Outlier Conference Director 2026

 

Overview

  • Posting date: October 27, 2025

  • Role type: Part-time (100 hours per month), remote

  • Contract term: December 2025 to June 2026

  • Compensation: US $3,000 per month

  • Application deadline: November 21, 2025

 

Summary

Data Visualization Society (DVS) is looking for a Conference Director starting between December 2025 - January 2026 to help us manage and organize Outlier, a one-of-a-kind data visualization conference hosted by the Data Visualization Society. 

The sixth annual Outlier will be fully virtual. Participants may join from all across the world. The Outlier Director does not need to be in the U.S., however, you will need to be available full-time during the conference hours and leading up to the conference to meet with partners/vendors in advance of the event and closing.

Please apply by filling out this form by Friday, November 21,  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 2026 Outlier Conference. They 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 and other team members

  • Research virtual event resources such as conference hosting, 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 and workshop 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 or Community Manager on 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 and marketing materials are written and published in a timely manner

Additional responsibilities:

  • Ensure the event represents DVS’ values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including seeking speakers from underrepresented groups, ensuring ticket prices  are 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 2026.

The role is projected to be approximately 100 hours per month from December 2025 to June 2026, with an expectation that the Director is full-time for four days (32 hours) for the conference in mid-June and reduced hours during July for documentation and wrap up.  

The contract will be executed as a fixed-price contract with variable monthly rates based on anticipated level of effort. The stipend will be US$3,000 per month paid 30 days after receiving the monthly invoice in accordance with DVS accounting terms. Estimated 7-8 months (total: +/- US$21,000, based on start date). 

 

About you

Skills and experience:

Mandatory:

  • Must have flexible schedule to meet with global committee, vendors, and DVS staff to plan and organize, run, and close out conference

  • Must be available full-time during conference dates, estimated mid-June (final conference dates TBD by Events Director), with flexible availability the month(s) leading up to and post-conference

  • 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 data viz 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 and global team environment

  • Possesses 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.