Senior/Staff/Principal Content Designer (CMS)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior/Staff/Principal Content Designer (CMS)

Company: Skylight

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Content Design / UX Content Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-02-11T19:22:46

Experience Level: Mid to Senior Level (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on enhancing government services by creating user-centered, plain-language content, particularly for individuals navigating complex systems like Medicaid.

• The position involves strategic thinking about content's role in user experience and business objectives, advocating for best practices, and influencing stakeholders.

• Key responsibilities include writing UX copy, developing content governance strategies, and conducting user testing to refine content for maximum clarity and accessibility.

• The role demands a strong understanding of policy translation, particularly within the healthcare sector, to ensure regulatory alignment and effective communication with beneficiaries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title includes "Senior/Staff/Principal," indicating a broad range of experience levels are being considered, from experienced individual contributors to potentially lead or architect roles within content design. The salary ranges provided confirm this, spanning from $150,000 to $230,000. The "CMS" in the title likely refers to Content Management System, suggesting familiarity with such platforms is beneficial, though not explicitly a primary requirement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement user-centered content strategies for government agencies, focusing on improving public service delivery.

• Research, write, edit, and organize clear, usable, and accessible content for government programs, initiatives, and digital platforms.

• Craft effective UX copy, including microcopy, error messages, notifications, and in-product text, to guide users seamlessly through digital experiences.

• Establish and maintain a consistent content tone and voice across various government service touchpoints.

• Design and facilitate content strategy workshops, driving consensus and alignment among internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Translate complex federal and state policies, particularly Medicaid regulations, into easily understandable plain-language content for diverse user populations.

• Develop and refine state notices, outreach materials, and integrated, multi-channel communications (e.g., paper, SMS, portal messages) to engage beneficiaries effectively.

• Partner with state agencies to ensure consistent, standards-driven messaging that supports beneficiaries through critical processes like renewals and reporting.

• Advocate for and train teams and stakeholders on content design best practices, fostering a culture of user-centricity.

• Employ an evidence-based decision-making approach to content design, utilizing user testing and feedback to iterate and improve content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily emphasize the translation of complex government policies (specifically Medicaid) into user-friendly content. This points to a need for deep understanding of regulatory environments and the ability to bridge the gap between policy and user needs, a critical aspect for operations professionals working with government contracts or public sector clients.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Communications, English, Journalism, HCI, UX Design, or Public Policy is often preferred in professional services environments. Substitutions may be allowed for federal contracts requiring a degree.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in content design, UX writing, or content strategy, with a proven track record of creating user-centered content for complex systems. Experience in professional services or client-facing roles is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to advocate for and implement user-centered content design best practices.

• Strategic thinking regarding content's impact on user experience and business objectives.

• Demonstrated experience in conducting user research and applying evidence-based methods to content design decisions.

• Expertise in writing clear, usable, and accessible plain-language content.

• Proficiency in crafting UX copy, including microcopy, error messages, and in-product text.

• Ability to develop and define content standards, style guides, and tone of voice.

• Basic technical skills, including editing website content with markup languages (e.g., HTML).

• Excellent communication and client management skills, suitable for a professional services environment.

• Passion for improving public services and advancing equitable outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience collaborating directly with state government partners.

• Specific experience with Medicaid, Medicare, or other healthcare programs.

• Competency in service design, user experience (UX) research, or product design methodologies.

• Prior experience working within the civic tech space.

• Experience working effectively in a remote-team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice-to-have" qualifications are particularly relevant for roles involving government contracts. Experience with Medicaid and state government collaboration directly addresses the core focus of this role, suggesting candidates with this background will be highly competitive. The emphasis on "advocating for value" and "evidence-based decision-making" highlights the strategic and analytical aspects expected of senior operations professionals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 1-2 impactful work samples that demonstrate expertise in user-centered content design, plain language, and strategic content application.

• Samples should highlight the ability to translate complex information into accessible content, ideally with examples related to government services, policy, or healthcare.

• Demonstrated ability to adapt content for various channels and user needs (e.g., web UX copy, policy summaries, outreach materials).

• Evidence of user testing and iterative content refinement based on feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of content strategy development, including research, planning, and governance frameworks.

