Senior GOV.UK Content Designer

We're looking for a senior GOV.UK content designer to join our team. You will work as part of the Digital Communications Team (DCT) on Department for Education (DfE) specialist content on GOV.UK.

You will be a skilled editor with excellent attention to detail. You will also know how to write simply and clearly, with the user in mind, and you will have the confidence to champion high-quality content within the organisation.

You will work on high profile online content, making sure it supports other channels including customer contact, news and social media.

You'll have extensive web-based content expertise, putting user centred design at the heart of your work and championing simplicity, accessibility and ease of use.

The Department for Education (DfE) is one of the largest and highest profile departments in government. We oversee and deliver policy across all stages of education and children's services, affecting and involving the public, parents, children, teachers and other professionals.,

• Review, write, edit and publish content that meets departmental needs as well as those of our users on GOV.UK to strict deadlines using content management systems.


• Make sure that GOV.UK content is user-centred and consistently meets publishing standards.


• Use analytical skills (including Google Analytics) to evaluate the effectiveness of GOV.UK content and identify ways to improve it based on data and user feedback.


• Evaluate customer journeys on GOV.UK and make sure they are the best they can be - identifying content gaps and overlaps.


• Provide advice to colleagues across the department on user centred content design.


• Collaborate and be part of a close-knit team, working to provide the best possible customer service for our users and contributing to the team's strategic objectives.


• Coordinate programmes of content improvement across the team, planning and coordinating projects with clear evaluation and success measures.


• Work with colleagues to develop and use insight, interpreting research to better understand the needs of our users.


• Increase digital understanding across the department by acting as an advocate for the benefits of digital by default, running training and presenting to colleagues.


You'll also have the opportunity to contribute to the work of our Ministerial and Public Communications Division (MPCD) which communicates directly with the public, parliament and professional about all aspects of DfE business., At this stage, we will assess Experience. Candidates will be sifted through their CV and a personal statement.

Your personal statement should be no longer than 1000 words and display how your experience meets the essential criteria of the role, listed in the person specification section.

The sift will be restricted to just assessing your personal statement in the event of a large volume of applications.

More guidance on personal statements can be found here - completing your application.

Step 2: Interview

If successful at sift, candidates will be assessed via interview. The interview will involve Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strength based questions.

We will assess you against the following behaviours at interview:

• Working Together


• Delivering at Pace


We will also assess on these technical areas:

• GCS CORE Communications - Insight


• GCS CORE Communications - Ideas


• GCS CORE Communications - Implementation


• GCS CORE Communications - Impact


Further information on the technical skills can be found here: GCS Technical Specifications.

Strengths is a way for Hiring Managers to understand what motivates you and what you enjoy doing, which helps the panel to understand your areas of strength. Evidence shows that people do better work when a job aligns well with what they enjoy and find motivating. We don't advertise which strengths we are going to assess you on as we want to be able to assess your first, natural response to the questions.

As part of the application process, candidates will be required to complete a content design exercise at interview., Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:

• name/title


• educational institutions


• age


• gender


• email address


• postal address


• phone number


• nationality/immigration status


We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn't include ideas or work that isn't your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out., Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.,
• 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
  
  Web-based content design or editorial experience with proven ability to create online content that is accessible and user-centred, using a content management system (CMS) and a style guide.


• Ability to interpret complex content and convert into clear understandable messaging which helps users achieve their goals and supports wider communications.


• Ability to challenge constructively, using data to support your position, whilst being able to compromise where appropriate to create effective content which meets the interests of both internal and external customers., Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to work calmly even when faced with fast-paced, high pressure situations.


• Experience of working in government communications or a political environment.


• Strong analytical skills, converting data to insight with the ability to report in various formats.


• Experience of working on GOV.UK, adhering to Government Digital Service (GDS) design principles.


• Experience of working with wider government digital and communications teams, including service design, in order to create consistent user journeys across multiple channels.


• Understanding of social media and wider communications channels, integrating content into wider campaigns.


• Experience of working in an Agile environment., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

DCT is made up of professional content designers and communication managers. We look after public consultations and over 10,000 DfE GOV.UK webpages that reach over 2 million people a month. We use our expertise to help the department provide people with trusted information. We pride ourselves on that information being easy to find, understand and use. We create and improve content. We make sure it still meets a user need, is up to date, and complies with the latest standards. We deliver insight into how well the content we manage is performing and act on feedback. We use this to innovate, improve and provide a better service for our users.

You will join a high-performing team who are committed to making a strong investment in the personal and professional development of our people, and you will be supported and encouraged to develop your talent and skills.

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

• Working Together


• Delivering at Pace


Technical skills

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

• GCS CORE Communications - Insight


• GCS CORE Communications - Ideas


• GCS CORE Communications - Implementation


• GCS CORE Communications - Impact, Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department's transfer / promotion policies.


As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years' service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days' bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know, In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should