Senior Content Designer, Material Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Content Designer, Material Design
Company: Google
Location: New York, NY, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Operations - GTM Enablement / Content Operations
Date Posted: October 6, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Strategic Content Leadership: Drive the vision and strategy for content within the Material Design system, ensuring a cohesive and impactful user narrative across multiple platforms and touchpoints. This role is critical for operationalizing design principles into user-facing content that enhances overall product experience.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a key liaison between UX design, product management, engineering, marketing, and customer operations teams to align on language, voice, and content solutions that address complex user, product, and business challenges.
• Process & System Improvement: Lead the enhancement and establishment of holistic UX writing and content design processes, frameworks, and patterns across various teams and products, ensuring scalability and consistency.
• User Advocacy & Data-Driven Decisions: Champion user needs by leveraging empathy, logic, and data to inform content choices, recommendations, and strategic initiatives, directly impacting user satisfaction and product adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Content Designer, Material Design," the responsibilities and emphasis on process improvement, cross-functional alignment, and strategic content leadership position this role within a broader GTM Enablement or Content Operations framework. The core function is to operationalize design intent through clear, effective content, which is a critical component of Go-To-Market strategies and internal operational efficiency for product teams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Advocate for and integrate UX writing and content design as fundamental components throughout the entire product lifecycle, ensuring user-centricity from conception to launch.
• Develop and implement innovative UX writing and content design solutions that effectively address multifaceted user, product, and business challenges, thereby streamlining operations and improving user journeys.
• Foster alignment and build consensus among product managers, engineering teams, UX designers, researchers, marketing, legal, and customer operations stakeholders to define and articulate a unified product narrative, vision, mission, and guiding principles.
• Lead the continuous improvement and establishment of comprehensive UX writing and content design processes, robust systems, scalable frameworks, and reusable patterns across multiple product teams and platforms.
• Influence and guide the prioritization of projects, strategically balancing immediate tactical needs with long-term strategic objectives to ensure alignment with overarching business goals and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize strategic influence, process leadership, and cross-functional alignment, which are hallmarks of senior operations roles focused on GTM enablement and product excellence. The focus on "holistic UX writing and content design processes, systems, frameworks or patterns" points directly to an operational mandate.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., English, Communications, Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in UX writing, content design, technical writing, editorial, marketing, or a closely related field.
• Proven track record of leading content strategy projects and shaping content for complex, multi-disciplinary product initiatives.
• Experience working within a cross-functional technology organization.

Required Skills:

• UX Writing & Content Design: Expertise in crafting clear, concise, and user-centered copy for digital products, with a strong portfolio showcasing this capability.
• Content Strategy: Ability to define and execute content strategies that align with product goals and user needs, ensuring consistent voice and tone.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success in working effectively with diverse teams, including product managers, engineers, designers, researchers, and marketing professionals.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for translating complex user, product, and business requirements into actionable content solutions and operational workflows.
• Information Architecture: Foundational understanding of organizing and structuring content for usability and discoverability.
• Empathy & User Focus: Deep understanding of user needs and the ability to advocate for the user perspective in all content decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• 5 years of experience interacting with and influencing executive leadership.
• 5 years of writing, editorial, or UX writing experience in an agency setting, demonstrating adaptability and client-focused solutions.
• 3 years of experience working in a cross-functional technology organization, ideally within a large tech company.
• Experience developing information architecture for extensive documentation sets or complex product suites, incorporating localization and accessibility best practices.
• Knowledge of online technology, web and mobile UI, and related tools.
• Familiarity with user experience research principles and practices, and the ability to leverage data for informed user insights and strategic recommendations.
• Creative writing skills for long-form content and engaging narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between minimum and preferred qualifications, particularly the emphasis on executive interaction, agency experience, and information architecture with localization/accessibility, highlights the strategic and operational depth expected from a senior-level candidate. The "shaping content for multi-disciplinary projects" implies a need for robust project and process management skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 6 years of impactful work in UX writing, content design, or related fields.
• Case studies that clearly articulate complex user problems, the content solutions designed, and the resulting improvements in user experience and operational efficiency.
• Examples showcasing the ability to define and implement content strategies for products or product suites.
• Demonstrations of cross-functional collaboration, detailing how you partnered with other teams to achieve content goals and drive product success.
• Evidence of influencing product direction and decision-making through strategic content recommendations.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of established or improved UX writing and content design processes, frameworks, or patterns that have been successfully implemented across teams or products.
• Documentation or case studies illustrating the impact of your involvement in improving information architecture, localization efforts, or accessibility standards.
• Evidence of how you have used data and user research to inform content decisions and refine operational workflows.
• Showcase of leadership in driving cohesive product narratives and unifying voice across diverse platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio with a focus on "processes, systems, frameworks or patterns" and "shaping content for multi-disciplinary projects" is a direct indicator of the operational nature of this role. Candidates must demonstrate not just writing skill, but the ability to institutionalize best practices and drive systemic improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• US Base Salary Range: $138,000 - $202,000 per year.
• Note: This range reflects the base salary only and does not include potential bonuses, equity, or other benefits. Individual pay is determined by factors such as work location, job-related skills, experience, and education.

Benefits:

• Bonus: Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Equity: Stock options or grants as part of the compensation package.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k), paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave), parental leave, and other employee wellness programs.
• Professional Development: Access to learning resources, training, conferences, and opportunities for skill enhancement relevant to operations and design.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week.
• While on-site, Google often offers flexibility in daily schedules to accommodate work-life balance and operational needs, allowing for effective management of tasks and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary range aligns with a senior-level role in a high-cost-of-living area like New York City for a major tech company. The inclusion of bonus and equity is standard for such positions. The emphasis on "operational efficiency" and "cross-functional alignment" in the role summary suggests that while the core hours are 40, the ability to manage projects effectively and be available for critical team discussions will be key.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, Design Systems, AI Research & Development. Company Size: Google is a global technology giant with tens of thousands of employees, operating across numerous product areas and geographies. This scale necessitates robust operational frameworks and clear process definitions. Founded: 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Google has a long-standing culture of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on user experience.

Team Structure:

• Core Team: This role is part of the "Core team" which builds the technical foundation for Google's flagship products. This team owns underlying design elements, developer platforms, product components, and infrastructure.
• Reporting Structure: As a Senior Content Designer, you will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the Material Design or Core team. You will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and UX Researchers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role demands extensive collaboration with product managers, engineers, researchers, marketing, legal, and customer operations. This indicates a highly integrated and collaborative team environment focused on delivering cohesive product experiences.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Decisions are informed by user experience research, data analysis, and A/B testing to ensure content is effective and meets user needs.
• Iterative Design & Process Optimization: Continuous improvement of processes, frameworks, and systems is a core tenet, driven by feedback and performance metrics.
• User-Centricity: A relentless focus on the user experience guides all product development and content decisions.
• Scalability & Efficiency: Emphasis on building foundational elements and systems that can be scaled across Google's vast product portfolio, driving efficiency and consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Google's operational ethos—data-driven, user-centric, and focused on scalable systems—is crucial for this role. The "Core team" context implies working on foundational elements that impact many other teams, requiring strong alignment and process governance.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• Senior Individual Contributor: This role is positioned as a Senior Content Designer, indicating a high level of individual expertise and the expectation of leadership in specific domains. It requires strategic thinking, the ability to influence without direct authority, and a deep understanding of operationalizing design principles. The focus on leading processes and influencing priorities places it beyond a standard contributor role.

Reporting Structure:

• You will report to a Design Manager or Lead within the Material Design organization.
• You will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Managers, UX Researchers, and other cross-functional stakeholders, acting as a central point for content strategy and execution within your product areas.

Operations Impact:

• Product Adoption & User Satisfaction: By creating clear, useful, and meaningful content, you directly impact how users interact with and understand Google products, driving adoption and satisfaction.
• Developer Enablement: As part of the Core team, your content will likely extend to developer documentation and resources, enabling external and internal developers to effectively use Google's design systems and platforms.
• Brand Consistency & Voice: You play a crucial role in maintaining Google's brand voice and ensuring a consistent user experience across all touchpoints, which is vital for brand perception and operational integrity.
• Efficiency & Scalability: By developing robust content processes and frameworks, you contribute to the overall efficiency and scalability of product development across Google.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Systems: Deepen expertise in design systems, AI's impact on design, and become a recognized leader in this specialized area within Google.
• Management Track: Potential to move into a management role, leading a team of content designers or UX writers, focusing on team development and strategic direction.
• Specialization: Develop expertise in specific areas like localization, accessibility, or content operations for AI-driven products.
• Cross-Product Impact: Expand influence to cover a broader range of Google's flagship products, contributing to their foundational design and content strategy.
• Mentorship: Mentor junior designers and writers, contributing to the overall talent development within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with responsibilities like "leading the establishment and improvement of holistic UX writing and content design processes" and "influence the development of priorities," signifies a role with significant operational impact and potential for career advancement within Google's product development structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Google is known for its vibrant and collaborative office environments. This role is on-site, suggesting a focus on in-person collaboration, team synergy, and leveraging the resources of a physical Google campus. Office Location(s): New York, NY. This location offers a dynamic urban setting with access to talent and industry connections.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Google offices are designed with various collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and informal areas to facilitate brainstorming and team interaction.
• Tools & Technology: You will have access to industry-leading design and productivity tools, including Google's internal suite of products, advanced software for content creation and management, and robust communication platforms.
• Team Interaction: Expect frequent interaction with a diverse group of colleagues, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and collective problem-solving. The on-site nature encourages spontaneous discussions and stronger team bonds.

