Science and Technology Facilities Council
Content Designer
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UK Research and Innovation Salary: £37,841 per annum. Band: UKRI Band D. Contract Type: Fixed Term (23 Months). Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available). Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid working available (minimum of 2 days a week in the office).
Closing Date: Sunday 11th October 2026.
Interviews: Week Commencing Monday 2nd November 2026.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body that invests in research and innovation. Our mission is to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.
The UKRI website, ukri.org, is a key external communications channel for the organisation. It is the front door to many other UKRI services, enabling the research and innovation community to find the right funding opportunities and support. The website raises awareness of UKRI strategy and policy and tells the story of our impact on society and the economy.
The Web Content Designer sits in the Web team, part of External Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement.
About the role
The Web team is a multidisciplinary team of content, product and delivery experts who drive forward the continuous improvement of the website, making it simpler and easier for people to understand and use.
As a Web Content Designer, your role is to ensure our web content is of a high standard, meets the needs of external audiences and is published in a timely way.
You will work on continuous improvement projects, coordinate content requests into the team, and help shape the standards and processes that underpin a usable, sustainable and accessible website.
Your responsibilities:
As a Web Content Designer, you will:
- Manage, edit and publish a range of content on ukri.org - including funding opportunities, impact stories, news and HTML publications - ensuring content is accurate, accessible and written in plain language for varied audiences.
- Scope and improve content based on user feedback, business need, research and data, finding opportunities to redesign existing content so it is easier to understand and presented in the right format.
- Ensure all content meets accessibility standards and Government Digital Standards, and that unneeded content is removed from the website in line with the content retention policy.
- Participate actively in user research and journey mapping to better understand user needs, staying up to date with how UKRI website users interact with and experience the site.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal partners and subject matter experts, influencing and negotiating to make decisions that work for external users and the organisation.
- Coordinate web content requests on a rota basis, working closely with the Delivery Manager to advise on content design needs and prioritise work as team or organisational priorities change.
- Shape content standards and guidance - including HTML, 2i processes, CMS use and accessibility - and support team training and upskilling.
- Take an active role in continuous improvement projects (EPICs), contribute to the improvement of web team workflows and participate in content design and team ceremonies as required.
- Participate in the out-of-hours web publishing rota (additional allowance given).
Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
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Essential
- Experience working as a content designer or web editor, with a track record of drafting, editing and publishing accessible digital content to GDS standards using content management systems on a large, information-rich website (S&I).
- Strong editorial, copywriting and proofreading skills, with the ability to simplify complex content and write in plain, accessible language for varied external audiences (S&I).
- A sound understanding of user-centred content design - including how to identify and apply user needs based on evidence - and a commitment to developing your practice in this area (S&I).
- Experience using data and analytics tools to evaluate content performance and implement evidence-based improvements, alongside a working knowledge of SEO principles and how they apply to content development (S&I).
- Experience working with stakeholders to collaborate on content, with a proven ability to build positive working relationships, understand other perspectives and navigate feedback constructively (S&I).
- Knowledge of accessibility requirements - including the needs of different users and assistive technologies - and experience applying Government Digital Standards in a content role (S&I).
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent pieces of work to different deadlines, adapting to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment (S&I).
- Experience improving content processes, guidelines and standards, and the ability to train colleagues either in groups or one-to-one (S&I).
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
- Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
- Flexible working options.
Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
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Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-for-ukri/.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’. https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/edi-in-the-workforce/#contents-list]
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
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 rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.
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