Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives. 

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time. The Senior Content Designer will be part of our Digital Planning Programme at MHCLG. 

The Digital Planning Programme is a multidisciplinary team within the MHCLG Leasehold, Private Rental, and Digital Directorate who work with policy colleagues, local government, planning software developers, and planners, shaping the product roadmap and delivering value for our users. 

The programme uses agile methodologies to create, test, iterate, and deliver our range of interventions: 

• Plan Making 

• Planning Data 

• Planning Software and Open Digital Planning 

• Property Technology

Job description

As a Senior Content Designer You'll;

• make sure appropriate content is shown to a user in the right place and in the best format 

• start from discovery and work closely with user researchers, service designers and interaction designers  

• take responsibility for content quality, manage small teams and mentor content colleagues 

• write and map user stories 

• review the work of others to assure quality 

• lead on cross-government content projects 

• engage with and contribute to the cross-government content community 

be involved in the creation of, or change to, a transaction, product or single piece of content that stretches across digital and offline channels.

make things easier for people to understand and use. This can involve working on a single piece of content or on the end-to-end journey of a service to help users complete their goal

Person specification

Make sure your CV and interview answers explain how you meet the criteria. We recommend using the STAR technique (situation, task, action, result) and first-singular pronouns (‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’ and ‘mine’ instead of ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘ours’).

As a Senior Content Designer You'll have;

• extensive experience writing clear and easy to understand content in plain English that meets user needs and achieves the right outcomes 

• extensive experience reviewing, editing and evaluating content following the GOV.UK Style guide, the Service Manual and the GOV.UK Design System 

• extensive experience using research and data to develop, test and iterate multiple design ideas, designing inclusive services that meet a wide range of access needs

• a proven track record of working closely and negotiating with stakeholders including giving, receiving, and encouraging constructive criticism

• demonstrable experience in agile working (content design) 

• practitioner level  on content concepts and prototyping 

• experience in strategic thinking (content design) 

• user focus and user-centred design experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,167, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,271 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here. 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Artificial Intelligence  

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.  

Application and Selection  The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles: 

, Behaviours , Experience , Technical 

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information. 

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link. 

Stage 1: Sift (CV) 

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.  

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. 

Lead sift question (Technical):  In no more than 250 words, please explain how you deliver a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery.

Stage 2: Interview    

• Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

• Ability: There will be a test exercise at interview to assess ability.

• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

Candidates will be asked to complete a test exercise at interview, further details will be provided on invitation to interview. 

Sift and Interview Dates 

Sifting is envisaged to take place from 27th November 2025, with announcement of interview dates to follow.

How We Recruit 

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.. 

• Applying 

• Sifting 

• Interview 

• Interview Results & Feedback 

• Reserve List 

• Near Miss 

• Civil Service Grades 

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer 

• Reasonable Adjustments 

How to Apply 

What you need to know before applying. 

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly. 

• Security Clearance Requirements 

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements 

• Right to Work 

• Artificial Intelligence 

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles 

• CV Declaration 

• Sponsorships 

• Salary and Grade 

• Existing Civil Servants 

• Conflict of Interest 

• Location and Flexible Working 

• Fixed Term Contracts 

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register 

• Appeals and Complaints 

• Conflict of Interest 

Security Clearance Requirements 

National Office: BPSS

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland

• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).