Senior Content Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Content Designer

Company: Scott Logic

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User-Centred Design / Content Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute content design activities within multidisciplinary digital and service delivery teams, focusing on public sector programs.

• Develop clear, accessible, and evidence-led content for both digital and offline service journeys, translating complex policy and operational information into user-understandable formats.

• Collaborate closely with user researchers, service designers, product managers, business analysts, and technical colleagues to ensure user needs are met and content is iterated based on evidence and testing.

• Champion accessibility, inclusion, plain English, and user-centred design principles within complex government and public sector initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Content Designer, implying a need for strategic leadership, independent planning of content approaches, and significant stakeholder engagement capabilities, particularly within the public sector context. The focus on "shaping nationally important public services" and specific project examples like fisheries and marine licensing in Scotland suggests a deep dive into government operational processes and policy interpretation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and deliver content design activities for complex public sector digital and service delivery programs.

• Create, edit, and enhance clear, accessible, and actionable content across various service touchpoints, including digital interfaces, forms, notifications, and offline materials.

• Conduct content audits, map content and service journeys to identify gaps, risks, and dependencies.

• Develop and iterate content patterns, prototypes, guidance, and service copy based on user research and evidence-led testing.

• Translate complex policy, legal, regulatory, and operational information into easily understandable content for diverse user groups.

• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including user researchers, service designers, product managers, business analysts, delivery managers, and engineers.

• Engage confidently with client stakeholders, including operational, policy, and delivery colleagues, to communicate content strategy and decisions.

• Champion accessibility, inclusion, plain English, and evidence-led content decisions within project teams.

• Contribute to the growth of Scott Logic’s User-Centred Design capability by developing reusable approaches, patterns, and assets for future projects.

• Support the Discovery and Alpha phases of delivery, ensuring content is integral to the early stages of service design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a senior-level contribution, requiring not only execution but also strategic planning, leadership within teams, and active contribution to the company's design capability. The mention of "Discovery and Alpha phases" indicates a focus on early-stage service design and problem definition.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience in content design, user-centred design, or a related field are paramount. Relevant certifications in UX, content strategy, or accessibility are advantageous.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in content design, with a significant portion focused on senior-level responsibilities.

• Proven track record of planning and leading content design independently for complex projects.

• Extensive experience working within multidisciplinary digital or service delivery teams.

• Substantial experience within complex public sector service environments is highly desirable.

• Experience in the Discovery and Alpha phases of project delivery is essential. Required Skills:

• Senior Content Design Expertise: Proven ability to plan, lead, and deliver content design activities for complex services.

• User-Centred Design Principles: Deep understanding and application of user research, evidence-led iteration, and user needs analysis.

• Content Strategy & Execution: Proficiency in content auditing, journey mapping, prototyping, pair writing, and creating clear service copy.

• Accessibility & Inclusion: Strong knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and designing for diverse user needs.

• Plain English & Clarity: Ability to translate complex, technical, policy, or legal information into clear, concise, and actionable content.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Confidence and skill in engaging with users and stakeholders at all levels, including operational, policy, and delivery teams.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with user researchers, service designers, product managers, business analysts, delivery managers, and technical teams.

• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to articulate content decisions effectively to varied audiences.

• Public Sector Experience: Familiarity with the nuances of public sector projects, policy interpretation, and operational realities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific content management systems (CMS) relevant to public sector digital platforms.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their application to content design.

• Experience in developing content patterns, style guides, and reusable content components.

• Knowledge of marine licensing or fisheries regulations in Scotland (or similar complex regulatory domains).

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is inferred from "Senior Content Designer" and the described responsibilities. The emphasis on public sector, accessibility, and evidence-led design strongly suggests a need for candidates who can navigate complex information landscapes and demonstrate impact through user-centric content.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end content design process for complex digital services, preferably in the public sector.

• Process Demonstration: Clearly outline your approach to content strategy, user research integration, content auditing, information architecture, content creation, and testing.

• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your content design work where possible (e.g., improved user task completion rates, reduced support queries, increased accessibility compliance).

• Complexity Handling: Highlight examples where you translated complex policy, legal, or operational information into accessible content.

• Collaboration Evidence: Include examples of how you collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Content Strategy Frameworks: Demonstrate your ability to develop and implement content strategies tailored to specific service goals and user needs.

• User Journey & Content Mapping: Provide examples of how you mapped user journeys and identified content requirements and opportunities.

• Accessibility & Plain English Audits: Showcase your methods for auditing content for accessibility compliance and adherence to plain English standards.

• Content Iteration & Testing: Detail your approach to testing content with users and iterating based on feedback and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role focused on complex public sector projects, the portfolio is critical. It should not just showcase final deliverables but the strategic thinking, process rigor, and collaborative approach used to achieve them. Emphasis should be on how content design solves user problems and supports service delivery objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Content Designers in Edinburgh, Scotland, with experience in public sector and digital transformation, the estimated salary range is £55,000 - £75,000 per annum. This estimate considers the cost of living in Edinburgh, the seniority of the role, and the specialized nature of public sector content design.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working Flexibility: Balance between remote work and office-based collaboration.

