Content Designer

The Open University UK; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Open University UK is seeking a knowledgeable Knowledge Management & Content Specialist to optimise KMS IA, oversee content lifecycle, and raise content quality across the KMS community.

You will work closely with the Senior Manager and stakeholders to develop analytics, training materials, and digital governance, contributing to a flexible, high-performance content environment.

Qualifications

• Experience of structuring and writing accessible materials for online environments.
• Strong content design knowledge and understanding of related principles.
• Ability to compile, analyse and report data to support continuous improvement.
• Experience using office software to a high standard, especially Excel.

Responsibilities

• Conduct focused content audits of KMS and recommend improvements.
• Analyze user needs to improve KMS experience and efficiency for staff.
• Ensure high quality KMS content, guiding SMEs to produce accessible content.
• Lead the design and provision of analytics, reports, wizards and UI aids.
• Create training materials on content design and UX with L&D input.
• Contribute to Digital Governance and ongoing professional development.
• Take a key management role within the KMS team, including projects.

Skills

Content design

KMS IA

Analytics

Stakeholder mgmt

Office Excel

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Manchester, Nottingham

Department: Quality and Content

Closing Date: 2 November 2026

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 30 September 2027

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

This role is central to the creation of online (and offline) resources for frontline staff operating within a multichannel contact environment, which delivers the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service to enquirers and students. The post holder will be responsible for optimising KMS (Knowledge Management Systems) Information Architecture (IA), operationalising the content lifecycle and improving the quality of content produced across the KMS community.

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with Senior Manager, Knowledge Management to conduct focused, periodic content audits of KMS. Responsible for analysing results and making recommendations for change and improvement.
• Analysing the needs of our users, both front-end and back-end, with a view to improving their experience of KMS, and maximising their effectiveness and efficiency within their day-to-day roles.
• Responsible for the quality of KMS-wide content, with particular focus on the most popular results. Demonstrating and championing excellent content design skills and Influencing, guiding and supporting subject-matter-experts to produce high-quality, accessible content.
• Acting as a technical lead for the design and provision of analytics and aids to support users. For example, reports, diagnostic wizards, decision trees and digital workspaces/user interfaces (UI).
• Responsible for production of raw training materials, relating to content design and user experience (UX), working closely with the Senior Manager, Knowledge Management and learning and development professions.
• Contributing to and operationalising the University’s Digital Governance Framework, proactively seeking out and participating in continuous professional development.
• Taking a key management role within the KMS team, which may include managing people, projects and other activities as directed.

About You

• Experience of structuring and writing accessible materials for the online environment and for a variety of different audiences, using a range of techniques.
• Demonstrable experience of content design and good knowledge and understanding of the associated principles.
• Experience of using standard office software, including Microsoft Excel, to a high standard including expertise with functions and formulae. Ability to compile, analyse and evaluate data, and report results in a logical and professional way to influence continuous improvement.
• The ability to anticipate problems, consider solutions and make decisions. Adopting a logical approach to problem solving and managing issues with confidence whilst remaining calm and professional under pressure, to take tasks through to successful completion under minimal supervision.
• Time management, organisation and planning skills working within multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating teamwork, negotiation and influencing skills, working with stakeholders at all different levels.
• Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to express views and ideas both verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to own personal and professional development including mandatory/role-specific training and development to ensure knowledge and skills remain up-to-date.
• Experience of management, with the ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email [e-mail] quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes, Nottingham,Manchester office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We'd expect this to be approximately once per quarter.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

We anticipate that interviews for this role will be taking place online via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing23 November 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles?

Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.