Content Designer

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

This role is central to the creation of online (and offline) resources for frontline staff operating within a multichannel contact environment, which delivers the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service to enquirers and students. The post holder will be responsible for optimising KMS (Knowledge Management Systems) Information Architecture (IA), operationalising the content lifecycle and improving the quality of content produced across the KMS community.

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with Senior Manager, Knowledge Management to conduct focused, periodic content audits of KMS. Responsible for analysing results and making recommendations for change and improvement.
• Analysing the needs of our users, both front-end and back-end, with a view to improving their experience of KMS, and maximising their effectiveness and efficiency within their day-to-day roles.
• Responsible for the quality of KMS-wide content, with particular focus on the most popular results. Demonstrating and championing excellent content design skills and Influencing, guiding and supporting subject-matter-experts to produce high-quality, accessible content.
• Acting as a technical lead for the design and provision of analytics and aids to support users. For example, reports, diagnostic wizards, decision trees and digital workspaces/user interfaces (UI).
• Responsible for production of raw training materials, relating to content design and user experience (UX), working closely with the Senior Manager, Knowledge Management and learning and development professions.
• Contributing to and operationalising the University’s Digital Governance Framework, proactively seeking out and participating in continuous professional development.
• Taking a key management role within the KMS team, which may include managing people, projects and other activities as directed.

About You

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of structuring and writing accessible materials for the online environment and for a variety of different audiences, using a range of techniques.
• Demonstrable experience of content design and good knowledge and understanding of the associated principles.
• Experience of using standard office software, including Microsoft Excel, to a high standard including expertise with functions and formulae. Ability to compile, analyse and evaluate data, and report results in a logical and professional way to influence continuous improvement.
• The ability to anticipate problems, consider solutions and make decisions. Adopting a logical approach to problem solving and managing issues with confidence whilst remaining calm and professional under pressure, to take tasks through to successful completion under minimal supervision.
• Time management, organisation and planning skills working within multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating teamwork, negotiation and influencing skills, working with stakeholders at all different levels.
• Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to express views and ideas both verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to own personal and professional development including mandatory/role-specific training and development to ensure knowledge and skills remain up-to-date.
• Experience of management, with the ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes, Nottingham,Manchester office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be approximately once per quarter.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

We anticipate that interviews for this role will be taking place online via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 23 November 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following as separate documents;

• CV
• Supporting statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required essential criteria and competencies for this role as detailed in the above person specification.

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.