• Case studies detailing the process of writing and refining UX copy, or complex informational content.

• Documentation of user testing methodologies and how feedback informed content improvements.

• Work samples that showcase the ability to set content tone, voice, and standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on content strategy and user experience within government services, a portfolio is critical. It needs to not only showcase writing quality but also strategic thinking, user empathy, and the ability to manage complex information and stakeholder needs. For operations professionals, framing portfolio pieces around process improvement, efficiency gains, and measurable outcomes (even if qualitative in content design) will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Associate Content Designer: $90,000 – $125,000

• Content Designer I: $120,000 – $140,000

• Content Designer II: $135,000 – $160,000

• Senior Content Designer: $150,000 – $185,000

• Staff Content Designer: $170,000 – $203,000

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Robust insurance coverage: Short-term and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance.

• Savings and spending accounts: Dependent care FSA, healthcare FSA, and health savings account (HSA).

• Retirement savings: Generous dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 10% of salary with no vesting period.

• Paid time off: Flexible PTO policy (approx. 25 days/year) plus 11 paid federal holidays.

• Family support: Up to 12 weeks of paid time off for new parents (birth, adoption, foster).

• Performance-based incentives: Annual salary increases, annual performance bonuses, spot bonuses, and stock options.

• Sales and referral bonuses: Business development/sales bonuses and referral bonuses.

• Professional development: Annual $2,000 allowance for professional development and $750 for tech-related purchases.

• Perks: Annual $100 swag budget and dollar-for-dollar charity donation matching up to $500 annually.

• Work environment: Flexible, remote-friendly work environment.

Working Hours: This is a full-time, exempt position, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility afforded by the remote work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges are competitive for senior-level roles in the US, especially for specialized fields like content design within government consulting. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the 401(k) match with no vesting period and generous professional development allowances, indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and growth, which is attractive to operations professionals seeking long-term career stability and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Consultancy focused on improving Government Services and Public Sector technology. Skylight operates at the intersection of technology, design, and public service, aiming to modernize how government agencies serve citizens.

Company Size: Skylight is a growing organization. While the exact number of employees isn't specified, the range of roles from "Associate" to "Principal" and the mention of a "growing team" suggest a mid-sized to large consultancy with established processes and a significant client base.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the company's focus on modernizing government services implies a relatively modern establishment, likely within the last 5-15 years, aligning with the growth of civic tech.

Team Structure:

• Content designers work within cross-functional teams alongside UX researchers, product designers, strategists, and engineers.

• These teams are typically structured around specific client projects or government service areas.

• Collaboration is key, with content designers acting as advocates for user-centered content practices across the team and with clients.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: All work is grounded in understanding and meeting user needs, driven by research and testing.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Content strategies and specific content choices are informed by user data, testing results, and policy requirements.

• Agile & Iterative: Projects likely follow agile methodologies, allowing for flexibility, continuous feedback, and iterative improvement of services and content.

• Plain Language & Accessibility: A core operational principle is ensuring all content is clear, accessible, and understandable to a broad audience, adhering to government standards.

Company Website: https://skylight.digital/

📝 Enhancement Note: Skylight's mission to improve public services through design and technology is a significant draw for professionals seeking purpose-driven work. Understanding this mission is crucial for candidates to align their motivations and demonstrate cultural fit. For operations roles, this means understanding how efficiency and effectiveness are defined within the context of public good, not just profit.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role spans Senior, Staff, and Principal levels, indicating a significant scope of responsibility.

• Senior: Expected to independently lead complex content initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to content strategy development.

• Staff: Expected to lead major projects, influence broader content strategy across multiple domains, and act as a subject matter expert.

• Principal: Expected to set strategic direction for content design at an organizational level, drive innovation, and be a key voice in client engagements and business development.

Reporting Structure: Content designers typically report into a design leadership structure, working closely with project managers, service designers, and client agency representatives. They are integral to project teams, collaborating daily with diverse functional roles.

Operations Impact: Content designers at Skylight directly impact the effectiveness and accessibility of government services. By simplifying complex information and improving user journeys, they:

• Increase user engagement and program participation.

• Reduce confusion and support costs.

• Enhance trust and transparency between government agencies and citizens.

• Contribute to equitable outcomes by ensuring all individuals can access essential services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like Medicaid policy content, UX writing for complex systems, or content governance frameworks.

• Leadership Development: Progress into Staff or Principal roles, leading larger initiatives, managing teams, and influencing organizational strategy.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to service design, UX research, product management, and government consulting practices.

• Client Engagement & Business Development: Develop skills in client relationship management, proposal writing, and strategic consulting.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to thought leadership in the civic tech and public interest technology space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-level nature of this role (Senior/Staff/Principal) offers a clear career progression path. Candidates should consider which level they are best suited for based on their experience and aspirations, and how their operational background can contribute to these higher levels of impact and strategic influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, offering maximum flexibility in terms of location within the United States.

Office Location(s): While the company is headquartered in the US, the role is remote and can be performed from anywhere within the United States (excluding US territories). Specific client engagements may require occasional travel.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: The work environment is optimized for remote collaboration, utilizing digital tools for communication, project management, and design.

• Technology & Tools: Employees have access to necessary technology and are provided with allowances for tech-related purchases, ensuring they have a productive remote setup.

• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, team check-ins, and collaborative sessions are standard to maintain team cohesion and project momentum. The culture encourages empowering employees to "unleash their superpowers for public good."

Work Schedule: The position is full-time and exempt. While standard working hours are implied, the remote nature generally offers flexibility in structuring the workday to accommodate personal needs, provided project deadlines and collaboration needs are met. This flexibility is beneficial for operations professionals who may need to balance deep work with communication across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: A fully remote environment requires strong self-discipline, time management, and communication skills – all critical for operations roles. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they maintain productivity and collaboration in a remote setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application Submission: Submit resume and a portfolio of 1-2 relevant work samples. Ensure easy access to portfolio materials.

2. Initial Screen: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications to assess qualifications and fit.

3. Skills Assessment/Interview: Candidates may undergo interviews focused on content design skills, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and experience with relevant tools and methodologies. This might include a portfolio review.

4. Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with potential team members and stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style, cultural fit, and ability to work within a cross-functional government consulting environment.

5. Final Interview: Typically with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and confirm fit for the Senior/Staff/Principal level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 1-2 pieces that best showcase your skills relevant to the job description, particularly those demonstrating plain language, user-centered design, policy translation, or government service improvement.

• Tell a Story: For each sample, clearly articulate:

  • The problem or challenge you addressed.
  • Your specific role and contributions.
  • The process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing).
  • The outcomes and impact achieved (quantifiable if possible, qualitative impact is also valuable).

• Highlight Operations Relevance: Frame your content design contributions in terms of efficiency, clarity, reduced errors, improved user adoption, or enhanced accessibility – all key metrics in operations.

• Provide Access: Ensure any passwords or access details for your portfolio are readily available for prompt review.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Case Studies: Be prepared for potential case studies or exercises that simulate real-world challenges, such as simplifying a complex policy document or designing content for a specific user journey in a government service.

• Demonstrate Process: Focus on explaining your thought process and methodology rather than just the final output. How would you approach the problem? What questions would you ask? What research would you conduct?

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your rationale clearly and persuasively, as if presenting to both technical teams and non-technical government stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio and specific work samples is critical for this role. For operations candidates, this means thinking about how to translate their project management, process optimization, or data analysis experience into tangible "deliverables" that demonstrate impact, even if the core role is content design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with various CMS platforms is likely expected, given the "(CMS)" in the job title. Examples could include WordPress, Drupal, or custom government-specific platforms.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

• Project Management Tools: Asana, Jira, Trello, or similar tools for tracking tasks, workflows, and project progress.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: While not a primary design role, understanding tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD can be beneficial for collaborating with UX/UI designers and understanding prototypes.

• Documentation Tools: Confluence, Notion, or internal wikis for documenting processes, standards, and research findings.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics or similar tools to understand user behavior on digital platforms.

• User Feedback Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Hotjar, or direct user interview platforms to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback.

• Performance Metrics: Ability to track and report on content performance using relevant KPIs (e.g., clarity scores, task completion rates, engagement metrics).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how content integrates with user journeys managed by CRMs or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous. Familiarity with how content supports user onboarding, engagement, and retention strategies is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is content-focused, a strong understanding of the technology landscape that supports digital services is crucial. For operations professionals, highlighting experience with system integration, workflow automation, data analysis tools, and reporting dashboards will demonstrate a transferable skill set.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: Placing the needs and experiences of citizens at the forefront of all content and service design decisions.

