About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Content Designer for our intranet. This is a full-time position and the post sits within the Internal Communications team, however, they will work very closely with both the communications and technology group to deliver the service our staff expects and needs, reflecting the ownership of the channel.

UKHSA is undergoing a programme of extensive organisational and cultural evolution as the agency establishes itself. The post-holder will work with senior leaders to provide specialist advice built on insight to create and develop digital content that reflects and supports the evolving phase of our organisation. 

The UKHSA internal communication and intranet team is at the heart of UKHSA leadership and decision-making. They influence departmental culture and behaviour through a high impact programme of exciting communication, channels’ development, and content. 

The UKHSA’s intranet – Pulse - is a platform that provide vital information to a workforce of 8000 people, who cover a variety of roles and responsibilities. It is the single trusted source of information for staff who are spread across many locations. Pulse and the work of the content design team that services it provides significant value to the organisation by providing UKHSA’s “digital HQ” – a place where our staff can connect, collaborate and stay informed about the latest news and information needed to do their jobs effectively, or to create content, ideas and knowledge. 

At UKHSA, the intranet is co-owned by the communications directorate – responsible for the service the intranet provides and for its content (service owner) and the technology directorate – responsible for managing the channel as a product (product owner).

We are looking for a Senior Content Designer to contribute to this important platform’s content.  The post sits within the Internal Communications team, however, they will work very closely with both the communications and technology group to deliver the service our staff expects and needs, reflecting the ownership of the channel.

UKHSA is undergoing a programme of extensive organisational and cultural evolution as the agency establishes itself. The post-holder will work with senior leaders to provide specialist advice built on insight to create and develop digital content that reflects and supports the evolving phase of our organisation. 

Pulse has been developed iteratively, based on the Government Digital Service Manual. An MVP was launched in October 2021 and content from audits of predecessor organisations was migrated and rewritten to fulfil the ‘day one’ requirements of UKHSA.

Since then, a significant amount of new content has been developed along with a new governance structure for content ownership and maintenance by devolving authorship to business areas. We now seek to move Pulse’s content team towards a more proactive and strategic approach to content development and maintenance.

 

Location

UKHSA Canary Wharf, 10 South Colonnade, London E14 5EA

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

Job description

You will plan and deliver the content for a number of areas of UKHSA’s work. Working with subject matter experts and devolved content authors, you will develop an understanding of what users need of UKHSA’s content and how to meet their needs, drawing on insight from user research, website analytics, and your professional experience. You’ll then support devolved authors to develop content, or design and create it yourself.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Playing a leadership role in facilitating the development of UKHSA’s content, working closely with and advising devolved content authors
• Embedding a digital culture across UKHSA, with a focus on user needs and delivering services that meet the Digital by Default Service Standard
• Leading on developing and delivering content for UKHSA, working with devolved content designers
• Leading on developing user needs, reviewing existing content against them, identifying content gaps and overlaps, and shaping and developing content to meet user needs
• Through the devolved content authors scheme, supporting the work to encourage business areas to own and manage their content on the intranet
• Carrying out light-touch user research (e.g. qualitative interviews, workshops, testing days) and website performance analysis, and working with research and performance specialists
• Scoping, commissioning, writing, editing and publishing content to style, using a content management system
• Drawing on user research and analytics to develop content that meets users’ needs
• Coaching UKHSA colleagues so they are able to write in plain English
• Maintaining devolved content authors’ knowledge
• Managing relationships with subject matter experts to make sure content is accurate
• Advising colleagues on developing good digital products, outside content itself
• Monitoring the performance of content and tools, and work with the rest of the digital team to improve them
• Identifying ways to improve the content, and work with the team to make these things happen
• Working in an agile team

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• Leading content designers or content editors
• Influencing senior stakeholders to follow user-centred methods
• Building relationships with specialist colleagues, coaching them in writing for the web and in plain language
• Setting and maintaining content design standards
• Strong digital skills and the ability to use or learn new tools (content management systems, Jira)
• Working as a content designer or senior content designer in government

Desirable

• Working in an agile environment
• Experience in a related digital discipline, including user research, service design or content strategy

Benefits

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 500 words. We will be assessing 3 behaviours at sift. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.  Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process and will be scored.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours/experience/technical ability through Success Profiles.

When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Candidates will be required to do a 10-15 min test.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline: TBC

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 7th January 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: 23rd - 24th January 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.