Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Time limited for 1 year
Closing date: 11.59pm, 20 February 2025
Interview method: virtual
Interview date: 10 March 2025
Do you want to help shape how our colleagues join, move within, and leave Manchester City Council?
We’re looking for a Content Designer to create clear, user-friendly content that supports our behind-the-scenes services. You’ll be part of a small, proactive team working on the Joiners, Movers, and Leavers (JML) project, improving processes and making life easier for our workforce. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys problem-solving, and is passionate about user-centred design.
This is a hybrid role, with two days each week in Manchester’s Town Hall Extension and three days working from home.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Creating user-friendly content – Write, edit, and improve emails, forms, letters, and intranet content to ensure a clear and accessible experience for staff.
* Collaborating with stakeholders – Work closely with HR, IT, and other teams to gather requirements, share insights, and align content with project goals.
* Ensuring consistency – Apply and promote content and accessibility standards, making sure all communication is in plain English and easy to understand.
* Laying the groundwork for an internal design system – Contribute to style guides and content patterns that support a consistent approach across the Council.
* Testing and iterating – Use data, feedback, and research to refine content and improve the user experience.
* Managing workload effectively – Balance multiple tasks and priorities in a small team while keeping stakeholders informed.
* Championing best practices – Promote user-centred design principles and advocate for accessible, well-structured content.
About The Candidate
If you’re a skilled content designer looking to build a career that truly makes a difference for the people of Manchester, we’d love to hear from you.
We’d Particularly Welcome Candidates Who Have
* Strong writing and editing skills, with a focus on plain English and accessibility.
* Experience creating and managing content across different formats (emails, forms, intranet pages, etc.).
* Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and communicate effectively.
* A user-centred approach to content design, using research and data to inform decisions.
* Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage workload and prioritise tasks.
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an ambitious project that will improve processes for thousands of Council staff.
About Us
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.
Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City – a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours.
* We take time to listen and understand
* We work together and trust each other
* We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
* We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
* We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
Benefits We Offer
* Generous holiday allowance: Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
* A buzzing pension: You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
* Enhanced parental and carers leave: Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your newborn or support your family during critical life events.
* Brilliant perks: Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
* Learn and grow: We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
* A Good Employment Charter member: We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
* Up to 3 days volunteering leave: Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.
Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.
Support During the Process
* Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
* Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:
* Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
* Current or former care leavers
* Have a disability or long-term condition
When You Join Us
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering
* A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
* Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
* A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.
For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].
What we will need from you if you’re successful: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
Pre-Employment Checks
Role
If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:
* Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
* References: We’ll request references from your current and previous employer(s).
These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.
Other Relevant Information
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
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