Internal applicants only with a University of Essex contract (not On Demand or Casual)
Department
Marketing, Student Recruitment and Admissions
The University of Essex is looking for a Web Assistant to help shape, improve and future-proof our digital content. Working as part of the central Web Team, you will play a hands-on role in creating, editing and optimising content for the University’s corporate website. You will help ensure our content is clear, accessible, engaging and easy to find, whether users arrive via traditional search engines or emerging AI-driven platforms.
This is a practical, content-focused role for someone who understands how websites work and enjoys improving structure, usability and performance. You will work closely with colleagues across the University, providing guidance to devolved content authors and helping maintain high standards across a large, complex site.
You will also have the opportunity to contribute ideas, develop your digital skills, and support the evolution of our web presence, including the use of analytics, SEO and AI-assisted tools to improve content effectiveness.
Duties of the Role
The Web Assistant will support the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of the University’s corporate website and related digital channels. The role involves creating, editing and optimising web content to ensure it is clear, engaging, accessible and aligned with the University’s brand, tone of voice and business objectives.
The post holder will work closely with the Senior Web Officer and colleagues across the University to respond to web content requests, provide guidance to devolved web authors, and help maintain quality, consistency and usability across the site. They will use web analytics, SEO and emerging best practice; including AI-assisted tools and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) principles, to inform content decisions and improve performance.
The role also contributes to training, stakeholder engagement, and the ongoing development of web standards, while supporting key recruitment activities such as open days and Clearing.
Skills and qualifications required
The post-holder will have a degree or equivalent qualification and demonstrable experience of writing, editing and managing content for the web. They will have a strong understanding of writing for the web best practice, including accessibility, usability, SEO and content structure, and experience using a content management system within established templates.
Excellent written English is essential, alongside strong editing and proofreading skills and a high level of attention to detail. The role requires the ability to work to deadlines, manage competing priorities and maintain consistent quality across a large and complex website.
The post-holder will be comfortable working with web technologies and digital tools, with a basic working knowledge of HTML and an understanding of how website structures, information architecture and analytics inform effective content design. They will be able to communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of stakeholders, providing advice and guidance to devolved web authors and working collaboratively within a team.
Strong ICT skills are required, along with a commitment to customer service, flexibility in approach and a willingness to develop technical knowledge in response to evolving web standards, including the use of AI-assisted tools and emerging search and discovery practices.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.
To support this commitment we have our, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives.