Content Designer

UKRI; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

30 days annual leave + 10.5 days other

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

UKRI is seeking a Web Content Designer to ensure our website content is high quality, accessible and published promptly. You will drive continuous improvement, coordinate requests, and shape standards for HTML, CMS use and accessibility across ukri.org.

You will collaborate with internal partners, conduct user research, and help maintain an accessible, usable site while supporting the Delivery Manager on content design priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience drafting, editing and publishing accessible digital content to GDS standards.
• Strong editorial, copywriting and proofreading skills for varied audiences.
• Understanding of user-centred content design and evidence-based improvements.
• Experience using data and analytics to evaluate content performance and SEO basics.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders and manage feedback constructively.
• Knowledge of accessibility requirements and Government Digital Standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage, edit and publish content on ukri.org, ensuring accuracy, accessibility and plain language.
• Scope and improve content based on user feedback and business needs.
• Ensure content meets accessibility standards and Gov Digital Standards.
• Participate in user research and journey mapping to understand user needs.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal partners and subject matter experts.
• Coordinate web content requests on a rota basis and prioritise work.
• Shape content standards including HTML, 2i processes, CMS use and accessibility.
• Take part in continuous improvement projects and team ceremonies.
• Participate in the out-of-hours web publishing rota.

Skills

Content design

Editing

Plain language

CMS

Accessibility

SEO basics

User research

Stakeholder collaboration

GDS standards

Analytics

Job description

UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (23 Months).
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE)(flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon- Hybrid working available (minimum of 2 days a week in the office).

Closing Date: Sunday 11th October 2026.

Interviews: Week Commencing Monday 2nd November 2026.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body that invests in research and innovation. Our mission is to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.

The UKRI website, ukri.org, is a key external communications channel for the organisation. It is the front door to many other UKRI services, enabling the research and innovation community to find the right funding opportunities and support. The website raises awareness of UKRI strategy and policy and tells the story of our impact on society and the economy.

The Web Content Designer sits in the Web team, part of External Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement.

About the role

The Web team is a multidisciplinary team of content, product and delivery experts who drive forward the continuous improvement of the website, making it simpler and easier for people to understand and use.

As a Web Content Designer, your role is to ensure our web content is of a high standard, meets the needs of external audiences and is published in a timely way.

You will work on continuous improvement projects, coordinate content requests into the team, and help shape the standards and processes that underpin a usable, sustainable and accessible website.

Your responsibilities:

As a Web Content Designer, you will:

• Manage, edit and publish a range of content on ukri.org - including funding opportunities, impact stories, news and HTML publications - ensuring content is accurate, accessible and written in plain language for varied audiences.
• Scope and improve content based on user feedback, business need, research and data, finding opportunities to redesign existing content so it is easier to understand and presented in the right format.
• Ensure all content meets accessibility standards and Government Digital Standards, and that unneeded content is removed from the website in line with the content retention policy.
• Participate actively in user research and journey mapping to better understand user needs, staying up to date with how UKRI website users interact with and experience the site.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal partners and subject matter experts, influencing and negotiating to make decisions that work for external users and the organisation.
• Coordinate web content requests on a rota basis, working closely with the Delivery Manager to advise on content design needs and prioritise work as team or organisational priorities change.
• Shape content standards and guidance - including HTML, 2i processes, CMS use and accessibility - and support team training and upskilling.
• Take an active role in continuous improvement projects (EPICs), contribute to the improvement of web team workflows and participate in content design and team ceremonies as required.
• Participate in the out-of-hours web publishing rota (additional allowance given).

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Experience working as a content designer or web editor, with a track record of drafting, editing and publishing accessible digital content to GDS standards using content management systems on a large, information-rich website (S&I).
• Strong editorial, copywriting and proofreading skills, with the ability to simplify complex content and write in plain, accessible language for varied external audiences (S&I).
• A sound understanding of user-centred content design - including how to identify and apply user needs based on evidence - and a commitment to developing your practice in this area (S&I).
• Experience using data and analytics tools to evaluate content performance and implement evidence-based improvements, alongside a working knowledge of SEO principles and how they apply to content development (S&I).
• Experience working with stakeholders to collaborate on content, with a proven ability to build positive working relationships, understand other perspectives and navigate feedback constructively (S&I).
• Knowledge of accessibility requirements - including the needs of different users and assistive technologies - and experience applying Government Digital Standards in a content role (S&I).
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent pieces of work to different deadlines, adapting to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment (S&I).
• Experience improving content processes, guidelines and standards, and the ability to train colleagues either in groups or one-to-one (S&I).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [e-mail].