National Consultancy Professional Graphic Designer

Job Posting Organization:
The UNFPA Arab States Regional Office (ASRO) is a part of the United Nations Population Fund, which focuses on reproductive health and rights, population and development, and gender equality. Established to address the needs of the Arab region, the ASRO aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities through effective programs and partnerships. The organization operates in multiple countries across the Arab region, employing a diverse team of professionals dedicated to advancing the UN's sustainable development goals. The ASRO is committed to promoting health, education, and empowerment, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position for a Professional Graphic Designer at the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office (ASRO) is designed to provide high-quality graphic design services for both digital and print publications. The consultant will work on an on-demand basis, establishing a non-binding Framework Agreement to facilitate quick and efficient design services across the Arab region. The role requires a strong understanding of visual identity and brand alignment, ensuring that all creative assets adhere to the UNFPA branding guidelines. The consultant will be responsible for developing layout concepts, executing iterative proof corrections, and ensuring compliance with multilingual formatting requirements. Additionally, the designer must prioritize digital accessibility and sustainable design practices, reflecting the UN's commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility. This position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements while maintaining high standards of design quality and creativity.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with a variety of duties, including but not limited to:

• Providing high-quality graphic design and layout services upon activation of individual design briefs.
• Ensuring all creative assets align with the UNFPA branding toolkit guidelines, maintaining visual identity and brand consistency.
• Developing three distinct initial cover and layout concept options for review based on the provided design brief.
• Executing iterative proof corrections in collaboration with the communications and technical units until the final layout is achieved.
• Structuring layouts to accommodate multilingual requirements, ensuring correct formatting for Arabic, English, and French texts.
• Designing digital products to meet international accessibility standards, including proper alt-text tagging and document reading order for screen readers.
• Prioritizing sustainable design practices, optimizing files for digital-first delivery and local printing contexts when necessary.
• Delivering work electronically according to negotiated project schedules, including high-resolution print-ready files and web-optimized versions.
• Collaborating closely with the Communications Unit for day-to-day art direction and quality control, ensuring that all deliverables meet the required standards before public distribution.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, Digital Media, or a related field. Alternatively, a relevant technical diploma or secondary education combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in graphic design, publication layout, Desktop Publishing (DTP), and corporate brand management. A strong portfolio showcasing high-level publications, including annual reports and infographics, is essential. Technical competencies in industry-standard software, particularly Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Pro), are required, along with proven experience in formatting multilingual typography and ensuring digital accessibility compliance.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, Digital Media, or a related field. In cases where candidates do not hold a university degree, a relevant technical diploma or secondary education combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted. This flexibility allows for a broader range of applicants with diverse educational experiences to apply for the consultancy role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in graphic design, publication layout, Desktop Publishing (DTP), and corporate brand management. Candidates should have a demonstrated track record of producing high-level publications, such as annual reports, complex policy briefs, and data-dense infographics. Experience in managing corporate brand identity and ensuring compliance with branding guidelines is also essential for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. Additionally, working knowledge of French is considered an asset, as it enhances the consultant's ability to work on multilingual projects and collaborate effectively with diverse teams across the Arab region.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy role is structured as an on-demand retainer basis, with an initial duration of 11 months from the date of contract signature. Contracts may be renewed based on satisfactory performance assessments and operational needs, following a mandatory one-month break in service. The position is fully remote, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements. Payment for services will be contingent upon satisfactory completion of work orders, with final payments frozen until joint technical clearance is issued by the Communications Unit and the technical requesting unit. Candidates will be evaluated based on their portfolio quality, technical compliance, and financial rates, with a focus on selecting the most competitive candidates for the retainer contracts.