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- Tasks: Lead content design for planning appeal services, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
- Company: Join the Planning Inspectorate, a key player in England's fair planning system.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours and a hybrid work model to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Shape impactful communication while mentoring junior designers in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in user-centred design, GOV.UK guidelines, and multidisciplinary teamwork required.
- Other info: This role is based in Bristol with a focus on modernising digital services.
The predicted salary is between 45219 - 49462 £ per year.
Location: Bristol, South West England, BS1 6PN
We are looking for a Senior Content Designer to join our Appeal a Planning Decision service team. This role is central to improving our content design capability as we transition from contractor-led work to an in-house team. You will play a key role in defining content strategy, improving service communication, and ensuring content consistency across planning appeal services.
As a Senior Content Designer, you will play a vital role in shaping how our service communicates with users. You will collaborate with researchers to understand user needs and translate them into clear, accessible content. You will work with designers to create services that meet the GOV.UK service standard, ensuring consistency across the department. You will help implement design patterns across the service, working alongside project teams to build strong content standards. Additionally, you will support the delivery team in executing high-quality content work, ensuring that every aspect of the service is effectively communicated. Beyond delivering excellent content, you will play a key role in mentoring junior team members, fostering a strong in-house capability. You will advocate content best practices, helping project stakeholders understand the value of clear, well-structured communication. Your leadership will help modernise services, improve user engagement, and drive digital transformation.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy. We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
We need a proactive and experienced content professional who thrives in a multidisciplinary environment. You will be:
- An efficient communicator comfortable working with researchers, designers, and business stakeholders.
- Experienced in GOV.UK style guidelines, transforming complex guidance into clear, accessible content.
- Able to manage multiple workstreams, prioritising tasks effectively and making quick, evidence-led decisions.
- A champion of user-centred design, balancing business needs with user needs to create intuitive and effective services.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Working closely with researchers, designers, and stakeholders to shape content that meets user needs.
- Supporting the delivery team to implement content for live and developing areas of the service.
- Creating and implementing content standards that align with GOV.UK service guidelines and improve service consistency.
- Advocating content best practices, ensuring stakeholders understand and support evidence-driven content decisions.
- Mentoring junior content designers, fostering professional development within the team.
- Driving service improvements, ensuring planning appeal services communicate effectively with users.
Salary: New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. This role is being advertised at SEO grade. Salary range for the SEO Grade role is £45,219 - £49,462.
Working hours: Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available.
Office Attendance: This role is contractually based at Temple Quay House, Bristol which is currently out of use due to undergoing refurbishment work. In the interim, we have the use of alternative office space in very close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.
We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements listed:
Essential Criteria:
- Demonstrable experience of user centred content design including planning, structuring and helping the team to build workable prototypes.
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams to embed user-centred design practices and deliver continuous content design.
- Experience of applying Agile principles in practice.
- Experience of designing interactions professionally for the web and mobile in a range of design environments.
- Experience of designing accessible services based on user research outcomes.
- Experience of content design using plain English.
- Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and experience of ensuring that digital services are accessible to all users, including users with low digital skills.
- Experience with a range of content design software (e.g. Mural, MS Word).
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience designing GOV.UK services and the Government Service Standard.
Behaviours: We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Senior Content Designer - Planning Inspectorate - SEO employer: Government Digital and Data
Contact Detail:
Government Digital and Data Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Content Designer - Planning Inspectorate - SEO
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the GOV.UK style guidelines and best practices in content design. Understanding these standards will not only help you align your work with the expectations of the Planning Inspectorate but also demonstrate your commitment to user-centred design.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of content design, especially those who have experience working within government services. Engaging with others can provide insights into the role and may even lead to valuable connections that could support your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in mentoring junior team members during the interview. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully guided others, as this aligns with the responsibilities of the Senior Content Designer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to manage multiple workstreams effectively. Be ready to share examples of how you've prioritised tasks and made evidence-led decisions in previous roles, as this is crucial for success in a multidisciplinary environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Content Designer - Planning Inspectorate - SEO
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Content Designer position. Familiarise yourself with user-centred design principles and GOV.UK style guidelines, as these are crucial for the role.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your relevant experience in content design, particularly any work involving multidisciplinary teams and user research. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've applied Agile principles and created accessible content that meets user needs.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for content design and your understanding of its impact on users. Mention your experience mentoring junior team members and how you advocate for best practices in content creation. Make sure to align your skills with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, take the time to proofread and edit your documents. Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors, and that your writing is clear and concise. This reflects your attention to detail, which is essential for a content designer.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Digital and Data
✨Understand User-Centred Design
Make sure you can articulate your experience with user-centred design principles. Be prepared to discuss how you've transformed complex information into clear, accessible content that meets user needs.
✨Familiarise Yourself with GOV.UK Guidelines
Since the role involves working with GOV.UK style guidelines, brush up on these standards. Be ready to provide examples of how you've applied these guidelines in your previous work.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This position requires working closely with researchers, designers, and stakeholders. Prepare to share specific instances where you've successfully collaborated in a multidisciplinary team to achieve a common goal.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentoring Experience
As a Senior Content Designer, you'll be mentoring junior team members. Think of examples where you've guided others or advocated for best practices in content design, and be ready to discuss your approach to fostering professional development.
