Vacancy for Content Designer at The National Archives (UK)

Digital Preservation Coalition; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public archive organization in London is seeking an experienced Content Designer to create engaging online content. You will shape how users interact with archival materials, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and experience in digital user journeys. This role offers a dynamic environment focused on growth and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in content design for digital platforms.
• Comfortable with stakeholder management and decision-making.
• Understanding of digital user journeys and accessibility standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide user-centered content design for the website.
• Deliver engaging interpretative content for users.
• Audit legacy content and suggest improvements.
• Support colleagues in delivering professional services online.

Skills

Strong written communication skills

Experience in writing for the web

Ability to communicate complex knowledge

Creating clear, accessible micro-copy

User-centered content design

Job description

Vacancy for Content Designer at The National Archives (UK)

29 May 2022

London

Full-Time

Summary

The National Archives is the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales. We help the public access over 1,000 years of iconic national documents, from Domesday Book and Shakespeare’s will to military service records, censuses and court cases. We also provide world‑class education and engagement activities that allow people of all ages to connect with their archival heritage.

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Content Designer to join our growing content team. You will help us to shape new ways of delivering our records and the stories they contain to our users.

You will have strong written communication skills, a good eye for a story, and be experienced in writing for the web, particularly in communicating the complex knowledge of experts to a non‑expert audience. You will also be experienced at designing end‑to‑end digital user journeys and adept at creating clear, accessible micro‑copy for online services.

Our Digital Services team build and run services used by over 1 million people a month to access more than 30 million record descriptions. This is an especially exciting time as we rethink our digital offer. You will help us grow our digital capability, skills and culture in an open and collaborative environment, engaging widely with internal and external communities to share your expertise and learn from others.

Responsibilities

You will provide user‑centred content design for our website, creating content that is designed for all levels of familiarity with archives, from first-time users to expert researchers.

The role works across a number of key areas of our digital offer:

• Delivering content that enables our users to find and access our services and collections, enabling them to complete specific tasks in a clear, accessible and efficient way.
• Delivering interpretative content that engages our audiences with our collections and the work we do. You will communicate the stories at the heart of The National Archives, helping users understand them, with surprising, insightful and inclusive digital content.
• Auditing legacy content, including complex microsites and applications, assessing its value and, where relevant, creating new ways to tell the stories it contains.
• Supporting colleagues around the organisation in delivering their professional services online.

You will be confident and comfortable with taking the lead, making decisions and dealing with stakeholders, including training and supporting devolved editors.

You will also be responsible for ensuring that content is inclusive, representative and rigorously adheres to current accessibility legislation and guidance.