Scottish Government Recruitment
Content Designer
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Content Designer
The Content Design team is part of the User Centred Design team in Digital Delivery and Change Division. The Content Design team is responsible for the design and delivery of content for all our benefits. We work on continuous improvement projects and support business as usual activities. The team is multi-disciplinary and brings together a vast range of skills and expertise to ensure that clients are at the centre of the design and development of all our content design.
Content designers make things easier for people to understand and use. They make sure the appropriate content is shown to users in the right place and in the best format. This can involve creating, evaluating, updating and reviewing content at all stages of the end-to-end journey of a service (across digital and offline channels) to help users complete their goal and government deliver a policy intent.
At this role level, you will:
- be comfortable using evidence, data and research to make content decisions.
- build relationships across government to focus on the needs of the user and to influence stakeholders.
- contribute to and use the style guides and content patterns.
- engage with and contribute to the Scottish Government content design community of practice.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities
- Work in agile teams and help them to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work, define scope and agree a minimum viable product (MVP). Adapt, reflect and be responsive to feedback.
- Create prototypes and content plans to demonstrate proposed approaches to content design. Explain how the pattern choice, publishing approach and metadata will shape how the content will be published and managed.
- Prioritise and build relationships with stakeholders. Communicating with them in various ways to build consensus on content design approaches that balance the needs of the business and user.
- Establish and iterate content patterns and standards. Contribute to the creation and development of content strategies and processes.
- Create and iterate content for end-to-end services that makes complex language and processes easy to understand. Record design decisions and design debt. Provide evidence and acceptance criteria for design decisions that show how the content meets user needs.
- Use data, research and evidence to plan, write, design and edit content across multiple channels that meets content styles and standards. Set review dates and monitor the effectiveness of content to make continuous improvements.
- Engage with and contribute to the Scottish Government content design community of practice.
QUALIFICATIONS
Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/]
For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:
Experience:
- Experience of creating accessible, user-centred content.
- Experience of turning complex information and processes into clear, easy-to-understand content that provides users with the right information in the right format.
- Experience of adapting communication styles to engage different audiences and build positive relationships with stakeholders.
- Experience of using content management systems to create, manage and maintain digital content.
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Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
- Working Together - Level 3
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviour-levels/].
Technical / Professional Skills:
This role is aligned to Content Designer within the Government Digital and Data Profession.
These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework [https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/]
How to Apply
Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the Experience and Behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/introduction/] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Supporting Statement on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.
There may be a telephone interview prior to the final interview stage.
Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to an interview to assess their experience and behaviours, as well as a technical assessment comprising a writing task and a 10-minute presentation to assess their technical skills.
Full details of the interview and assessment process will be shared with shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.
We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.
Expected Timeline (subject to change)
- Sift - week commencing 21st September 2026
- Interview – week commencing 12th October 2026
- Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow
Reserve List
In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.
About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here. [https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/]
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/what-we-offer]
As part of the UK Civil Service, [https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/about-us/] we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/nationality-requirements/]
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.
If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-baseline-personnel-security-standard], or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide. [https://www.gov.scot/publications/recruitment-candidate-guide/pages/introduction/]
Equality Statement
Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot [Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot].
Find out more about our commitment to diversity [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/an-inclusive-organisation] and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments [https://www.jobs.gov.scot/requesting-adjustments-2] for anyone who needs them.
Right to Work in the UK
Social Security Scotland is an approved sponsor under the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Please note that UK immigration guidance, including skill and salary thresholds and eligible occupations, is reviewed regularly and subject to change. If you require visa sponsorship, you should check the latest criteria to confirm whether this role meets current requirements before applying. You can find further advice on Gov.UK - Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK [https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa]
Further Information
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission. [https://
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