Most entry-level design jobs ask you to make things look good. This one asks you to make climate science understandable to policymakers who will use it to make real decisions. That is a different kind of responsibility and it is exactly what the IPCC Working Group I is hiring for right now.
If you are an early-career graphic designer with an interest in science communication, this role is worth a close look. You can also apply for UNESCO Jobs 2026: Digitization Project Coordinator in Paris.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | IPCC Working Group I Technical Support Unit |
| Position | Graphic Designer |
| Focus | Information graphics data visualization for AR7 |
| Location | Gif-sur-Yvette near Paris, France |
| Host institution | Université Paris-Saclay ENS Paris-Saclay |
| Contract | Fixed-term until end May 2028 |
| Start date | As soon as possible |
| Application deadline | 19 October 2026 |
| Language | Excellent English required |
What This Job Actually Is
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, better known as the IPCC, is the body that produces the world’s most authoritative climate science assessments. It was set up jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization specifically to give governments rigorous evidence-based information about climate change.
Working Group I is the branch focused on the physical science side, how the climate system has behaved in the past, how it is behaving now and what the models say about the future. Its Technical Support Unit sits at the point where that science gets translated into something policymakers can actually use and that translation work depends heavily on design.
This specific role supports the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report, known as AR7. Your work would help determine how the findings in that report actually get seen and understood by the people reading it.
What You Would Actually Be Doing
You would work under the Information Design and Graphics Officer focused on producing visual content for the report itself. That includes:
- Designing information graphics and scientific infographics
- Building both static and interactive data visualizations
- Making sure figures created by different scientific authors stay visually consistent across the report
- Producing graphics for meeting presentations and public outreach
- Supporting the process of testing and approving figures before publication
- Working closely with scientists and international multidisciplinary teams
That consistency point is worth pausing on. Major scientific reports like this are written by dozens of scientists across different countries, each contributing their own figures and data. Someone needs to make sure all of that visual material reads as one coherent report rather than a patchwork of mismatched styles. That someone is you if you get this role.
What You Need to Qualify
The role is genuinely entry-level but it still expects real design competency. You should have:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related field
- Strong information design skills not just general visual design
- Experience turning both qualitative and quantitative data into visuals
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign
- Experience designing for both print and digital platforms
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Strong attention to detail and solid organizational skills
The Practical Details
This is a fixed-term contract through Université Paris-Saclay, based in Gif-sur-Yvette just outside Paris at École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay.
Start date as soon as possible. The contract ends end of May 2028. Extension possible depending on how the project’s needs evolve.
That is a meaningful runway, roughly a year and a half from now through mid-2028 for someone starting soon. For an early-career designer, that kind of timeline offers real stability while you build a portfolio around one of the most high-profile scientific communication projects in the world.
What Your Application Needs
The application has four core pieces and none of them are optional:
- A motivation letter written in English and tailored to this specific role
- A professional CV that highlights your relevant design experience
- A design portfolio specifically showcasing infographics and data visualization work
- Contact details for two professional referees
Everything must be submitted in English and the IPCC requires a specific subject line on your application email.
Apply Now for IPCC Graphic Designer Job
Key Date to Remember
Applications close on 19 October 2026. Given how specific the science communication angle of this role is it is worth taking real time to tailor your motivation letter and select portfolio pieces that actually reflect data-driven design work rather than reusing a generic creative portfolio built for a different kind of design job.
Why This Role Matters Beyond the Job Title
Climate reports like the one this role supports do not just sit in government offices. They shape international negotiations, national policy decisions and public understanding of one of the most consequential issues of this century. Good design is not decoration in that context. It is often the difference between a finding being understood correctly or being misread entirely.
For a designer early in their career, working on something with this level of real-world stakes backed by an internationally recognized scientific institution is a genuinely rare opportunity. If your skills lean toward information design and data visualization, this is worth applying for before the October deadline.
