Data Designer

Who We Are

Murmuration is a nonprofit organization that amplifies the power of civic engagement by providing data, digital tools, and research-driven insights to community-focused organizations so that together we can create an America where everyone can lead healthy, free, and dignified lives.

Every day, people are trying to shape our future for the better. Fighting for water that’s safe to drink. Schools that serve students equitably. Gun laws that make sense. And rallying people who care like we do. And yet too often the skillful organizers working to mobilize communities lack access to technology that could supercharge their efforts. Knocking on every door instead of knowing which will open most easily. And going up against outside interests that have half the heart, but twice the tools.

In communities across America, Murmuration’s partners are leveraging our data, tools, and insights to help thousands of organizers orchestrate millions of individual people to do big things together. Demand big things together. To create the world they want. Together.

About the Position

The Data Designer plays a key role in Murmuration's mission by transforming complex civic data into clear, compelling visual narratives that drive understanding and action. This position sits at the intersection of data analysis, visual design, and storytelling—creating visualizations that make our research accessible and impactful for community organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

As a Data Designer, you'll work closely with our Research Team to distill key insights from datasets and develop visualizations that appear across our external-facing materials, from comprehensive reports to social media content. You'll be responsible for crafting visual stories that communicate complex information with clarity and precision, while maintaining consistency with Murmuration's visual identity.

Beyond creating individual visualizations, you'll help build and refine our design system, establishing reusable templates and components that ensure visual consistency and efficiency across projects. You'll also contribute to elevating our overall approach to data communication, bringing expertise in information design, accessibility, and visual best practices to all of our work.

Job Level: IC3

What You’ll Do

• Design and develop clear, compelling data visualizations to support reports, slide decks, dashboards, social media content, and other external-facing materials;
• Collaborate closely with researchers to align data visualizations with storytelling goals and strategic narratives;
• Translate complex datasets into easy-to-understand graphics that elevate the clarity, credibility, and impact of our insights;
• Prototype and iterate on visual formats for different audiences, from civic organizers to funders to policymakers;
• Contribute to our shared library of charts, templates, and styles to ensure consistency and scalability across projects;
• Support the creation of high-impact collateral for major releases, including presentations, annual reports, and special publications;
• Work across static and interactive formats designing for both print and digital contexts;
• Apply best practices in accessibility, information design, and data ethics to everything you create;
• When needed, dig into datasets yourself (in Python or SQL) to explore patterns and shape the story; and
• Stay current on data visualization trends, tools, and techniques, and help elevate our overall visual storytelling practice.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in data visualization, data design, or data journalism with a strong portfolio of static and/or interactive visual work;
• Proficiency with data visualization libraries and tools such as D3.js, Observable, Datawrapper, Flourish, or similar;
• Demonstrated experience turning complex data into visually engaging, audience-appropriate stories across multiple formats;
• Strong understanding of design principles, including visual hierarchy, color theory, typography, and layout, especially as they apply to charts and data graphics;
• Familiarity with data querying and transformation using tools such as SQL, Python (pandas, seaborn), or R (tidyverse, ggplot2);
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, especially with cross-functional teams; and
• Ability to explain your design decisions clearly and adapt your work based on feedback from technical and non-technical collaborators.

Nice to Haves

• Familiarity with political, civic, or demographic data (e.g., Census, ACS, voter files, polling);
• Background in data journalism, information design, or public interest communications;
• Experience designing for social media platforms or digital ca