Work Schedule:

• While the standard work week is approximately 40 hours, Google emphasizes flexibility. The on-site requirement means being present in the office, but daily schedules can often be managed to balance personal needs with team collaboration and project demands. This flexibility is key for managing complex operational tasks and ensuring timely delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role at Google suggests a strong emphasis on team cohesion, spontaneous collaboration, and leveraging the physical resources and culture of a Google campus to drive innovation and operational excellence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will assess your resume and portfolio for minimum qualifications and alignment with the role's strategic and operational demands.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on your experience leading content strategy, driving process improvements, and your understanding of design systems. Expect behavioral questions related to collaboration and problem-solving.
• Portfolio Review & Design Exercises: You will likely present your portfolio, showcasing specific case studies that demonstrate your ability to handle complex user problems, implement content strategies, and improve operational workflows. This may include a practical design exercise or a take-home assignment related to content design for a system.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential peers and stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers) to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to drive alignment across diverse teams.
• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall cultural fit within Google's operational framework.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact & Operations: Beyond showcasing beautiful copy, highlight the impact of your work. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced support queries, increased user engagement). Emphasize how your content solutions streamlined processes or improved operational efficiency.
• Process & Strategy: Clearly articulate your content strategy and the processes you followed. Detail how you navigated cross-functional teams, managed stakeholders, and influenced decisions. If you improved existing processes or created new ones, dedicate a section to this.
• Material Design Relevance: Tailor examples to demonstrate understanding of design systems, consistency, and the challenges of creating content for a scalable system.
• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives: problem, your solution (including process and strategy), and measurable results.
• Technical Acumen: Showcase any experience with information architecture, localization, accessibility, or working with technical documentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Operational Thinking: Be prepared for challenges that test your ability to think systematically about content operations, scalability, and cross-functional alignment.
• Problem Decomposition: Practice breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, identifying key stakeholders, and proposing phased solutions.
• Communication: Rehearse articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially when presenting solutions or justifying decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review for "process improvements," "operational efficiency," and "cross-functional alignment" underscores the operational nature of this role. Candidates should frame their experience around systemic impact, not just individual writing talent.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Google Workspace: Extensive internal use of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and internal collaboration tools for communication, documentation, and project management.
• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite for understanding design outputs and potentially contributing to design artifacts.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with enterprise-level CMS for managing and publishing content at scale.
• Project Management Software: Tools such as Asana, Jira, or Trello for tracking tasks, workflows, and project progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics: Proficiency in using analytics platforms to understand user behavior, track content performance, and derive actionable insights.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Looker (Google's own BI platform) for creating dashboards and reports to communicate content performance and impact.
• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools used for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM role, understanding how content integrates with CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) for user segmentation and personalization can be beneficial.
• Automation Tools: Awareness of workflow automation principles and tools that could streamline content creation, review, or publishing processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core tools are Google's internal suite, proficiency in industry-standard design, analytics, and project management tools is expected. The emphasis on data and analytics highlights the need for a data-driven approach to content operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs through exceptional product experiences. This translates to content that is helpful, accessible, and easy to understand.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Reliance on data, research, and experimentation to inform strategy, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement in content and processes.
• Collaboration & Alignment: A strong belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork to achieve shared goals. This involves proactive communication, active listening, and building consensus.
• Excellence & Innovation: A drive to achieve high standards in all aspects of work, from craft to process, and a willingness to explore new ideas and approaches, especially in the evolving landscape of AI.
• Scalability & Consistency: A commitment to building solutions and processes that can be applied broadly across Google's products, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for all users.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Initiative-Driven: Expected to take initiative in identifying opportunities for content improvement and process optimization, rather than waiting for assignments.
• Transparent & Communicative: Openly shares information, feedback, and insights with team members and stakeholders.
• Empathetic & Supportive: Fosters a positive team environment by understanding and respecting diverse perspectives and working styles.
