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop); Canva and PowerPoint a plus

•           Familiarity with UNICEF branding and communications standards an asset

•           Attention to detail, ability to manage multiple design projects and meet tight deadlines

•           Strong collaboration and communication skills with multicultural teams

•           Experience designing materials for digital and print, with attention to accessibility and usability

•           Strong typographic skills and ability to design structured, information-rich layouts

•           Ability to adapt complex data into accessible and visually engaging formats

•           Skilled in applying and adapting brand guidelines across diverse formats and platforms

•           Capacity to work independently with minimal supervision while integrating feedback iteratively

•           Sensitivity to culturally diverse visual representations and inclusive imagery

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage to apply are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.