Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Senior Content Designer
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Bristol, Darlington, Leeds, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda.
Local AI is a new team within MHCLG, working with councils to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in local public services. We support the responsible adoption of AI across local government, focusing on practical tools that save time, reduce costs and improve services for residents.
Local AI’s goal is not simply to introduce new technology. We work with councils and partners to solve real service challenges where AI can make the biggest difference.
Our work spans product development, service transformation, capability building and shaping the wider adoption of AI across local government. Recent examples include Local Transcribe our work supporting councils to responsibly adopt AI, and looking at how AI can play a role in temporary accommodation.
Joining Local AI offers a rare opportunity to help shape how one of the most significant changes of our time is applied in public services. You will work alongside experts from local and central government, academia and industry to test new ideas, deliver practical solutions and help improve outcomes for millions of people who rely on local services every day.
As a Senior Content Designer, you will create clear, accessible and user-centred content that helps councils and frontline workers use AI products confidently and effectively. Working closely with users and multidisciplinary teams, you will shape end-to-end content experiences, from discovery and prototyping through to live services, helping ensure products such as Local Transcribe are intuitive, trusted and meet real user needs.
Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.
Job Description
A Senior Content Designer is an expert practitioner who develops content and solutions for large-scale problems, taking responsibility for content quality. As a Senior Content Designer you’ll:
- Lead strategic content improvement projects, focusing effort on the highest priority areas, ensuring objectives are met and influencing senior partners to secure the right resources to support their strategic vision.
- Create, evaluate, update and review content strategies and solutions for ukri.org, using professional expertise, user understanding and evidence to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensure all web content meets high-quality standards and accessibility requirements and review other content designers' work to maintain consistency and quality across the site.
- Champion and participate in user research, playing an active role in journey mapping to better understand user needs and how content fits into the wider experience.
- Deliver workshops and training colleagues across the organisation, acting as an advocate for content design, the website and Government Digital Standards.
- Build and maintain a network of internal and external stakeholders, fostering proactive collaborative working and establishing productive relationships with subject matter experts.
- Help colleagues and stakeholders understand what web content design is, why it's valuable, and how to work effectively with content designers.
- Actively stay abreast of UKRI objectives and priorities and proactively keep up to date with the latest content design best practice and thinking.
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Person specification
As a Senior Content Designer You’ll Have
- Significant experience in a web content design role, making strategic decisions about content creation on a large, complex, ideally within a public sector or similarly regulated environment.
- Robust experience writing, editing and publishing accessible digital content, applying Government Digital Standards, and working with content management systems, data analytics tools and workflow management systems.
- Up-to-date knowledge of accessibility, including the needs of different users and assistive technologies, combined with exemplary editorial skills in writing plain, accessible language.
- Deep understanding of end-to-end user journeys, including content structure and user experience, and experience applying user-centred design principles and clearly articulating decisions to stakeholders.
- Experience using data, research and evidence to evaluate content and drive improvements, including familiarity with prototyping tools and agile multidisciplinary teamwork.
- Proven ability to negotiate with stakeholders, handle challenging situations and remove blockers, balancing business objectives with user needs, including putting forward the case for content design at a senior level.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain content decisions to non-experts, handle constructive criticism of your own work, and provide constructive feedback on others.
Alongside your salary of £60,230, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £17,448 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
- Behaviours
- Experience
- Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Stage 1: Sift (CV)
Experience: Your CV will be assessed against the criteria in the job description and person specification.
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
Lead sift question (Experience): Tell us about a time you used content design to help users achieve their goals or improve a service. What did you do and what was the outcome?
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Stage 2: Interview
Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together
Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Candidates invited to interview will be asked to undertake a task, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 21st September 2026.
Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
How We Recruit
Find out everything you need to know before applying here.
- Applying
- Sifting
- Interview
- Interview Results & Feedback
- Reserve List
- Near Miss
- Civil Service Grades
- We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
- Reasonable Adjustments
Human
How To Apply
What you need to know before applying.
You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.
- Security Clearance Requirements
- Civil Service Nationality Requirements
- Right to Work
- Artificial Intelligence
- Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
- CV Declaration
- Sponsorships
- Salary and Grade
- Existing Civil Servants
- Conflict of Interest
- Location and Flexible Working
- Fixed Term Contracts
- Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
- Appeals and Complaints
- Conflict of Interest
Security Clearance Requirements
National Office: BPSS
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment
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