The Role

We are recruiting a skilled Digital Content Designer to join our team, responsible for providing digital services for both Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.

You will deliver high quality, accessible digital content that is driven by user needs. You will write, edit and publish content across our digital channels, with an aim to provide the best possible customer journey.

This will be focused across both Council websites, as well as our corporate intranet, where your work will help maximise internal staff engagement.

The role will require you to make complex language and processes easier to understand. You will work with subject matter experts to make sure content is accurate, and you will be able to explain your decisions and edits clearly to those who don’t recognise good web usability.

Working for the Richmond/ Wandsworth Shared Staffing Arrangement

This role is employed under the Shared Staffing Arrangement between Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. The overall purpose of the Shared Staffing Arrangement is to provide the highest quality of service at the lowest attainable cost whilst being a responsible and caring employer.

Staff are expected to deliver high quality and responsive services wherever they are based, as well as having the ability to adapt to sometimes differing processes and expectations.

The Shared Staffing Arrangement aims to be at the forefront of innovation in local government and the organisation will invest in the development of its staff to ensure the opportunities for progression that only a large organisation can provide.

Under the terms of employment, you are required to work in Wandsworth or Richmond but this position is based in Richmond. Currently the team come into the office at least once per week, and this is expected for all Digital Content Designers.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, design, produce and maintain content that meets agreed corporate digital content standards and best practice guidelines, taking account of house style, layout, accessibility, and usability. 

• Use data from sources such as web analytics packages and user feedback to make sure the user journeys and the information architecture for both councils’ websites are the best they can be. 

• Create and edit content for online forms 

• Work on a rota to manage website updates, news, and the team mailbox answering resident queries 

• Follow ongoing quality assurance processes to make sure the quality of information delivered to users is of the highest possible standard (for example correct spelling and grammar, fixing broken links, checking the accuracy and currency of information, and reviewing the consistency of content in terms of style, format, and layout). 

• Work with stakeholders to understand the issues affecting services in terms of digital information provision, and to ensure that resulting requirements for digital content are met. 

• Coordinate and participate in regular website content reviews and provide constructive feedback to stakeholders to ensure the information provided across all areas of both councils’ websites meets the needs of the user. 

• Play an active role in suggesting how digital content can be improved to meet user needs in a cost-efficient manner. 

• Work on ad hoc digital content projects - from the planning and design through to delivery - as directed by the Digital Content Manager. 

• Stay up to date with developments and trends affecting websites and digital technologies, especially regarding interface design, usability, and accessibility. 

• Offer training and advice to users of the councils’ content management systems, as well as responding to customer feedback and assisting users of both councils’ websites. 

• Prepare images and multimedia content for use on both councils’ websites. 

Applications

Please ensure your CV includes a daytime number you can be contacted on, an email address and your home address.

This is a permanent position and we do not wish to receive CVs from recruitment agents or candidates wishing to work as a contractor. Any such CVs submitted will not be considered.

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including working from home and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 40 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: 11:59pm on Thursday 21st September 2023

Shortlisting Date: Friday 22nd September 2023

Interview Date: Week commencing 2nd October 2023

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams, including BAME and disabled candidates.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils