Senior Content Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Content Designer Company: Version 1 Location: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Belfast, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-time Category: Operations - Content & User Experience Date Posted: 2025-08-04 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on enhancing user experience through clear, accessible, and inclusive content design for digital products and services.
• It requires a deep understanding of agile methodologies and a user-centric approach to content creation and service improvement.
• The Senior Content Designer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including user researchers, service designers, interaction designers, and key stakeholders.
• A significant aspect of the role involves translating complex information and organizational goals into easily digestible content that meets user needs and strategic objectives.
• The position demands strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and the ability to leverage data and user research to drive content design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Content Designer," the responsibilities and required skills, particularly around user journeys, service improvement, and collaboration with various design disciplines, suggest a strong overlap with operational excellence and GTM (Go-To-Market) enablement for digital services. This role is pivotal in ensuring the end-user experience aligns with business objectives and service delivery standards.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement user-centered content strategies for digital products and services, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and inclusivity.
• Collaborate with user researchers, service designers, and interaction designers to improve user journeys and overall content quality within agile delivery teams.
• Translate complex organizational goals, policies, and strategies into actionable content design recommendations and solutions.
• Manage and build relationships with key stakeholders, effectively representing user needs and advocating for user-centered design principles.
• Utilize user research findings, data analytics, and prototyping techniques to inform content design decisions and iterate on solutions.
• Ensure all content adheres to UK government content design standards, accessibility requirements, and best practices for digital publishing.
• Make complex language and processes simple and understandable, delivering the right information at the right time in the appropriate format for users.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of content design processes and methodologies within the organization.
• Measure and analyze the effectiveness of content through user feedback, analytics, and performance metrics, driving data-informed optimizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "improving user journeys" and "content quality" directly relates to customer success operations and can impact customer adoption and retention, which are key operational metrics. The requirement to work within "agile delivery teams" highlights an operational approach to project execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Design, HCI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in user-centered content design and its application in digital products and services.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in content design, UX writing, technical writing, or a similar user-focused content role.
• Proven experience working within agile development environments and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrable experience in stakeholder relationship management, including identifying needs, tailoring communication, and building consensus.
• Experience in evaluating and guiding strategies to meet policy, organizational, and user requirements.

Required Skills:

• Agile Working: Proficient in agile methodologies, understanding how to apply them to content design, and promoting team collaboration and iterative delivery. Experience with tools like Figma and Jira for collaboration and documentation.
• Stakeholder Relationship Management: Ability to identify, engage, and manage stakeholders, effectively representing user needs and building consensus through evidence-based communication.
• Strategic Thinking: Capacity to understand and interpret organizational strategies and policies, providing guidance on how content design aligns with and supports these objectives.
• User Focus: Ability to generate user insights from quantitative and qualitative data, formulate hypotheses, and translate user stories into effective content solutions.
• User-Centred Content Design: Expertise in simplifying complex information, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity, and applying strong editorial skills to digital content.
• Prototyping: Understanding of prototyping techniques to bring analytics and user research into design work, and collaborative experience with researchers, designers, and developers.

Preferred Skills:

• Practical understanding of UK government content design standards and accessibility requirements (e.g., GOV.UK content principles).
• Experience with content management systems (CMS) and digital publishing workflows.
• Familiarity with usability testing and A/B testing methodologies for content optimization.
• Knowledge of service design principles and how content fits into the broader service ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for UK government standards expertise is a specific, high-value skill in certain operational contexts, particularly for companies serving public sector clients. The mention of Figma and Jira points to a need for proficiency in common design and project management tools used in operational workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 3-5 significant projects demonstrating end-to-end content design processes, from research and strategy to implementation and iteration.
• Clearly articulate your role and contributions in each project, highlighting problem identification, user research synthesis, content strategy, and design solutions.
• Include examples of how you translated complex requirements into accessible and user-friendly content.
• Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., researchers, developers, designers) and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Provide evidence of how your content design efforts achieved measurable outcomes, such as improved user engagement, task completion rates, or reduced support queries.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research synthesis and how it informed content strategy and design decisions.
• Illustrate your process for creating content hierarchies, information architecture, and microcopy.
• Show examples of content audits, gap analysis, and content governance frameworks you have developed or contributed to.
• Demonstrate how you ensure content accessibility and compliance with relevant standards.
• Include examples of how you collaborate with development teams to implement content into digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, a portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical application of process improvement and efficiency. The expectation here is to see a structured approach to content strategy and execution that mirrors the analytical and systematic thinking required in operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the "Senior" title, multiple UK locations, and the specialized nature of content design within a tech services company, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Content Designers in London and other major UK cities, the estimated annual salary would likely fall between £50,000 - £75,000. This range accounts for experience level, responsibilities, and the company's positioning as a leading technology partner.