• Employee-Led Clubs & Events: Opportunities for social engagement and professional networking.

• Resources: Access to free games and books for personal and professional development.

• Refreshments: Complimentary refreshments provided in the office.

• B Corp Commitment: Working for a company dedicated to social and environmental responsibility.

• Inclusion & Diversity: A culture that embraces diversity and ensures everyone can contribute.

• Professional Development: Opportunities to contribute to Scott Logic's design capability growth.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing remote work with in-office collaboration days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical UK market rates for senior digital roles in major cities like Edinburgh, factoring in the specific skills and sector. Benefits highlight a company culture that values work-life balance, community, and social responsibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Software Development, Product & User-Centred Design. Scott Logic supports a diverse range of clients, with a significant focus on public sector programmes in the UK.

Company Size: Scott Logic is a medium-sized company, likely employing between 100-500 individuals based on typical tech consultancy structures. This size often allows for a blend of established processes and agile, adaptable teams.

Founded: Scott Logic was founded in 2003. This history suggests a company with established methodologies, a strong track record, and a mature understanding of client service and project delivery.

Team Structure:

• User-Centred Design Capability: The Senior Content Designer will sit within Scott Logic’s Product and User-Centred Design capability, working alongside user researchers, service designers, product managers, and business analysts.

• Multidisciplinary Project Teams: You will be embedded within client-facing project teams, collaborating closely with client operational, policy, and delivery colleagues.

• Reporting: Likely reports to a Head of Design or a senior lead within the User-Centred Design capability, with project-specific reporting lines within client delivery teams.

Methodology:

• User-Centred Design: A core principle, ensuring all design decisions are grounded in user needs and evidence.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Projects are likely delivered using agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptation.

• Evidence-Led Decision Making: Strong reliance on user research, data, and testing to inform content and service design.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Fostering close working relationships between design, product, engineering, and business stakeholders.

Company Website: scottlogic.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Scott Logic's identity as a B Corp and its emphasis on user-centred design and public sector work are key cultural indicators. The company culture appears to value expertise, collaboration, and social responsibility, which are crucial for attracting and retaining talent in specialised roles like Senior Content Designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior individual contributor role, focusing on leading content design efforts within projects. It requires strategic thinking, independent execution, and the ability to influence project direction through content expertise. It sits at a level where significant autonomy and responsibility are expected.

Reporting Structure: The role involves reporting to a senior design lead within Scott Logic for career development and capability growth, while being embedded within client project teams for day-to-day delivery. This dual reporting structure is common in consultancy environments.

Operations Impact: The Senior Content Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of public services. By simplifying complex information and improving user journeys, this role contributes significantly to user satisfaction, operational efficiency for government agencies, and the overall success of digital transformation programmes. The ability to turn complex policy and operational information into clear content directly supports policy implementation and service delivery goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Capability: Opportunity to shape and develop Scott Logic's content design practices, mentor junior designers, and contribute to reusable assets and methodologies.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific public sector domains (e.g., marine licensing, regulatory services) or in areas like accessibility, design systems, or content strategy.

• Client Engagement & Influence: Develop strong client relationship management skills and influence strategic decisions on major public sector programmes.

• Broader Design Leadership: Potential to move into roles with broader design leadership responsibilities, managing teams or overseeing multiple projects.

• Continuous Learning: Exposure to diverse projects and technologies, supported by a company culture that values professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Senior Content Designer at a consultancy like Scott Logic typically involves deepening technical expertise, expanding leadership responsibilities within projects and the company's design practice, and developing strong client-facing skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Scott Logic offers a hybrid working model, combining remote work with office-based collaboration. Their offices are designed to foster collaboration and provide amenities for employees.

Office Location(s): While the primary location specified is Edinburgh, Scott Logic has multiple offices across the UK (e.g., Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, London). This might offer flexibility depending on the specific project and client location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are equipped to support teamwork, client meetings, and internal capability development sessions.

• Resources: Access to games, books, and refreshments contributes to a positive and engaging work environment.

• Technology: As a tech consultancy, expect access to modern hardware, software, and collaboration tools necessary for digital design and development.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages purposeful in-office days for key collaborative activities, team building, and knowledge sharing, while remote days allow for focused individual work.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model allows for flexibility in scheduling, with a focus on delivering project outcomes. While core working hours may apply, there's likely an emphasis on flexibility and autonomy, especially for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a hybrid model suggests a modern approach to work, balancing individual focus with the benefits of in-person collaboration, crucial for complex design work and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess your experience, skills, and suitability for the senior role.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your process, decision-making, challenges faced, and the impact of your work. Expect questions on how you handle complexity, collaborate, and champion user-centred principles.

• Skills-Based Interview: Likely to involve behavioural questions assessing your experience in leadership, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and working within multidisciplinary teams. You may be asked to elaborate on specific project examples.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet potential colleagues and assess cultural alignment with Scott Logic's values (e.g., B Corp principles, collaboration, inclusion).

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss strategic fit, career aspirations, and confirm suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those that showcase your senior-level capabilities, public sector experience (if applicable), and ability to handle complex information.

