Senior Content Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Content Designer

Company: myCareer - NSW Government

Location: New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Part-Time, Temporary

Category: Digital Design & Content Operations

Date Posted: April 22, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (1-2 days in office required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and ongoing enhancement of the Service NSW Global Experience Language (GEL), encompassing editorial guidelines and accessibility standards.

• Drive the creation of clear, user-centered content that effectively simplifies complex government service processes for over 8 million NSW residents.

• Champion and promote best-practice content design principles and standards across Service NSW and other NSW Government agencies.

• Foster collaborative relationships within cross-functional product teams, including Product Managers, Designers, and Developers, to ensure cohesive digital experiences.

• Play a pivotal role in key initiatives such as improving Design System documentation and governance, integrating AI-driven content workflows, enhancing accessibility across digital products, and optimizing content migration and communication strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a senior position within a government digital services agency, focusing on the foundational elements of user experience through content design and design systems. The emphasis on "operations" here relates to the operationalization of content standards, governance, and the systemic application of design principles across a large government entity, rather than traditional revenue or sales operations. The "Senior" title and the scope of work suggest a need for leadership in defining and implementing content strategies and best practices.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead improvements and ongoing development of the Service NSW Global Experience Language (GEL), including editorial guidelines and accessibility standards.

• Develop clear, user-centred content that simplifies complex government processes and enhances citizen access to services.

• Support and promote best-practice content design across Service NSW and other NSW Government agencies, acting as a subject matter expert.

• Collaborate effectively within cross-functional product teams, including Product Managers, Designers, and Developers, to deliver integrated digital solutions.

• Contribute to key initiatives such as improving Design System documentation and governance, exploring AI-driven content workflows, driving accessibility uplifts across products and the design system, and implementing content migration and communications improvements.

• Identify opportunities for content improvement projects, evaluate their impact on user experience and operational efficiency, and propose actionable solutions.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of content design within the Design Systems (GEL) team, ensuring alignment with broader government digital transformation goals.

• Mentor and guide junior content designers or team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on content creation, and a strong emphasis on systemic improvement through design systems and best practice dissemination. The role requires not just execution but also influence and mentorship within a large, complex government organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in content design, UX copywriting, technical writing, or a similar role, with a proven track record of simplifying complex information.

• Demonstrated experience working within or contributing to a Design System environment, including developing or maintaining editorial guidelines and component documentation.

Required Skills:

• Content Design Expertise: Proficient in creating clear, concise, and user-centred content for digital products and services.

• UX Copywriting: Strong ability to write compelling and effective copy that guides users through complex journeys.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in developing, documenting, or maintaining elements of a design system, including content standards and guidelines.

• Accessibility Standards: Deep understanding and practical application of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and user-centred design principles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams (Product Managers, Designers, Developers) in an agile environment.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent skills in communicating and influencing stakeholders across various levels and departments.

• Time Management & Prioritization: Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

• Documentation & Governance: Experience in creating and maintaining documentation, including editorial guidelines and governance frameworks.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-driven content workflows and tools.

• Familiarity with content migration strategies and execution.

• Experience in developing and promoting content strategy across an organization.

• Knowledge of government service delivery and citizen engagement.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) and their impact on content operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "design system" and "accessibility" indicates a need for a candidate who understands how content functions as a core component of a scalable and usable digital framework, requiring a systematic approach to content creation and governance.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Content Design Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process from problem identification to solution implementation for complex content challenges. Highlight the user research, content strategy, design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Design System Contributions: Provide examples of your work on design systems, including contributions to style guides, component documentation, or governance frameworks. Clearly articulate your role and the impact of your contributions.

• Accessibility Focus: Include examples that demonstrate your commitment to accessibility, such as content audits for accessibility compliance, or content created with specific accessibility guidelines in mind.

• Process Improvement Examples: Showcase instances where you identified and implemented improvements to content workflows, editorial processes, or content operations, detailing the methodology and results.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and optimizing content workflows, ensuring efficiency and quality.

• Implementation & Automation: Demonstrate understanding of how content is implemented within digital products and how automation can support content operations and consistency.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show how you measure the impact of content, including user engagement, task completion rates, and accessibility compliance, and how you use this data to iterate and improve.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Content Designer role, especially within a government context with a focus on design systems, the portfolio should emphasize not just individual content pieces but the strategic approach, process, and systemic impact. Demonstrating an understanding of governance, scalability, and accessibility is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Base salary from $130,705 to $157,430 AUD per year (pro-rated for part-time hours).

Benefits:

• Superannuation: Employer contribution to superannuation (Australian retirement fund).

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Opportunities for hybrid work, allowing for a balance between in-office and remote work.

• Supportive Team Culture: Work within a collaborative and respectful team environment.

• Professional Development: Access to a thriving design and content community, with opportunities for learning and networking.

• Work-Life Balance: No expectations for weekend work, late nights, or extensive travel.

• Public Sector Benefits: Potential for additional benefits typical of NSW Government roles, such as leave entitlements and career progression pathways.

Working Hours:

• Part-time: 24 hours per week.