Benefits:

• Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme: Direct financial benefit tied to company performance, aligning personal success with organizational achievement.
• Strong Career Progression & Mentorship: Structured career path development, including leadership and mentorship programs, fostering long-term growth.
• Flexible/Remote Working: Offers adaptability to work-life balance needs, supporting employee well-being and productivity.
• Financial Wellbeing Initiatives: Includes pension contributions, private healthcare, life assurance, financial advice, and employee discounts, promoting overall financial security.
• Employee Wellbeing Schemes: Comprehensive support through gym discounts, bike-to-work schemes, mindfulness workshops, and employee assistance programs.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Standard and enhanced leave policies, including for life events like marriage or new parenthood.
• Educational Assistance & Incentivised Certifications: Support for continuous learning and professional development, including certifications from major tech partners (AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat).
• Reward Schemes: Recognition programs like Annual Excellence Awards and an 'Call-Out' platform for acknowledging contributions.
• Environment, Social and Community Initiatives: Opportunities for involvement in CSR activities, fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on flexibility to support work-life balance, as indicated by the "Flexible/remote working" benefit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from aggregated data for Senior Content Designers in the UK's tech and consulting sectors, considering the locations provided. The benefits package is extensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which is highly valued in operations-focused roles where employee engagement and retention are critical.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Services & Consulting. Version 1 partners with leading tech giants (Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, Snowflake) to deliver digital transformation solutions. This context means the operations and content teams likely work with cutting-edge technologies and client-facing projects. Company Size: 3300+ employees, with £300m+ revenue. This indicates a large, established company with significant resources, offering stability and opportunities for structured career growth, typical of larger operations departments. Founded: Over 28 years ago. This long history suggests a mature company culture with established processes and a proven track record in the technology services sector.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Content Designer will likely be part of a broader User Experience (UX) or Digital Services team, working within or alongside project-specific, agile delivery teams.
• These delivery teams typically include User Researchers, Service Designers, Interaction Designers, Developers, Project Managers, and Business Analysts.
• Reporting structure will likely be to a Head of UX, a Lead Content Designer, or a Delivery Lead, with close collaboration across disciplines and with client-facing project teams.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Heavy reliance on user research findings, analytics data, and user feedback to inform content design decisions and measure effectiveness.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Application of agile methodologies to content design processes, focusing on iterative development, continuous improvement, and efficient delivery of user-centered content.
• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly stated for content design, the company's tech-centric nature suggests an openness to leveraging tools and platforms that improve efficiency in content creation, management, and delivery.

Company Website: https://www.version1.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Version 1's focus on partnerships with major technology vendors implies a culture of continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies, which is highly relevant for operations professionals who must stay current with evolving tools and methodologies. The company's "Great Place to Work" accolades suggest a positive and supportive work environment, beneficial for collaborative operations teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is positioned as a senior expert in content design, expected to lead projects, mentor junior colleagues, and influence strategy. It sits within the broader operational framework of delivering successful digital products and services for clients. Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or a Project/Delivery Manager within a client-focused project team. The role involves matrixed reporting, collaborating with various project stakeholders and functional leads. Operations Impact: The Senior Content Designer's work directly impacts the usability and accessibility of client-facing products and services. Effective content design can:

• Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Reduce support costs by providing clear, self-service information.
• Enhance user adoption and engagement with digital platforms.
• Ensure compliance and reduce risk related to accessibility and regulatory standards.
• Support successful Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies by ensuring clear product messaging and onboarding.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Progress to Lead Content Designer, UX Lead, or a specialized role in UX Strategy or Content Operations. Opportunity to mentor junior designers and lead content workstreams.
• Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific sectors (e.g., public sector, finance, cloud services) where Version 1 operates, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Leadership Development: Potential to move into management roles, overseeing design teams or client engagements, by demonstrating leadership qualities and strategic impact.
• Technical Certifications: Leverage the company's support for certifications (AWS, Microsoft, Oracle) to enhance technical understanding relevant to client solutions and operational delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a need for strong process ownership and the ability to mentor, which are key attributes for growth in operations. The emphasis on client-facing impact highlights the role's alignment with business objectives and revenue enablement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees are expected to work from a Version 1 office location (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Belfast) for a portion of the week, with flexibility for remote work. This blended approach aims to foster collaboration and maintain work-life balance. Office Location(s): Multiple major cities across the UK, providing geographic flexibility for candidates. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: Offices are designed to facilitate collaboration, with meeting spaces, breakout areas, and opportunities for informal interaction with colleagues across various disciplines.
• Technology-Enabled: Access to modern office technology and digital collaboration tools (like Figma and Jira) is standard, supporting efficient project execution and content design workflows.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to engage with content designers, user researchers, service designers, developers, and project management teams, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Standard working hours are assumed to be around 40 hours per week, with the "Flexible/remote working" benefit providing significant autonomy in managing work hours and location to achieve professional and personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is common in operations roles, balancing the need for in-person collaboration on complex problem-solving with the flexibility that supports focused work and employee well-being.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior Content Designer role and alignment with requirements.
• Technical Interview/Workshop: Likely a practical exercise or case study focusing on content design skills, problem-solving, and agile application. This may involve critiquing existing content, redesigning a user flow, or developing content for a specific scenario.
• Stakeholder/Team Interview: Discussion with hiring manager and potentially team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking, career aspirations, and alignment with Version 1's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Operations: Organize your portfolio to highlight not just the final output, but the process and impact. Use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Approach (including research, strategy, collaboration) -> Solution -> Results (quantifiable impact where possible).
• Showcase Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with researchers, developers, and stakeholders. Emphasize your role in facilitating cross-functional understanding and achieving shared goals.
• Demonstrate Strategic Alignment: Explain how your content decisions supported broader business objectives, policies, or user needs.
• Highlight Efficiency: If applicable, showcase how your work streamlined processes, reduced user friction, or improved efficiency for the end-user or the client’s operational teams.
• Accessibility Focus: Clearly present your understanding and application of accessibility standards in your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Agile Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would operate within an agile team, prioritize tasks, and manage changing requirements.
• User Research Interpretation: Practice articulating how you translate user research data and analytics into actionable content design decisions.
• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare examples of how you've managed challenging stakeholder conversations or advocated for user needs effectively.
• Problem-Solving: Think about common content design challenges (e.g., complex information, user confusion, accessibility barriers) and how you would approach solving them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for senior operations roles often includes practical assessments and case studies designed to evaluate problem-solving, strategic thinking, and process execution capabilities. A well-structured portfolio that demonstrates these skills is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating user interface elements, including text and content placement.
• Jira: Key for agile project management, task tracking, workflow management, and collaboration within development teams.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with various CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, or proprietary systems) is likely beneficial for publishing and managing digital content.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) may be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Proficiency with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior, content performance, and conversion rates.
• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for surveys, user interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).
• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau or Power BI for presenting data insights, though direct use might be less common for a content designer, understanding their output is key.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how content impacts customer journeys within a CRM context (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics) can be beneficial for client-facing projects.