• Structure for Clarity: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, the challenges you overcame, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize your methodology—how you conducted research, tested content, collaborated with teams, and made evidence-based decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrates the success and impact of your content design work.

• Be Prepared to Defend Decisions: Understand why you made certain choices and be ready to articulate the rationale, especially when faced with constraints or differing opinions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Simulated Task: You might be given a short exercise or asked to critique existing content and propose improvements, focusing on clarity, accessibility, and user-friendliness.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare for questions like: "How would you approach designing content for a complex regulatory service?" or "How would you handle conflicting feedback from policy and user research teams?"

• Focus on Process: For any challenge, focus on articulating your thought process, the steps you would take, and how you would involve others and use evidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on assessing practical experience and strategic thinking, as demonstrated through the portfolio. Candidates should be ready to articulate their entire design process and its impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Design & Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure (for prototyping and wireframing).

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with common CMS platforms used in government (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) or custom-built platforms.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication, project management, and documentation.

• Content Auditing Tools: Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets), specialized content audit software, or bespoke scripts.

• User Research Tools: Lookback, UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar (for user feedback and analytics).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behaviour on digital services.

• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau or Power BI could be used for reporting on content performance and user engagement, though direct use might be less common for a content designer.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how content integrates with user journeys managed by CRM or marketing automation systems could be beneficial. However, this is likely secondary to core content design tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in common digital design and collaboration tools is expected. The emphasis is on the ability to use these tools to facilitate the content design process, collaborate effectively, and translate user needs into actionable content.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centred: Placing user needs at the heart of all content and service design decisions.

• Evidence-Led: Basing decisions on data, user research, and testing rather than assumptions.

• Collaborative: Working in partnership with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Inclusive & Accessible: Committing to designing content that is usable by everyone, regardless of ability or background.

• Clear & Concise: Championing plain English and effective communication.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering tangible improvements to services and user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: Working as an embedded member within multidisciplinary project teams, contributing actively to discussions and decision-making.

• Pair Working: Engaging in pair writing and collaborative design sessions with colleagues.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent communication and constructive feedback loops with team members and stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in the development of reusable design patterns and best practices within Scott Logic's design capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Scott Logic's B Corp status and commitment to diversity and inclusion are strong indicators of its values. The culture likely fosters a sense of purpose, ethical practice, and a collective drive towards improving public services.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complexity: The primary challenge will be distilling highly technical, legal, or policy-laden information into simple, accessible content.

• Stakeholder Management: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and opinions (e.g., policy experts, operational staff, legal counsel, user researchers) to reach consensus on content.

• Evidence Gathering: Ensuring sufficient user research and testing is conducted to validate content decisions, especially in time-constrained project phases.

• Public Sector Constraints: Working within the specific frameworks, regulations, and procurement processes common in public sector projects.

• Balancing Remote & Office Work: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion in a hybrid environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of specific public sector domains (e.g., marine regulation, licensing).

• Advanced Content Strategy: Developing sophisticated content strategies for large-scale, complex digital transformations.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to lead content design on significant projects and mentor junior designers.

• Industry Exposure: Working with various UK government bodies and on high-profile public service initiatives.

• Professional Networks: Building a strong network within the UK's public sector digital community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to the role's focus on complex public sector environments. Growth opportunities are tied to deepening expertise, expanding leadership, and contributing to the consultancy's strategic development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to turn highly complex policy or legal information into user-friendly content. What was your process and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology, stakeholder engagement, and impact.)

• "How do you approach planning content design for a new service, especially during Discovery or Alpha phases?" (Highlight your understanding of early-stage design, user research integration, and iterative planning.)

• "How do you champion accessibility and plain English within a team that may not prioritize it?" (Showcase your advocacy skills, evidence-based arguments, and collaborative approach.)

• "Imagine you receive conflicting feedback on content from a policy expert and a user researcher. How would you resolve this?" (Demonstrate your conflict resolution, decision-making framework, and commitment to evidence.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Scott Logic and specifically on public sector programmes?" (Research Scott Logic's B Corp status, their design philosophy, and their impact on public services.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and inclusive team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Relate your experiences to their stated values.)

• "How do you ensure your content design work aligns with broader business or service objectives?" (Showcase your strategic thinking and understanding of service delivery.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: For each case study, tell a compelling story: the challenge, your approach, your role, the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Visuals: Use screenshots, diagrams, and examples of your content to illustrate your points.

• Process Focus: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your solutions, emphasizing research, iteration, and collaboration.

• Role Clarity: Be precise about your contributions if it was a team project.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a strong understanding of the public sector context and Scott Logic's values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Lever.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight experience in senior content design, public sector projects, accessibility, and stakeholder engagement.

• Portfolio Refinement: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases 2-3 detailed case studies that demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and impact, especially in complex environments.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the outcomes of your work using specific examples. Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration and handling complex information.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Scott Logic's work, their B Corp commitment, and their approach to user-centred design. Understand the context of public sector digital transformation in the UK.

⚠️ 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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