Content Designer
Government Digital Services -
Job description
As a content designer you will:
- create, improve and manage user-centered content using analytics, user feedback, user research and other sources of information
- contribute to and help develop content principles, improvements and templates used on GOV.UK
- identify the needs of users, write user stories, design content plans, create and publish content
- identity and collaborate effectively with stakeholders, making sure appropriate policy and legal checks happen within other departments of government
- develop and apply content and format strategies with support from a senior content designer
- contribute to the cross-government and GDS content community
Person specification
We’re interested in people with skills and experience in:
- content design - you should be great at creating, improving and publishing user-centred content, and you should have experience of working with content publishing systems
- using insights and analytics - you should know how to use analytics, user feedback, user research and other sources of information to make decisions about content and how to improve it
- stakeholder management - you should have experience of working with stakeholders or clients to understand their issues while maintaining content quality
- prioritisation - you should have experience of project management, including the ability to manage and prioritise different pieces of work and adapt to changing circumstances
- improving ways of working - you should know how to identify and communicate improvements to processes and ways of working
Benefits
There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:
- flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
- a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
- 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
- an extra day off for the King’s birthday
- an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
- career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
- paid volunteering leave
- a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
- job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
- advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
- death in service benefits
- cycle to work scheme and facilities
- access to an employee discounts scheme
- 10 learning days per year
- volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
- access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning
Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access 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
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
Things you need to know
Selection process details
The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:
- a simple application screening process - we only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip: please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the ‘person specification’ section above
- a task to be completed remotely within 1 week
- a video interview lasting no more than 60 minutes where you’ll be asked about how your skills and experience relate to the Civil Service Behaviours relevant to this role
Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:
- content design - you should be great at creating, improving and publishing user-centred content, and you should have experience of working with content publishing systems
In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.
For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:
- changing and improving
- making effective decisions
- communicating and influencing
- delivering at pace
We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for the content designer role:
- Agile working
- content concepts and prototypes
- stakeholder and relationship management
- strategic thinking
- user focus
- user-centred design
Recruitment Timeline
Sift completion: 17th October 2025
Panel interviews: From the 6th of November
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
Sponsorship
DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Location
Whilst this role's location is Bristol / Manchester, if you are a current Civil servant working in DSIT and based in London, you are also able to apply for this role. If you are successful, you will retain your London location and pay.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
