As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting. In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring. That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you. Job Overview Salary: £40,765 per annum Contract type: Permanent Band: E / Higher Executive Officer Closing date: Monday 13th April 2026 at midnight The Digital Services team at The National Archives is committed to delivering high quality, innovative and trusted digital services to all our audiences. We have an ambitious portfolio of projects transforming our digital services and the way we deliver them. You will be part of a creative, motivated team who embraces challenge and looks for opportunities to do things differently. We are currently developing a new approach to our web estate, meaning that you will be simultaneously delivering and maintaining content in our existing system, while also working with Product Managers in multidisciplinary Agile teams to develop brand new content models for our ambitious new offer. Working as Content Designer in The National Archives’ Digital Services department, you will provide user-centred content design for our digital services. You will help to shape and design new ways of delivering end-to-end digital user journeys, ensuring all of our audiences can find, access and understand National Archive collections. You will create content that is designed for all levels of familiarity with archives, from first time users to expert researchers. You will have strong written communication skills, and be experienced in writing for the web, particularly in communicating the complex knowledge of experts to a non-expert audience. You will be confident and comfortable with taking the lead, making decisions and dealing with stakeholders. You will juggle a varied workload and be up to the challenge of working in a fast-paced digital team going through a period of change and rapid growth. This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time. Application Process • Interview: Interviews will be held on-site ideally week commencing 20th April 2026. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation, and will take a handwritten editorial test on the day. • Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, of about 500 words, addressing the 3 criteria listed below. Selection for interview will be based on these ‘essential’ requirements so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements, using clear examples as evidence. Essential criteria for personal statement: 1. Experience of creating user-centred digital content, across multiple channels and complex user journeys. 2. Experience of working collaboratively in Agile, multidisciplinary teams to create new content models and CMS features. 3. Experience in applying the findings of analytics, metrics and user research to iterate and improve content. 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 visit the Civil Service Careers website where you can find further information on the use of AI in the application guidance section. Sponsorship: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Job Description Role and Responsibilities The role works across a number of key areas of our digital offer: Delivering content that enables our users to find and access our services and collections. Enabling them to complete specific tasks in a clear, accessible and efficient way. Delivering interpretative content that engages our audiences with our collections and the work we do. You will communicate the stories at the heart of The National Archives, helping users understand them, with surprising, insightful and inclusive digital content. Auditing legacy content, including complex microsites and applications, assessing its value and where relevant creating new ways to tell the stories it contains. Supporting colleagues around the organisation in delivering their professional services online. In order to do this the Content Designer will: Design accessible, user-friendly content for end-to-end journeys of our digital services, making sure the right content is delivered to our service users at the right time, in the right way and the best format. Write, review and edit website microcopy that allows users to find and access archive records and services. Ensure all copy is written in plain, unambiguous language and aligns with government guidelines. Work closely with subject experts around the organisation to seek out the most engaging and representative stories to be found in our collections. Collaborate with experts to communicate their knowledge in ways that are accessible and engaging for all audiences without compromising on accuracy or academic rigour. Support the Lead Content Designer in the development and delivery of a new and ambitious editorial strategy for TNA Digital Services. Advocate for this strategy around the organisation. Work closely with Product Managers and other members of Agile teams to design and develop new content models to be delivered in our new Content Management System. Work with the Lead Content Designer to develop and deliver a training programme for devolved editors in how to use our new CMS. Map and audit existing content and assess its fitness for purpose, making decisions on whether to archive, migrate or redesign legacy content. Work with devolved editors and key stakeholders around the organisation, offering guidance and support as they develop their own areas of the digital estate. Work within a multidisciplinary team to monitor analytics, metrics and user testing and apply findings to content design. Support and mentor the Junior Content Designer as they carry out the team’s business as usual work e.g. making ad hoc amendments and editing and uploading content from devolved editors. Be a point of call for the Junior Content Designer when they need to escalate complex requests. Continuously improve our approach to content design, by monitoring and learning from the latest initiatives across the public sector and the galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) field. Working Conditions Normal office environment Display Screen Equipment user Person Specification Essential criteria: An experienced digital content practitioner with experience of creating user-centred digital content, across multiple channels and complex user journeys. Exemplary writing skills with excellent grammar and a close attention to detail, with a keen eye for an engaging story. Demonstrable experience creating inclusive, representative content that reflects the lives and experiences of all users and audiences. Experience of working with expert content providers to communicate their knowledge to as wide an audience as possible, thinking creatively about ways of communicating complex stories and concepts to non-expert users Knowledge of and experience in applying current accessibility legislation. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain positive, long-term relationships with stakeholders and the ability to communicate your ideas and influence decisions at all levels. Experience in applying the findings of analytics, metrics and user research to iterate and improve content. Experience of working collaboratively in Agile, multidisciplinary teams to create new content models and CMS features. Desirable criteria: Experience of creating prototypes, using a variety of prototyping methods, to share and test design proposals, with the ability to determine and justify which method is most appropriate. Experience of working in or with relevant sector(s) (government, archives, information services, culture and heritage). Experience sharing knowledge, presenting ideas and discussing your work to colleagues and internal stakeholders. Experience of sharing knowledge externally at forums, workshops and conferences. 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. Benefits Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum. Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ ( opens in new window) Reasonable adjustments If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks (opens in new window) Nationality requirements 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 new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in 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 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. This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. (opens in new window) Contact point for applicants: Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/ (opens in new window)