23196 - Senior Content Designer
Role overview
Over the past few years, the Content Team at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have been working across the agency to put users at the heart of everything we do. We created the first digital exemplar service to meet the government’s service standard and aim to be a digital by default agency.
The Content Team works with developers, creative designers, policy and legal experts and operational colleagues in OPG and with the Government Digital Service (GDS). We produce high quality information and content for services that support individual and professional users. We base our work on user needs and translate these into appropriate digital and print content.
The Senior Content Designer will be responsible for championing accessible content principles across the organisation, including development of accessible digital content, alternative formats, video transcription and Easy Read format content. They will also have line management responsibility.
As part of the OPG Welsh language scheme, we promote and facilitate the use of Welsh wherever possible. The Senior Content Designer will support and promote OPG’s commitment to the Welsh Language scheme, ensuring that the Content Team are able to deliver bi-lingual content, working with the internal Welsh language coordinator to produce accessible Welsh content across multiple channels.
Key responsibilities
- Managing a small team, including Content Designers and the Content Design Support Officer
- Working to the content strategy, scoping, writing, editing and publishing digital content across various channels (including GOV.UK, digital tools/products, mobile, print, business specific)
- Making sure customer journeys are the best they can be
- Managing relationships with subject matter experts to make sure content is accurate
- Monitoring and maintaining the content calendar
- Accountable for delivering accessible content assets that are accurate, timely, high-quality (based on insight and outputs of user testing, relevant to audience, easily understood, SEO optimised) and to the department’s style
- Accountable for choosing the best format for displaying information to the user
- Making sure appropriate policy and legal checks take place within other parts of OPG, and that content is published quickly and efficiently
- Fulfilling translation requests, including alternative formats
- Uploading English and Welsh language content for GOV.UK
- Maintaining alternative formats of OPG documents
- Ensure that user research carried out by the team meets the needs of Welsh language speakers
- Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Welsh Language Coordinator for the OPG
- Working with the Senior Content Designer to ensure that content meets department requirements and fits with the overall content strategy
- Ensuring that the team meets Welsh language service requests
- Liaising with third party translation service providers
- Identifying ways to improve content and to iteratively improve the product; at ease working in an agile environment with rapidly changing deadlines, workloads and goals
Specialist skills and experience
Essential
- Strong experience of writing for the web and print, with proven ability of creating content that is accessible and usable
- Outstanding skills in convincing people that accessible content should be the organisation standard
- Proven experience in using metrics and user feedback to define/refine content
- Proven experience of working within a content development environment
- Experience in choosing the best format for displaying information to the user
- Experience in working with content publishing systems
Desirable
- Experience dealing with translation requests and commissioning translation services
- Experience with writing Markdown
- Use of Whitehall publisher
- Line management experience
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative software
- Previous experience of working within a content design role/environment would be an advantage
Form of application: CV plus a personal statement (Please use the ‘Overall Statement’ section of the application) of no more than 750 words setting out how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification
*CVs should be submitted in Microsoft word format only*
Please note, you will not be required to provide competency examples in your application, however you will be tested on competencies during the interview process.
If you are invited to interview you will be asked to complete a content design task in advance which will be marked against the Seeing the big picture competency, specifically:
- Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work
- Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area
- Seek to understand how the services, activities and strategies in the area work together to create value for the customer/end user
At interview you will be asked questions based on the following competencies:
Seeing the big picture
- Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work
- Ensure own area/team activities are aligned to Departmental priorities
- Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area
- Seek to understand how the services, activities and strategies in the area work together to create value for the customer/end user
Collaborating and partnering
- Actively seek input from a diverse range of people
- Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism and support for the shared goals of the organisation
- Deal with conflict in a prompt, calm and constructive manner
- Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department
Changing and improving
- Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner with all stakeholders and stand ground when needed
- Regularly review procedures or systems with teams to identify improvements and simplify processes and decision making
- Actively encourage ideas from a wide range of sources and stakeholders and use these to inform own thinking
- Be willing to meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same
Managing a quality service
- Make effective use of project management skills and techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions.
- Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and service standards to ensure professional excellence and expertise and value for money
- Work with team to set priorities, goals, objectives and timescales
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
27/12/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 27th December 2018 at 23:55
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference 23196
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Candidate Information
You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
- An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
- A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.