• Awareness of marketing automation or customer engagement platforms might be relevant depending on the specific client projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in collaboration and project management tools like Figma and Jira is critical for efficient operations and team integration. Understanding analytics tools is essential for a data-driven approach to content optimization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Success: A core value, driving the need for clear, effective content that supports client goals and user satisfaction.
• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively within agile teams and across disciplines to deliver integrated solutions.
• Innovation & Agility: Encouraging new ideas and adaptable approaches to meet evolving client needs and technological advancements.
• Excellence: Commitment to high-quality delivery, attention to detail, and continuous improvement in all aspects of work.
• Integrity & Respect: Upholding strong ethical standards and fostering an inclusive environment where all team members are valued.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively participates in agile ceremonies (stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews) and works closely with researchers, designers, developers, and product owners.
• Process Improvement Focus: Engages in team discussions to refine workflows, share best practices, and identify opportunities for efficiency gains in content design and delivery.
• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively shares insights from user research and analytics, contributes to team documentation, and mentors junior colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: Version 1's stated values, particularly customer success and agility, directly inform the expectations for how a Senior Content Designer operates within the broader organizational and project context. This role is about enabling client success through effective communication and user experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Objectives: Effectively mediating between user requirements for simplicity and clarity, and the client's strategic goals or technical constraints.
• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating differing opinions and priorities among various stakeholders to achieve consensus on content strategy and implementation.
• Adapting to Varied Project Contexts: Quickly understanding new client industries, user bases, and project goals to deliver relevant and effective content design solutions.
• Keeping Pace with Evolving Standards: Staying current with the latest accessibility guidelines, content design best practices, and emerging technologies in digital product development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in content strategy, information architecture, UX writing, accessibility standards, and agile methodologies.
• Industry Exposure: Gain experience across a range of clients and industries, broadening understanding of different business challenges and user needs.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead content workstreams, and contribute to the development of the design practice within Version 1.
• Professional Certifications: Access to company-sponsored training and certifications in areas like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or specific UX/content disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in operations and consulting, requiring adaptability, strong communication, and strategic problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities align with career progression within a professional services environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach designing content for a complex government service to ensure it's accessible to all citizens? (Focus on process, user research integration, and adherence to standards.)
• Describe a time you had to manage conflicting priorities or feedback from multiple stakeholders on a content project. How did you resolve it? (Highlight stakeholder management, communication, and consensus-building skills.)
• How do you ensure your content design work is aligned with the overall business strategy and objectives of a client? (Emphasize understanding client goals, strategic thinking, and impact measurement.)
• What is your process for auditing existing content and identifying areas for improvement? (Demonstrate analytical skills and a systematic approach to content optimization.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• What do you know about Version 1's values and how do you see them reflected in your work as a Senior Content Designer? (Research the company's mission, values, and recent successes.)
• How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially within an agile framework? (Provide examples of teamwork, knowledge sharing, and support for colleagues.)
• How do you stay updated on the latest trends in content design, accessibility, and user experience? (Showcase continuous learning and professional development habits.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the "why" (the problem/opportunity), the "how" (your process and collaboration), and the "what" (the solution and its impact).
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, increased engagement).
• Highlight Process: Walk through your methodology, showing how you used research, data, and iteration to arrive at your final content solutions.
• Engage Your Audience: Be ready to discuss your work, answer questions, and adapt your presentation based on interviewer interest. Practice your delivery to ensure clarity and confidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for senior operations roles often involves demonstrating a robust, repeatable process for tackling complex problems, managing stakeholders, and achieving measurable business outcomes. Your portfolio is your primary tool for showcasing this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.
• Portfolio Customization: Review your portfolio to select projects that best demonstrate your experience in user-centered content design, agile environments, and stakeholder management. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your process, and the measurable impact.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in this enhanced job description, such as "agile working," "user-centered content design," "stakeholder management," and specific tools like "Figma" and "Jira." Focus on achievements and quantifiable results.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare specific examples for your portfolio review and be ready to discuss your approach to common content design challenges.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Version 1's services, client base, partnerships, and company culture. Understand how their work in technology services translates into the operational needs of their clients and how content design contributes to that success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.