Senior Content Designer

Job summary

Would you like to shape GOV.UK content and digital services used by millions of people?

Can you turn complex information into simple, effective, user-centred content?

Do you enjoy using research, data and insight to design better digital experiences?

If you are passionate about writing quality content, improving accessibility and creating better user experiences, we would love to hear from you.

This is an exciting time to join the Digital, Information and Security Directorate within the Department for Transport as we restructure our directorate to ensure we are ready for future challenges, building a more sustainable, skilled and in-house capability.

Create clarity. Shape services. Put users first. Use research, insight and content design expertise to create accessible digital content that helps millions of people access government information and services.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary –read more about Civil Service Pension contribution rates

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday

• flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance

Read more in the Benefits section below.

Find out more about what it is like working at the Department for Transport.

Job description

Join the Department for Transport's Content Design Team and help create content that makes government services simpler, clearer and more accessible for everyone. As a Senior Content Designer, you will play a lead role in shaping user-centred digital services and GOV.UK content, ensuring people can find and use the information they need quickly and easily.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will use research, data and user insight to design, write, edit and continually improve content across a range of digital products and services. You will collaborate closely with policy colleagues, service designers, user researchers, legal teams, AI and communications professionals to understand complex topics and turn them into clear, accessible content that meets user needs.

You'll help champion content design best practice, influence stakeholders, support the development of others and contribute to the wider government content community. Whether improving an existing service, creating online forms and surveys, writing content or helping shape strategic approaches to content design, your work will have a direct impact on how people interact with government services.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• project managing publishing requests from initial advice to officials to the delivery of high-quality content and services on time and on budget
• collaborating with internal policy, comms and service design teams to understand their needs, pair write content and mark-up content to meet tight deadlines
• providing advice on the best ways to ensure that content and services are accessible and usable
• building relationships across the department to increase focus on meeting user needs, improve compliance with accessibility regulations and promote early engagement with content designers

Read the role profile for more information about the role. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only – whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• expert content writing, editing and proofreading skills, including a strong command of grammar, spelling, punctuation and tone of voice
• proven ability to translate complex information into plain English that meets user needs
• demonstrable experience of applying and championing content standards, accessibility requirements and editorial style guides
• practical experience of using evidence, research and analytics to improve content
• member of, or willing to join, the Content Design Academy and complete the learning content design package
• understand, or be willing to learn, agile working practices

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Under a flexible rota, you will be required to provide on-call out-of-hours and weekend cover for publishing to GOV.UK for up to 15 weekends per year.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Senior Content Designer - Design communication
• Senior Content Designer - Designing for everyone

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary – read more about