Lead Content Designer

18 Month Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity

£62,457 – £63,582 plus a  £3,178 pa Market Supplement

About the role

As Lead Content Designer, you will be responsible for developing the content strategy for the council website. This will include scaling up a strategic approach to improve content and user journeys, as well as refining our content management processes. 

You will contribute to a website discovery project, exploring transformative improvements to enhance the user experience and maximise the website’s value by increasing digital uptake.

In this role, you will:

• Develop and implement the website content strategy
• Review and refine processes, including managing content requests from staff across   service areas and prioritising content reviews
• Be responsible for content guidelines and communities of practice
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Work with other service leads to drive the Customer Experience roadmap, to deliver a       website that works for residents 
• Build and manage relationships with stakeholders across the council 
• Be an advocate for user-centred design and accessibility
•  Lead the Customer Experience content team.

 About you

We don’t expect you to tick every box on our job description. The most important things we are looking for are that you:

• Have experience and relevant skills in content design and strategy
• Want to make a difference to the people and communities of Hackney
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and diverse team
• Can develop and maintain good working relationships with stakeholders, advocating for user-centred design based on resident needs
• Can develop junior members of the team in content best practice.

About the team

The Customer Experience team is part of Customer Services and ICT. We’re made up of service designers, user researchers, product managers, data analysts, and software engineers. 

We formed in 2021 and have done some great work since. Such as:

• Improving content on hackney.gov.uk
• Helping to improve access to Adult Social Care services
• Reviving our Single View product
•  Completing a discovery on digital accessibility across the Council’s online services.

We’re now looking to grow the team and recruit a number of roles, including this one. 

What we do

Our vision is to help residents get the best possible services from the council. We help people find information, use services, and get support in a way that works for them. To do this we:

• Manage Hackney.gov.uk
• Partner with Customer Operations
• Work with teams from across the council
• Follow the methods set out in the Government Service Manual.

What we love about working for Hackney

Some things we love about working for Hackney: 

• Doing work that has a positive impact on residents’ lives
• Amazing colleagues who are brimming with enthusiasm and ideas to help improve the services we deliver
• We are proud of having a diverse workforce that reflects our community
•  Flexibility of hybrid working and being able to have a good work-life balance
• No one day is ever the same and you’ll get to work across a wide range of services.

In return you will benefit from:

• A generous holiday allowance of 28 paid days, rising to 33 days (after 5 years) plus bank holidays
• Membership of the excellent Local Government Pension Scheme
• Standard 36 hour week (7.2 hours per day, Monday to Friday)
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities 
• Comprehensive range of staff benefits such as childcare vouchers, new technology schemes, Cyclesheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts at leisure centres (Better), restaurants, shops and other local establishments.

Where we work

We offer hybrid working. You will be expected to come into our offices in the Hackney Service Centre to work with your team for a minimum of two days a month, however many of us prefer to come in more frequently. Like many organisations, our hybrid arrangements are evolving and you may be expected to work from the office more frequently in future.

Talk to us or ask any questions 

If you’d like an informal chat about the role, you can speak to Laura McAllister, Product Manager. Email her at: laura.mcallister@hackney.gov.uk.

There is no better place to work in London than Hackney; we have great pride in our borough, our communities, and our services. Hackney is one of London’s most vibrant and diverse boroughs. It’s one of the most sought after areas to live in London with good schools, parks and local amenities, as well as great transport links and vibrant and diverse communities.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

The recruitment process is anonymous. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.

When applying, there will be a number of questions relating to the post on the application form. It is essential that you complete the application questions, responding to each using examples of your skills, knowledge and experience.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions or any part of the application form.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 02 June 2024 (22:59)

Interview date: 17 June 2024

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk