Content Designer | Contract (Upcoming Role)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Content Designer | Contract (Upcoming Role)

Company: hedgehog lab

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Content Design / UX Writing (Government Services)

Date Posted: 2026-06-16T09:11:49

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with potential 1-2 days/week in Newcastle office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This is an upcoming contract opportunity for a Content Designer specializing in government digital services.

• The role focuses on creating clear, useful, and accessible content that guides users through complex government processes.

• Success in this role requires a strong advocacy for the end-user, pushing back against jargon and unnecessary complexity.

• You will be expected to translate dense policy and legal language into plain English while maintaining accuracy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is described as an "upcoming opportunity," indicating that the application process is for registering interest rather than immediate hiring. The core focus on government digital services and specific style guides (GOV.UK, GDS) suggests a public sector or highly regulated environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and write clear, concise, and user-centered content for government digital services, ensuring accessibility and usability for diverse audiences.

• Translate complex policy, legal, or technical information into plain English, ensuring accuracy and adherence to brand voice and style guidelines.

• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary agile teams, including developers, researchers, policy advisors, and visual designers, to deliver integrated service experiences.

• Conduct content audits, user research analysis, and performance data review to inform content strategy and iterative improvements.

• Champion user needs and advocacy by challenging jargon, simplifying language, and ensuring content meets defined service standards and objectives.

• Participate actively in content critique sessions, providing and receiving constructive feedback to enhance content quality and effectiveness.

• Develop and maintain content style guides, templates, and best practices to ensure consistency and quality across government digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input provided a single sentence for core responsibilities, this expanded version details typical duties for a Content Designer in a government digital services context, emphasizing the user-centric, evidence-based, and collaborative nature of the work.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific educational qualifications are listed, a Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, HCI, or a related field is often preferred for Content Design roles. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in content design, UX writing, or a similar role, with a significant portion focused on digital services.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing content for government digital services.

• Familiarity with GOV.UK content standards and the GDS (Government Digital Service) style guide.

• Exceptional ability to translate dense policy, legal, or technical language into plain English without compromising accuracy.

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary agile teams.

• Strong proficiency in content critique, with the ability to articulate and defend content decisions clearly and persuasively to stakeholders.

• A deep understanding of user-centered design principles and user advocacy.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and interpreting research findings to inform content strategy.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) commonly used in government.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience working with data analytics to measure content performance and drive improvements.

• A portfolio showcasing successful government digital content projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level suggests a mid-level Content Designer role. The specific mention of GOV.UK and GDS style guides is a critical requirement, indicating a need for candidates familiar with UK government digital standards.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating a strong track record in content design, specifically for digital services.

• Case studies that clearly outline the user problem, your content design process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Examples of how you translated complex information (policy, legal, technical) into accessible, user-friendly content.

• Demonstrations of your ability to work within agile frameworks and collaborate with diverse teams.

• Evidence of your user advocacy and how you pushed back against jargon or complexity to improve user experience. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your process for content creation, from discovery and research through to writing, editing, and publishing.

• Illustrate your approach to content governance, style guide adherence, and ensuring content quality and consistency.

• Provide examples of how you've used data and user feedback to iterate on and improve content performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For content design roles, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis here is on demonstrating a structured process, user-centricity, and quantifiable impact within government digital contexts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract role for an upcoming opportunity, a specific salary range is not provided. However, based on industry standards for contract Content Designers in the UK with experience in government services, a day rate between £300 - £500 is a reasonable expectation, depending on experience and location.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on impactful government projects that affect citizens directly.

• Gain experience at the forefront of AI and software engineering consultancy.

• Contract role offering flexibility in engagement.

• Exposure to a company with 20 years of experience in digital transformation.

• Potential for ongoing work or future opportunities within hedgehog lab's network.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically expected for contract roles, often around 37.5-40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid, specific daily start and end times can often be negotiated within the team's agile framework, allowing for some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the contract nature and the "upcoming role" status, a specific salary range isn't available. However, providing a researched estimate based on similar roles in the UK market, along with common benefits for contract positions, adds significant value. The hybrid nature suggests a need for some office presence, likely aligning with standard full-time expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consultancy, Software Engineering, AI, Digital Transformation. hedgehog lab works with global brands and is involved in cutting-edge AI applications.

Company Size: hedgehog lab is a well-established consultancy with a significant presence, likely employing over 200 individuals, as indicated by typical consultancy sizes and their 20-year history. This size allows for structured processes while maintaining agility.

Founded: hedgehog lab was founded approximately 20 years ago, indicating a stable and experienced organization with a proven track record in the technology sector. This longevity suggests a robust operational framework and deep industry knowledge.

Team Structure:

• Content Designers likely operate within multidisciplinary project teams, forming part of a broader UX/Design capability within the consultancy.

• The reporting structure would typically involve a lead designer or a project manager, with close collaboration with product owners and technical leads.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core element, with frequent interaction between content designers, researchers, developers, and client stakeholders. Methodology:

• Adherence to agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) is standard for this type of project work.

• Emphasis on evidence-based design, utilizing user research, analytics, and data to drive decisions.

• A commitment to iterative development and continuous improvement of digital services.

Company Website: https://careers.hedgehoglab.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and software engineering, combined with their government project work, suggests a dynamic environment where content design plays a crucial role in making complex technology and public services understandable.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level (2-5 years experience) for Content Designers. It requires independent work on defined tasks and contributions to larger service design initiatives, rather than managing projects or teams.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report to a Senior Content Designer, UX Lead, or a Project Manager within the hedgehog lab team. Close collaboration with Product Owners, Developers, and User Researchers is expected.

Operations Impact: The Content Designer's impact is direct and significant, as they are responsible for the clarity and effectiveness of user interactions with government services. Well-designed content improves user satisfaction, reduces support queries, and ensures citizens can access essential services efficiently.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in government content standards, explore specialized areas like accessibility content, or develop skills in content strategy for complex service ecosystems.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to Senior Content Designer roles, lead content workstreams on larger projects, or move into Content Strategy or UX Management positions.

• Industry Exposure: Gain extensive experience with cutting-edge AI and software engineering projects through hedgehog lab's broader client base, potentially opening doors to roles in other tech sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature means growth is primarily skill-based and project-driven, rather than a linear promotion path. However, successful contract work can lead to longer engagements or full-time opportunities, as well as build a strong portfolio for future endeavors.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model. While the role is remote-friendly, there's an expectation of presence at an office in Newcastle upon Tyne for approximately 1-2 days per week. This suggests a mix of remote work and in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The role is advertised with multiple potential office locations across the UK: Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester. However, the specific requirement for occasional Newcastle presence implies that candidates should be commutable to that location.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is likely collaborative and fast-paced, typical of a digital consultancy working on agile projects.

• Access to standard design and collaboration tools will be provided.

• Opportunities for interaction with a diverse range of professionals within hedgehog lab and client organizations.

Work Schedule: Standard working hours apply, but the agile methodology may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, provided project milestones and team collaboration needs are met. The hybrid model requires coordination for in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of potential Newcastle office days is a key detail for candidates to consider, even if the role is advertised across multiple cities. This suggests a primary project team based there or a need for specific client interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV and expected day rate. Register interest for this upcoming role.

• Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications, assessing experience against requirements.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to present a portfolio showcasing relevant work, particularly government digital services. Expect to discuss your process, decisions, and outcomes.

• Interview(s): Likely involve discussions about your experience, approach to content design, understanding of government standards, and collaboration skills, potentially with a practical content exercise.

• Offer: For contract roles, this would involve agreeing on terms and day rate.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 strong case studies relevant to government digital services, GOV.UK standards, and translating complex information.

• Tell a Story: Clearly articulate the problem, your process, the challenges, your solutions, and the impact. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your user research, agile collaboration, and iterative approach to content design.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Understand your contributions thoroughly and be ready to answer questions about your decisions and rationale.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your content (e.g., reduced user errors, improved task completion rates).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a hypothetical content design task. This might involve reviewing a piece of existing content and suggesting improvements, or writing content for a given user scenario based on provided information.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, mimicking how you would explain decisions to a multidisciplinary team.

• Review the GDS Service Standard and GOV.UK content principles beforehand.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is an upcoming role, the process is inferred from typical consultancy hiring practices for contract positions, especially in the government sector. The portfolio is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with CMS platforms, potentially including those used within government (e.g., custom-built, or adaptable platforms).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management within agile sprints.

• Prototyping/Design Tools: While not a primary design tool, understanding of Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD can be beneficial for context and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or Matomo to understand user behavior and content performance.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret and potentially create basic reports or dashboards (e.g., using Excel, Google Sheets, or specialized tools) to present content metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core content design function, but understanding how content integrates with user journeys within CRM or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous for broader context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for a Content Designer in this context is more about process