Communication Designer

Localização: Champalimaud Centre for The Unknown Entidade Empregadora: Champalimaud Foundation Regime: Tempo Inteiro Posição: Comunicação Início da Candidatura: 04 Set. 2026

Offer Description

The Champalimaud Foundation (CF) is looking for an experienced and creative Communication Designer to help communicate groundbreaking biomedical research and healthcare through compelling visual storytelling.

The successful candidate will join the Communications, Events and Outreach (CEO) team, working closely with researchers and health care professionals to develop high- quality visual communication across multiple platforms and audiences. This is a highly collaborative role that combines strategic thinking with strong execution, supporting everything from institutional campaigns and social media to publications, events and digital communications.

The designer will contribute to the CF’s visual identity across a wide range of projects, helping translate complex ideas into clear, engaging and accessible communication while ensuring consistency, creativity and excellence in every output.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop creative concepts and visual assets for institutional communication campaigns across digital and print platforms.
• Design engaging content for the CF’s online presence, including websites, newsletters, social media and digital campaigns.
• Create visual identities and communication materials for conferences, scientific meetings, public engagement initiatives and institutional events, from disseminations campaigns through to on-site signage, stage visuals, digital displays, presentations and post-event communication.
• Design publications such as annual reports, brochures, booklets, scientific programmes, educational materials and institutional documents.
• Develop infographics, illustrations and visual assets that communicate scientific, clinical and institutional content in a clear and accessible way.
• Contribute to the evolution and consistency of the CF’s visual identity by developing templates, guidelines and reusable design systems.
• Collaborate closely with communication officers, designers, writers, event producers, photographers, videographers and external suppliers to deliver integrated communication projects.
• Prepare artwork for both digital distribution and professional print production.
• Keep up to date with design trends, emerging digital formats and creative tools that can strengthen the CF’s communication.

Application start date: September 4, 2026

Applications end date: October 4, 2026 or until the position is filled

Requirements

Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills / Qualifications

We are looking for a communication designer who is a team player and who combines strong visual design skills with creativity, attention to detail and genuine curiosity about communicating science and health.

Candidates should have:

• A degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design or another relevant field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in the field is preferred, but we value talent, potential, and a strong portfolio over a specific number of years.
• An excellent portfolio demonstrating strong visual thinking across both digital and print media.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects and Lightroom.
• Experience designing for digital platforms, including social media, web content and online communication.
• Experience designing editorial materials, such as publications and reports.
• Strong understanding of typography, layout, colour, visual hierarchy and branding.
• Experience with illustration.
• Comfortable with data visualisation.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Specific Requirements

The following qualifications will be considered an advantage:

• Experience designing visual identities and communication materials for events and conferences.
• Knowledge of motion graphics, animation or video editing (e.g. After Effects or Premiere Pro).
• Experience with illustration.
• Comfortable with data visualisation.
• Experience working with content management systems such as WordPress.
• Basic understanding of HTML and CSS.
• Ability to work in both English and Portuguese.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary organisation or institutional environment.

Previous experience in science communication is not required. We welcome candidates from diverse sectors who are curious about science and excited by the opportunity to learn about biomedical research and healthcare, and who enjoy translating complex subjects into engaging visual communication.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level: Good

Benefits

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team at one of Europe ́s leading biomedical research and clinical institutions. This role offers the opportunity to work on a wide variety of creative projects spanning institutional communication, digital campaigns, publications and events, while collaborating closely with world-class researchers, clinicians and communication professionals. It is an opportunity to apply design to meaningful work that helps make cutting-edge science and healthcare more visible, engaging and accessible.

Compensation: fellowship value will be commensurate with qualifications and professional experience.

Initial duration of the fellowship: 12 months

Eligibility criteria

National, foreign or stateless candidates with relevant technical training and/or professional experience in engineering, audiovisual/media technology, technical production, electronics, computer systems, interactive installations or related areas, and a professional profile appropriate to the activities described in this call, are eligible to apply. Practical experience and demonstrated ownership of complex technical systems will be given substantial consideration.

Selection process

Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call. Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to the required application materials: CV, motivation letter and a portfolio showcasing relevant work.

We encourage applicants to include examples demonstrating a broad range of design projects, particularly digital communication, campaigns, editorial projects, branding and event-related materials (50% weighting); interview (25% weighting); practical exercise (25% weighting).

If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation.

Evaluation Committee members: António José Monteiro, Catarina Ramos, Carla Emilie Pereira and Teresa Fernandes

Application materials: CV, letter of motivation and portfolio, including the names and contact details of two professional references. (one single pdf document)

Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for the formalisation of the fellowship contract agreement. Degrees obtained abroad may need to be formally recognised in Portugal.

How to apply

Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed PDF document containing the application materials stated in the call.

The call reference will be asked and not having may invalidate your submission. This call reference is: Communication Designer 2026.

Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Notification of results

All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7-10 business days. The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process. After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email ([email protected]). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committee's decision will become definitive.

About Us

Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer. Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.

The Communications, Events and Outreach team works alongside researchers, clinicians and institutional leadership to communicate the Champalimaud Foundation ́s work to diverse audiences, strengthen its international reputation and promote dialogue between science and society through strategic communication, public engagement and events.

Relevant Institutional Information

In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs, trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making.

Legal Notices

The present call has the sole purpose of filling the indicated research position. This call may be canceled at any time on or before the jury’s evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the contract between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.