• Plain Language & Accessibility: Commitment to making information clear, understandable, and accessible to everyone, regardless of background or ability.

• Impact & Public Good: A shared passion for using design and technology to create meaningful improvements in public services and societal outcomes.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing diverse perspectives and working together across disciplines to achieve common goals.

• Evidence-Based Practice: Relying on research, data, and user feedback to guide decisions and measure success.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative approach to design and development, always seeking ways to refine and enhance services.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Content designers are key collaborators on multidisciplinary teams, working closely with researchers, strategists, engineers, and project managers.

• Client Partnership: Building strong, trusting relationships with government agency clients, acting as advisors and partners in service improvement.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment of open dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing to support learning and project success.

• Advocacy: Proactively championing user needs and content best practices within project teams and client organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Skylight's values are deeply tied to its mission. For operations candidates, demonstrating an understanding of how efficiency, process, and data can serve the "public good" is key. This means framing operational improvements not just in terms of cost savings or revenue, but in terms of improved citizen access, reduced confusion, and better outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Bureaucracy: Working within government agencies often involves complex approval processes, legacy systems, and diverse stakeholder needs which can slow down innovation.

• Translating Policy: Effectively simplifying highly technical or legalistic government policies into accessible content requires deep analytical and communication skills.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the impact of content design in government services can be challenging, requiring creative approaches to user research and data analysis.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring a consistent user experience and brand voice across disparate government systems and channels requires robust content governance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to professional development budgets for courses, conferences, and certifications in content strategy, UX writing, service design, or government policy.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from senior and principal-level designers and consultants within Skylight, gaining insights into leadership and strategic client management.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a variety of government service projects allows for broad learning across different domains (e.g., healthcare, benefits, civic engagement).

• Career Pathway Framework: Skylight provides a clear "Career Pathways framework," offering guidance on skill development and advancement opportunities within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals can leverage their experience in process improvement and change management to address challenges like bureaucracy and consistency. Highlighting how they have previously navigated complex organizational structures or implemented standardized processes will be valuable.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex policy or technical document into plain language for a specific audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology, user research, and impact.)

• "How do you approach developing content standards and a consistent voice for a large, complex service or organization?" (Highlight your experience with governance, style guides, and stakeholder alignment.)

• "Imagine you're designing content for individuals applying for Medicaid. What are the key considerations, and how would you ensure accessibility and clarity?" (Demonstrate your understanding of user needs, policy implications, and plain language principles.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for a digital consultancy focused on government services, specifically Skylight?" (Connect your values and career goals to Skylight's mission.)

• "How do you see your skills contributing to improving public outcomes?" (Emphasize the impact of your work beyond just content creation.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each work sample, use a clear structure: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Quantify Where Possible: If you can, provide metrics on how your content improved engagement, reduced errors, or increased task completion. If not, describe the qualitative impact clearly.

• Focus on Process: Explain how you arrived at your solutions. This is crucial for demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

• Highlight Adaptability: Show how you adapted your approach based on user feedback, policy constraints, or project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations candidates applying to a content design role, it's vital to frame their experience in terms of process, efficiency, and impact. When discussing their portfolio or answering strategy questions, they should draw parallels to operational principles like workflow optimization, stakeholder management, and data-driven decision-making.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent content design position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form thoroughly.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 high-impact work samples that best demonstrate your skills in user-centered content design, plain language, and strategic application, ideally with relevance to policy translation or public services. Ensure easy access to all materials.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences related to content strategy, UX writing, plain language, policy interpretation, user research, and cross-functional collaboration. Emphasize achievements that demonstrate impact and efficiency.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio pieces, focusing on your process, problem-solving approach, and the measurable outcomes of your work. Be ready to discuss your motivations for working in public sector consulting.

• Research Skylight: Understand their mission, values, and the type of work they do. Familiarize yourself with their "Career Pathways framework" and "join page" for insights into their culture and interview process.

⚠️ 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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