Data Visuals Journalist, Sport chez Guardian

Join our team at the Guardian and be a part of a diverse and inclusive global organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism, and holds power to account. Our team of award-winning journalists, cutting-edge commercial professionals, and industry-leading digital experts are committed to making a difference and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. We offer a challenging and exciting environment for career development, with a focus on training, growth and fostering an inclusive culture.

We are looking for a data visuals journalist, sport to enhance our coverage of football and other sports. 

You’ll create engaging and insightful sports data and visuals for the Guardian, serving UK, US and global audiences. The role will be based in the UK, reporting into the UK visuals and sports desks.

The role is part of a significant expansion of the Guardian’s coverage of soccer in and for the US. It will also involve collaboration with our US and Australia offices ahead of and during the 2026 and 2027 World Cups and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. 

About the role:

• Find and tell data and visual sports stories, using a combination of reporting, data and visual skills
• Acquire clean and analyse datasets, often under a tight deadline
• Deliver both short-turnaround visuals and long-term projects to deadline
• Create visualisations of sports data that are compliant with our house styles, so that our visuals are consistent and recognisable across teams
• Synthesise, simplify and present complex sports stats and tactics data, with a specific focus on football, in an appealing, clear and visual way
• A flair for finding a narrative in the data and spotting stories that will take the thinking about specific clubs, players, or styles of play forward
• Create visualisations of sports data within our house styles so that our visuals are consistent across teams

About you:

• Significant experience of working with data visualisation tools and creating responsive visualisations, with the ability to produce both simple and complex graphics, using in-house tools and Adobe Illustrator 
• Highly skilled in data sourcing, ideally with the technical skills required for using publicly accessible databases and APIs, data cleaning and analysis
• Skilled with spreadsheet and database software. Excellent knowledge of Google sheets or equivalent; R would be a plus
• An understanding of data visualisation best practice including the relative effectiveness 
• Excellent knowledge of Premier League, European and US football
• Ability to both provide original data angles to news stories and produce original stories and analysis
• Basic cartography skills would be an asset, for mapping cycling race routes and generating race altitude profiles.
• Ideally you will have a demonstrable ability to bring a diverse perspective to this role

We actively encourage applications from candidates who are Black, Asian or minority-ethnic (BAME), or from other groups traditionally underrepresented in the UK media.

How to apply

To apply, please upload your latest CV and a cover letter which outlines why you’d love to take on this role, and why you’re a great match for what we’re looking for.

We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or who possess important skills we haven't thought of. If that's you, we encourage you to apply and tell us about your relevant experience.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 22nd October 2025.

All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Please contact Sean on sean.brinkley@guardian.co.uk to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.

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Benefits at the Guardian

We offer six weeks annual leave per annum with the option to buy additional days through our holiday purchase scheme. Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age). We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving. Season ticket loans are also available.

You are entitled to life cover, income protection, private healthcare, sick pay and eye tests. You can also opt in to dental insurance.

We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place. We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.

Culture & wellbeing

We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace.

We offer great tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including free yoga and pilates. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.

Learning & development

We encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships. 

Our working environment

We take pride in our surroundings and are pleased to offer versatile meeting rooms and colourful communal areas. We have a brilliant canteen that caters to breakfast, lunch and dinner, with views overlooking Regent’s Canal.