Content Designer

Job summary

We’re looking for a Content Designer who wants to make a lasting impact on how the Home Office delivers user-centred products and services.

 You’ll work in an agile, multi-disciplinary team on some of the most exciting and impactful services that government delivers for the public, as well as internal systems for more than 35,000 staff across the department.

 Some of the projects you could work on include:

• Designing our ongoing work to digitise the entire visa application process and integrating a series of separate products into a more cohesive user experience;
• Improving the technology systems for Border Force officers to reduce rework and improve their experience;
• Creating user-centred asylum application systems to make applying simpler for applicants.

You can learn more about design and research in the Home Office on our blog:

• How we collaborated across government to design content supporting Afghan resettlement
• A product-centric approach to the EU Settlement Scheme;
• How inclusive services help us to deliver effectively;
• and by looking at our design system and content style guide.

Job description

As a Content Designer, you’ll know how to:

• Make complex language and processes simple to understand
• Make the case for designing content based on user needs
• Explain your decisions clearly

You’ll work closely, and build relationships, with our internal communications teams, content designers working on GOV.UK and online services, DDaT technical teams, Home Office operational staff and policy officials.

We’re looking for people who are collaborative, inclusive, open to their work being critiqued and who are empathetic towards their colleagues and users. A healthy balance of determinism and pragmatism will be needed on our complex services and products.

If you want to join us in keeping the UK safe and secure and ensuring that our services for migrants and asylum seekers are easier and simpler to use, apply now.

Summary

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this effort since 1782. As such, we play a fundamental role in maintaining the security and economic prosperity of the UK.

The Home Office leads on immigration and passports, refugee protection, counter-terrorism, policing, fire services, and crime and drugs policy.

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) enables the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. We design and build the services that help people apply for visas or passports; support policing and counter-terrorism operations; and protect the UK’s borders.

This is an exciting time to be at the Home Office. You’ll have a chance to shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional public services that work for everyone.

Our work is guided by these principles:

• We put user needs first
• We value delivery and outcomes over process
• We work in the open

Person specification

Responsibilities 

Your main day-to-day responsibilities will include: 

• Scoping, writing and editing content for internal and public-facing digital services 
• Working as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify user needs and agree the right design approach 
• Choosing the best format for delivering content to users
• Monitoring the performance of content and tools, identifying ways to improve the service
• Working with relevant stakeholders and subject matter experts to make sure content is relevant and accurate
• Helping other team members understand what content design is, why it’s important and how to work with content designers  

You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities: 

• Contributing to the User-Centred Design community, by attending and organising events, leading discussions and workshops, and sharing ideas and best practice 
• Encourage constructive criticism of your work and constructively review the work of others, for example during peer reviews 

 Essential Skills 

 You’ll have a demonstrable passion for user-centred design, with the following skills or some experience in:   

• Writing, proofing and editing digital content in line with defined processes and standards 
• Making complex language and processes simple to understand for a non-specialist audience 
• Assessing the accessibility of online content and advising teams how to fix issues so it is inclusive and accessible to all  
• Using research, feedback and analytics to understand user needs and to inform content decisions  
• Organising and prioritising work effectively to meet rapidly changing deadlines, demands and goals 
• Building effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders 
• Providing constructive feedback on other designer’s work to support their professional development 
• Clearly articulating the benefits of adopting an accessible, user-centred design approach to stakeholders and team members  

Our skills align with the cross gov DDaT Capability Framework  

Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)