Data Designer
Murmuration
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 campaigns;
- Comfort working in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or similar design tools alongside visualization tools;
- Ability to run exploratory data analysis to support visualization or story framing;
- Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git) and collaborative workflows; and/or
- Experience working in civic tech, advocacy, media, or public policy environments.
Talented Data Designers come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!
Benefits
Location and Compensation
The Data Designer is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $85,000-$120,000 and is commensurate with experience. This pay range reflects what the organization expects to offer for this position at the time of posting. In alignment with applicable laws, compensation will be determined based on the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and the specific requirements of the role. Please note that the organization may adjust this pay range as needed.
Our Culture of Care
We work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:
- Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;
- Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;
- A flexible unlimited PTO plan;
- Generous paid parental leave;
- Pre-tax commuter benefits;
- A company laptop;
- A flexible remote work environment;
- A home office setup stipend for all new employees;
- Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;
- A yearly professional development fund;
- Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help;
- Yearly in-person staff retreats; and
- A welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
At Murmuration, we believe a vibrant, representative democracy depends on the inclusion of diverse voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. The best ideas don’t come from a single person or ideology — they emerge at the intersection of different backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints. We are proud of our commitment to building an organization and culture shaped by respect, empathy, and collaboration, where our team’s diversity fuels innovation, civic engagement, and meaningful change. We welcome new colleagues who will help us nurture this collective effort. Join us.
An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity
Murmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.
Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nation’s most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.
Full Time