Content Designer - Planning Inspectorate - HEO

Location

Bristol, South West England, BS1 6PN

About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Content Designer to join our Appeal a Planning Decision service team. Our goal is to enhance services that support planning appeals, making information clear and accessible. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to our services.

As a Content Designer in the Appeal a Planning Decision service team, you will play a crucial role in shaping how we communicate with users. You will work closely with researchers to understand user needs and translate them into clear, accessible content. You will collaborate with designers to create services that meet GOV.UK service standards, ensuring consistency and ease of use.

Additionally, you will help implement design patterns across the service, working alongside other designers and project teams to build strong content standards within the department. Your role will be integral to supporting our delivery team in maintaining high-quality service communication.

Beyond your core responsibilities, you will advocate for content standards, support colleagues in producing quality work, and take ownership of your professional development to strengthen the team and service further.

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 more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services. 

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Job description

We need an adaptable and efficient communicator who thrives in a multidisciplinary team. You will be proactive, a team player, and comfortable working with researchers, designers, and business stakeholders.

Your work will involve:

• Collaborating with researchers, designers, and stakeholders to understand complex user needs and translate them into clear content.
• Supporting the delivery team to implement high-quality content for both live and developing areas of the service.
• Creating and implementing content standards that align with GOV.UK service standards and improving design patterns across the organisation.
• Advocating for content best practices within project teams and ensuring the service communicates effectively with users.

Managing priorities and making decisions based on user needs and research findings. 

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 HEO Grade. 

Salary range for the Grade role is £36,396 - £39,424 

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.

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements listed: 

Essential Criteria

• 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. 
• 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. 

Experience

• See Essential Criteria

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing