Outlier Conference Director 2025

 

Overview

Data Visualization Society (DVS) is looking for a Conference Director (starting in January 2025) to help us manage and organize Outlier, a one-of-a-kind data visualization conference hosted by the Data Visualization Society. 

The fifth annual Outlier will maintain the hybrid format: participants may join us in Miami, USA or virtually from June 11-13, 2025. The Outlier Director will need to be on site for the conference and may need to meet with local partners/vendors in advance of the event.

Please apply by filling out this form by Friday, January 17, 2025.

If you have any questions about the role or the application, please send an email to events@datavisualizationsociety.org.

 

About the role

The Outlier Director will be responsible for managing the organization of the 2025 Outlier Conference. It will report to the Events Director and manage a team of volunteers who support the organization of the conference.  

Specific duties include:

Logistics and operations:

  • Manage the budget and spending against the approved budget, in close collaboration with the DVS Events Director

  • Manage and delegate responsibilities across the Outlier Committee / other paid staff members

  • Research virtual event resources, such as conference hosting and networking platforms, and knowledge-sharing resources 

  • Manage sponsors, including collaborating with the DVS Events Director on sponsorship packages, outreach to potential sponsors, and ensuring terms of sponsor agreements are completed

  • Manage vendors’ relationships, including video editors, captioners, platform managers and others

Event:

  • Manage the call for proposals for speakers, including developing the call for proposals, checking submissions, organizing reviewers, and finalizing the speaker lineup in partnership with the Events Committee. Search, contact, and invite keynote speakers

  • Manage unconference/masterclass process

  • Plan entertainment/networking options

  • Prepare the run of the show (including developing agenda, defining roles, test live stream, etc.)

  • Coordinate with the Membership Director / Community Manager the organization of local watch parties

Communications:

  • Develop a communications campaign for the event together with support from the DVS Communications Director and Communications Manager

  • Support the creation and update of communications assets for social media, newsletter and website, with support from the DVS Communications Director and Communications Manager

  • Ensuring articles/updates/marketing materials are written and published in a timely manner

Additional responsibilities:

  • Ensuring the event represents DVS’ values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including seeking speakers from underrepresented groups, ensuring ticketing/pricing is accessible, planning for accessibility accommodations for the event (e.g. live captioners, etc), and related activities.

  • Other duties for the purpose of planning and executing Outlier 2025.

The role is projected to be approximately 100 hours per month from February to June 2025, with an expectation that the Director is on-site for four days (32 hours) for the conference in June and reduced hours during July for documentation and wrap up.  

The contract will be executed as a fixed-price contract. The stipend will be US$3,000 per month paid 30 days after receiving the monthly invoice in accordance with DVS accounting terms for 6 months (total: US$18,000). 

 

About you

Skills and experience:

Mandatory:

  • USA-based, ideally close to Miami, FL but not required

  • Must be available full-time on 10-13 June (days of the Conference plus one day arrival and prep), with flexible availability the month(s) leading up to the event

  • Experience managing complex events in collaboration with a (global) team

  • Attentive to details, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and vendors to execute a successful event

  • Flexibility to join calls or meetings

  • Comfortable working with digital tools (productivity, time-management, scheduling)

Preferred:

  • Passion and knowledge of the field of data visualization 

  • Familiar with Outlier or other dataviz conferences

  • Good communication skills

Personal Attributes:

  • Well-organized, efficient and flexible

  • Comfortable working with tight schedules and solving problems

  • Comfortable working autonomously, but also integrated into a remote/ global team environment

  • Cultural Sensitivity

 

About us

The Data Visualization Society is a registered 501(c)3 organization founded to serve as a professional home for those working across the discipline while leading others into this growing, dynamic field, and to increase the visibility and value of data visualization to the general public. 

We seek to achieve this mission by investing in communication platforms and events to connect members, education platforms for teaching and learning, and leveraging those resources to foster skills growth, knowledge exchange, and meaningful critique. Our community will grow by engaging and encouraging underrepresented voices, and giving a place for ideas to be shared among data visualization developers, designers, artists, teachers, enthusiasts, and users.