• Process-Oriented: Values well-defined processes that facilitate efficient collaboration and predictable outcomes, while also being open to refining them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Google's culture emphasizes a blend of individual initiative, rigorous data analysis, and strong collaborative practices. For this operations-focused role, understanding how these values translate into building and maintaining scalable content systems is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity at Scale: Managing content strategy and process across Google's vast product ecosystem, which involves numerous teams, diverse user needs, and evolving technologies (especially AI).
• Balancing Tactical Delivery with Strategic Vision: Juggling immediate content needs for product launches with long-term strategic planning and process improvements for the Material Design system.
• Influencing Without Direct Authority: Driving alignment and adoption of content best practices and processes across different teams that may have their own priorities and established workflows.
• Adapting to Rapid Technological Change: Keeping pace with advancements in AI, machine learning, and their implications for UX writing, content design, and the future of design systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the intricacies of large-scale design systems, their operational challenges, and their evolution in the AI era.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone leadership skills through mentoring, project leadership, and potentially managing teams or significant functional areas.
• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Access to attend leading UX, content strategy, and technology conferences, as well as pursuing relevant certifications.
• Exposure to Cutting-Edge AI: Work directly with teams integrating AI into products, gaining hands-on experience with the operational challenges and opportunities presented by AI-driven content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for strong operational acumen, strategic thinking, and adaptability. The growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise in specialized areas and developing leadership capabilities within a complex, fast-paced technology environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the development of a content strategy for a complex product or system. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?"
  • Preparation: Focus on your strategic approach, how you aligned stakeholders (product, engineering, marketing), how you defined success metrics, and the operational impact of your strategy.
• "How would you improve the content design process for a large, cross-functional team at Google, considering scalability and consistency?"
  • Preparation: Think about process mapping, establishing clear roles and responsibilities, defining content guidelines, implementing review cycles, and leveraging tools for efficiency. Emphasize how you would gain buy-in.
• "Imagine Material Design is launching a new AI-powered feature. What are the key content considerations and operational challenges you'd anticipate, and how would you address them?"
  • Preparation: Discuss user education, ethical considerations, managing AI-generated content, ensuring brand voice, and the operational infrastructure needed to support this.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Google's Material Design system, and how do you see content playing a role in its future, especially with AI?"
  • Preparation: Research Material Design, its philosophy, and recent updates. Connect this to your understanding of AI's impact on design and content.
• "How do you approach collaborating with engineers and product managers who may have different priorities or perspectives on content?"
  • Preparation: Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaborations, emphasizing empathy, data-driven arguments, and finding common ground.
• "How do you measure the success and operational impact of your content design work?"
  • Preparation: Discuss key metrics (e.g., user satisfaction, task completion, conversion rates, reduction in support tickets, operational efficiency gains) and how you track and report them.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Highlight Operational Impact: For each case study, clearly state the problem, your process (including how you collaborated and improved operations), and the measurable results. Quantify impact wherever possible.
• Showcase Process Ownership: Demonstrate instances where you established, refined, or led content processes, systems, or frameworks. Explain the 'why' behind these processes.
• Connect to Material Design: If possible, tailor your examples to show experience with design systems, scalability, or creating content for foundational elements.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to discuss the nuances of your decisions, the trade-offs you made, and how you handled challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational leadership, cross-functional influence, and a data-driven approach, in addition to core content design skills. The ability to articulate process improvements and quantify impact is critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Content Designer, Material Design position at Google:

• Submit your application through the official Google Careers portal. Ensure your resume and portfolio link are clearly accessible.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 case studies that best showcase your experience in leading content strategy, improving operational processes, cross-functional collaboration, and driving measurable impact. Prioritize examples relevant to design systems, scalability, or complex product narratives.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "content strategy," "UX writing," "process improvement," "cross-functional collaboration," "design systems," and "data-driven decision-making." Quantify achievements whenever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Google's Material Design system, its values, and recent developments, particularly concerning AI. Prepare specific examples and stories that demonstrate your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to influence operational outcomes. Practice articulating your thought process for hypothetical scenarios.
• Company Research: Understand Google's mission, its approach to product development, and its culture. Familiarize yourself with how operations, design, and technology intersect within the company, especially within the Core team and Material Design context.

⚠️ 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.

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