Content Designer

Job summary

As a content designer, you’ll work as part of the GOV.UK team collaborating with teams across UKHSA. Content designers make things easier for people to understand and use. They are practitioners who can take a high-level view of how a user’s content journey maps to government processes.

You will develop and publish content, working closely with subject matter experts including scientists and senior policy leads. This will include commissioning, writing, editing and publishing using Whitehall Publisher content management system. You will be expected to write and edit following a style guide, and to get the correct approvals for content.

During a public health incident (where UKHSA is often the primary responding agency) you will be expected to work at pace if required, maintaining content standards in a potentially intensive publishing environment.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

You will be expected to lead complex content design projects end-to end, managing the quality and delivery timelines. You will train new team members and devolved editors across UKHSA, be responsible for developments on our Jira Service Desk platform and manage user-research projects. The post holder will take responsibility for maintaining and improving standards and be one of the organisation’s expert leads on scientific and health communication, including the use of plain English and the application of statutory accessibility guidance. They will be expected to train and advise junior colleagues and external stakeholders where required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Editorial production

• develop content for UKHSA’s digital channels, such as GOV.UK and ensure content design best practice and principles are applied
• develop user needs, review existing content against them, identify content gaps and overlaps, and shape and develop content to meet user needs
• scope, commission, write, edit and publish content to style, using Whitehall Publisher content management system
• draw on user research and analytics to develop content that meets user needs
• coach UKHSA colleagues so they can write in plain English
• manage relationships with subject matter experts and other stakeholders to make sure content is accurate and meets both business requirements and user needs
• monitor the performance of content and tools, and work with the rest of the publishing team to improve them
• help to embed a digital culture across UKHSA, with a focus on user needs and delivering services that meet the Digital by Default Service Standard
• manage complex collaborative editorial and digital projects
• develop and implement appropriate publishing policies
• maintain effective relations with senior managers and staff within the organisation and with the appropriate external stakeholders
• develop and uphold the UKHSA editorial house style in line with the GDS Style Guide
• to use workflow management systems, in particular Jira

Resource management

• to ensure colleagues and staff across the wider agency have prompt access to editorial advice and support whenever it is needed

Other

• the above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate
• the job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Proven experience of writing for the web, with ability of creating content that is accessible and usable and meets organisational objectives
• experience of user-centred content design methods, best practice and appropriate tooling
• Knowledge of Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and how to make content compliant
• Experience of writing and editing accessible and usable content using a style guide and design standards, using feedback, research and analytics to make strategic content decisions
• Using content management systems and basic image editing
• Experience in using metrics and user feedback to define and refine content
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships and influencing others to gain support for user-centred standards and ways of working

Desirable criteria:

• Experience in advising colleagues on digital projects
• Knowledge of migrating volume content, including rebranding and/or archiving legacy content
• Knowledge of health protection issues, such as infectious diseases
• Working knowledge of prototyping tools (for example, Figma)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviour and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (7) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Proven experience of writing for the web, with ability of creating content that is accessible and usable and meets organisational objectives
• experience of user-centred content design methods, best practice and appropriate tooling
• Knowledge of Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and how to make content compliant

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates. (delete if there are no desirable criteria).

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service - Lead behaviour
• Delivering at Pace

You will be required to prepare a presentation which will be assessing the behaviours mentioned above. The full topic will be shared at the interview stage.

Interviews dates are to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in Canary Wharf.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at our office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

ecurity Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria – External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

Please note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.
The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any
reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability
Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be
checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional
circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk