UX Designer

UX Designer

Vacancy expired!

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc (RISI) is a social enterprise working to advance inclusive economic opportunity and investment in small towns across the country. We are seeking an information designer who is driven by data and looking to join a fast-growing team committed to shifting the narrative about what’s possible in rural America.
Guided by a strong belief in rural ingenuity and small-town potential, RISI collaborates with the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to provide strategic support to rural communities wanting to develop inclusive, resilient digital economies. Our comprehensive approach involves building a nationwide network of local economic leaders; using mapping and data to highlight rural opportunities; making direct investment in underserved rural entrepreneurs; and closing the digital divide so all Americans, regardless of geography, can participate in the 21st century digital economy.
Since the organization’s founding in 2017, data visualization has served as a key tool in identifying and driving attention to opportunities across rural America. We are looking for an Information Designer to tell the stories of these opportunities through interactive visualizations that support our work around rural equity. This role is instrumental in helping us continue to share a compelling rural narrative that contributes to meaningful change.
This role sits at the critical intersection of data analytics, visual design, and storytelling. Our Information Designer will craft compelling data visualizations that help advance the goals of our organization and drive understanding and empathy for the communities we serve.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates user interface designs, such as, dashboards, scrollytelling, and journey maps, targeted to marketing/branding, blog posts, social media, infographics, and reports.
• Facilitates the translation of data into riveting stories and compelling narratives, partnering with stakeholders and users throughout the process.
• Conducts criteria-driven user research throughout the product life cycle employing an empathetic approach with users and maintaining consistent stakeholder and team engagement.
• Develops wireframes based on user research using tools such as Axure RP, Balsamiq, Sketch, or Zeplin.
• Researches and presents industry trends and latest design technologies across mobile, desktop, and web.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ASSETS

• Proven ability to build accessible, compelling, and data-driven visualizations that organize data into a cohesive story with impact across a broad audience.
• Proficiency understanding product specifications and user psychology techniques grounded in attitudinal and behavior research techniques.
• Able to lead and facilitate group sessions with consultants, web designers, data engineers, and researchers to translate data into a design strategy.
• Proven ability to define the right user interaction model and evaluate for success.
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in creating annual reports, social media campaigns, and other graphic design elements to advance our work.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment, engaging and communicating across the organization.
• Fluency with design tools (e.g. Adobe XD, Sketch, Sympli, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, etc); presentation software (e.g. Powerpoint, Keynote, Google Slides); and web tools (HTML, JS, and CSS).
• Strong problem-solving aptitude with solid business acumen.
• Superb communication, time-management and process-management skills
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow standard procedures.
• Strong commitment to serving BIPOC communities with particular emphasis on considering and developing an awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in development and deployment of information designs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in information design or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in information design
• A strong and current portfolio that exhibits an understanding of design typography, hierarchy, color, and composition. (please include a link in your submission).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree in information design or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7 years of experience leading information design projects
• Experience developing a branding and style design playbook.
• Knowledge of R, Shiny, and Carto tools.
• Background in journalism and narrative building.
• Experience with rural communities.
• Experience working with remote distributed teams.
• Mastery of the balance of colors, textures and interactive elements that make a user-friendly experience

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. This job description is general and may evolve over time. The description is subject to periodic updating. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different and/or additional duties or responsibilities.

Location: This position is located in Hartland, Vermont or remote.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please make sure your application materials are tailored to showcase your ability to succeed in this specific role.
• Cover letters are required. If you are applying via a platform that does not have a cover letter field, please include one in your resume file, otherwise your application will not be considered.
• Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

RISI will manage the application and review process using our Workable platform. Please direct all inquiries through this system. We are unable to respond to phone inquiries at this time.

BENEFITS

• Personal and professional development opportunities
• Health, dental, and short-term disability insurance
• Employer matched 401k
• We offer competitive compensation. The salary for this position is $70,000-85,000, depending on experience.

Candidate are requested to apply here:
https://apply.workable.com/ruralinnovation/j/1982CE5E67/

Rural Innovation Strategies Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.