• The role is hybrid, requiring 1-2 days in the office per week as per NSW Government directives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for a full-time equivalent. For a part-time role of 24 hours per week (approximately 68.5% of a full-time role), the actual salary will be pro-rated. For example, an individual at the top of the range would earn approximately $107,857 AUD annually for 24 hours/week.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government & Public Sector Services, Digital Transformation

Company Size: Large (NSW Government is a vast employer with tens of thousands of employees across various departments, with Service NSW being a significant digital arm).

Founded: Service NSW was established in 2013, consolidating many government customer service functions into a single agency. The Department of Customer Service (DCS) oversees this.

Team Structure:

• Design Systems (GEL) Team: This team is central to developing and maintaining the Global Experience Language (GEL), which standardizes digital design and content across NSW Government.

• Cross-Functional Product Teams: The Senior Content Designer will work within these teams, which typically include Product Managers, UX Designers, UI Designers, Developers, and other specialists.

• Reporting: Likely reports to a Lead Content Designer, Design Lead, or Head of UX/Design within the Design Systems team or a broader digital services unit.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Work is conducted within cross-functional teams using agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, collaboration, and rapid feedback loops.

• User-Centred Design (UCD): A core principle guiding all digital product development, ensuring that user needs and experiences are at the forefront of design and content decisions.

• Data-Driven Improvement: Utilizing analytics and user feedback to inform content strategy and measure the effectiveness of digital services and content.

• Design System Governance: Formal processes for managing, updating, and disseminating the GEL to ensure consistency and quality across all digital products.

Company Website: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/, https://www.nsw.gov.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The NSW Government operates on a large scale, meaning the impact of this role is significant. The culture emphasizes public service, efficiency, and digital modernization. The Design Systems team plays a crucial "operations" role by providing the framework and standards that enable efficient and consistent product development across many teams and services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Specialist. This role is beyond entry-level, requiring significant experience and the ability to lead initiatives and influence best practices. It focuses on the operationalization of content design principles within a large government framework.

Reporting Structure: Will report to a senior member of the Design Systems team (e.g., Lead Content Designer, Design Lead) and will collaborate closely with Product Managers and development teams.

Operations Impact: The Senior Content Designer's work directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of digital service delivery to millions of NSW citizens. By standardizing content and improving user experience through the GEL, they contribute to reducing user friction, increasing service uptake, and improving operational efficiency for government agencies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Content Strategy: Progress to a Lead Content Designer or Content Strategy Manager role, overseeing larger teams or strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, content operations, or AI-driven content solutions.

• Cross-Agency Influence: Expand influence across different NSW Government departments, contributing to broader digital policy and standards.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior team members and contributing to the growth of the content design community within NSW Government.

• Formal Training & Certifications: Opportunities for further professional development, potentially including advanced certifications in UX, accessibility, or content strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "revenue operations" role, the "operations" aspect is significant in how this position standardizes and enables the efficient delivery of digital government services. Growth here involves increasing strategic influence and leadership within the public sector's digital transformation journey.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with 1-2 days per week required in a NSW Government office (locations mentioned include Haymarket, Parramatta, and Gosford, but remote performance is possible from anywhere in NSW).

Office Location(s): While specific office presence is required, the role can be performed from anywhere in NSW. This offers flexibility for those outside major metropolitan areas, provided they can attend a NSW Government workplace as needed.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role involves working closely with cross-functional teams in an agile setting, fostering a highly collaborative atmosphere.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard digital design and collaboration tools, likely including design system platforms, content management systems, and communication tools.

• Community: Opportunity to engage with a broader community of designers and content professionals within NSW Government, sharing knowledge and best practices.

Work Schedule: Part-time (24 hours per week), with flexibility in how these hours are structured, balanced with the requirement for 1-2 days of in-office presence per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and "work from anywhere in NSW" aspect are key differentiators, balancing the need for in-person collaboration with flexibility. This model is common in government roles to attract talent across a large geographical area.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Behavioural & Interview: Focus on your experience, problem-solving skills, and how you align with NSW Government values and the specific requirements of the Senior Content Designer role. Be prepared to discuss your approach to content design, accessibility, and collaboration.

• Stage 2: Work Sample / Work Task Completion: This stage will likely involve a practical exercise designed to assess your content design skills, ability to simplify complex information, and understanding of design system principles. This could be a content audit, rewriting a piece of complex government text, or developing content for a specific component.

• Stage 3: Psychometric Assessment: Standardized tests to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and work style relevant to the role and public sector environment.

• Stage 4: Reference Checks: Verification of your previous employment and performance through professional references.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase your process, problem-solving abilities, and measurable results for each project. Use a consistent structure for each case study: Challenge, Process, Solution, Outcome.

• Highlight Seniority & Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led projects, influenced strategy, mentored others, or drove significant improvements.

• Demonstrate Design System Expertise: Clearly articulate your role in developing or contributing to design systems, focusing on how your content work supports consistency, scalability, and usability.

• Showcase Accessibility: Explicitly detail how you incorporate accessibility into your content design process and the outcomes achieved.

• Tailor to GEL: Reference the Service NSW Global Experience Language (GEL) where possible, showing you understand its importance and how your skills align with its goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Service NSW, the NSW Government's digital strategy, and the importance of the Global Experience Language (GEL). Familiarize yourself with common government service interactions.

• Practice Simplification: Work on exercises that involve distilling complex policy or technical information into clear, accessible language for a diverse audience.

• Accessibility Application: Be ready to discuss how you would apply accessibility principles to common digital content scenarios.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you have successfully collaborated with designers, developers, and product managers to achieve project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process, including a work sample, is standard for senior roles in government. A strong portfolio that demonstrates practical application of skills, particularly in design systems and accessibility, is critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with enterprise-level CMS platforms used for publishing and managing digital content across government websites and applications.

• Design System Platforms: Experience with tools used to document and manage design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or custom-built platforms).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with project management and communication tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and potentially Trello.

• Prototyping & Design Tools: While not a primary designer, understanding and ability to work with outputs from tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is beneficial for understanding component-based design.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to track user behaviour and content performance.

• User Feedback Tools: Familiarity with tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback, surveys, and usability testing results.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to understand content impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM operations, understanding how content integrates with citizen service platforms and potentially automated communication workflows is advantageous.

• AI-driven Content Workflows: Familiarity with emerging AI tools and platforms that can assist in content generation, optimization, or analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack will likely be enterprise-grade and standardized across NSW Government. Proficiency in tools that support systematic content management, design system governance, and user-centric design processes is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centred: A relentless focus on the needs of NSW citizens, ensuring digital services are accessible, easy to use, and effective.

• Excellence & Quality: Commitment to high standards in design, content, and service delivery, driving continuous improvement.

• Collaboration: Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and teamwork is paramount.

• Efficiency & Effectiveness: Striving for optimal use of resources and delivering impactful outcomes for the public.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding public trust through transparent and responsible practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working seamlessly with product managers, designers, developers, researchers, and policy advisors to achieve shared goals.

• Feedback-Driven: Openness to constructive feedback and a proactive approach to providing feedback to improve processes and outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in communities of practice, sharing insights, and contributing to the collective knowledge base of content design and digital services within the government.

• Agile Cadence: Adapting to agile ceremonies (stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives) to ensure smooth project execution and continuous iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within NSW Government, particularly in digital services, often emphasizes public good, continuous improvement, and a strong sense of community among professionals working on digital transformation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Managing content design and standards across a vast range of government services and digital products presents significant complexity.

• Stakeholder Management: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and priorities across different government departments and levels.

• Pace of Change: Keeping pace with evolving digital technologies, user expectations, and government policy changes, particularly with AI advancements.

• Legacy Systems & Processes: Integrating modern content design practices with existing legacy systems and established government workflows.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the impact of content design interventions in a public sector context, where user journeys can be complex and involve multiple touchpoints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like advanced accessibility, content strategy, information architecture, AI in content, or UX research.

• Industry Conferences & Events: Potential to attend relevant conferences and workshops to stay abreast of the latest trends in content design, UX, and government digital services.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to formal or informal mentorship from senior leaders within NSW Government's digital and design communities.

• Cross-Departmental Projects: Gaining exposure to different government functions and digital challenges through project involvement.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on more strategic responsibilities, lead initiatives, and potentially mentor junior team members, building leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for someone looking to make a significant impact on a large scale within the public sector, tackling complex challenges with opportunities for substantial professional growth and contribution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a highly complex piece of information for a broad audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology, user empathy, and ability to distill complexity.)

• "How would you approach developing or contributing to editorial guidelines for a government design system like GEL, considering accessibility and user needs?" (Demonstrate understanding of governance, standards, and user-centricity.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for the NSW Government and specifically for Service NSW?" (Showcase your understanding of public service, digital transformation, and the agency's mission.)

• "How do you stay current with evolving technologies like AI in content design, and how might you apply them in a government context?" (Demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, and forward-thinking.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the steps you took, the decisions you made, and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, increased accessibility scores) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your work.

• Highlight Design System & Accessibility: Explicitly call out your contributions to design systems and how you ensured content was accessible and user-friendly.

• Be Prepared for a Work Task: Practice creating content for a hypothetical government service or component, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and accessibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only technical skills but also cultural fit, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to operate effectively within a large, regulated environment like the NSW Government.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Content Designer position:

• Submit your application online via the provided link, ensuring your resume and cover letter are combined into a single document.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your experience in content design, design systems, accessibility, and simplifying complex information. Prepare to articulate your process and results clearly.

• Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letter: Highlight keywords and experiences directly relevant to the job description, such as "Content Design," "UX Copywriting," "Design Systems," "Accessibility," "GEL," "Agile," and "Stakeholder Management." Use the cover letter to express your passion for public service and how your skills align with NSW Government's mission.

• Prepare for the Interview Stages: Research NSW Government's digital initiatives and Service NSW's role. Practice answering behavioural questions and be ready to discuss your portfolio and a potential work sample exercise. Utilize the Capability Application Tool linked in the job description for practice questions.

• Understand the Culture: Familiarize yourself with NSW Government's values, diversity and inclusion statements, and the importance of user-centred design in public service delivery.

⚠️ 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.