Lead Content Designer

Soil Association

Hours
28 hours per week

About the Organisation

Soil Association, formed in 1946, is the only UK charity that works across the spectrum of human health, the environment, and animal welfare. That’s because we cannot tackle these issues in isolation. We campaign for change, we support farming innovation, we serve healthy food in communities, we support and grow the organic market, and we protect forests. We couldn't do any of this without our supporters, partners, donors, and dedicated staff. We make a difference in the world where it’s needed the most.

About the role

This important role within the Digital team works with a range of stakeholders across the Soil Association to deliver a high-quality user experience on www. soilassociation .org and other Soil Association websites. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will design high-quality user-focused content, using user insight, data, and evidence to improve content quality, accessibility, and effectiveness. You will develop and iterate the organisation’s content strategy and design and maintain content standards, governance, and processes. 

You will also provide best-practice guidance, training, and hands-on support to colleagues, helping teams build confidence and skills. You will advocate for user-centred, evidence-based content, working to embed best practice approaches across the organisation. Initially, the focus of the role will be supporting a large website replatforming project and content migration, implementing improved user experience, consistency, content quality, and governance across our website content.  

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and deliver continuous improvement of high-priority digital content and complex end-to-end user journeys, ensuring they meet defined quality standards and performance measures.
• Lead organisation‑wide content strategy, governance models, and standards, ensuring compliance, quality, and alignment across teams
• Serve as the organisation’s subject matter expert for content design, using deep expertise to influence decision‑making and guide continuous improvement
• Own the planning, delivery, and interpretation of user research and analytics, to inform evidence‑based decisions and drive improvements to journeys and content.
• Lead capability-building, working with teams at different levels of digital maturity to embed new ways of working and build skills and confidence
• Line-managing and supporting the development of the Junior Content Designer
• Work collaboratively across functions, design, development, product, and others to align priorities, resolve complex challenges, and ensure effective, integrated delivery.
• Build on networks and communities of practice, and bring in learning from external organisations
• Support digital projects and wider team delivery as needed
• Advocate internally for the Soil Association’s wider digital transformation

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge & Experience:

• Significant experience in senior content design roles and comprehensive knowledge of content design best practices
• Proven ability to apply expert content and UX knowledge to complex problems, balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.
• Extensive experience in developing content strategy, governance, and standards
• Extensive experience improving content and UX practice in organisations at earlier stages of digital maturity
• Evidence of pragmatic delivery adapting methods to context, constraints, and stakeholder readiness while safeguarding user needs and accessibility.
• Substantial experience influencing colleagues with different levels of digital understanding to adopt or support new ideas and ways of working
• Strong understanding of accessibility and inclusive design, with experience advocating for its adoption.
• Significant experience conducting user research and using data and evidence to inform content decisions
• Charity and not-for-profit experience are desirable but not essential

Personal Qualities & Skills Qualities:

• Strong advocate for user-centred design and accessibility
• Comfortable working in transformation and change environments, and with stakeholders with a range of digital skills and confidence
• Leads with autonomy, exercising sound judgement in complex and ambiguous situations.
• Pragmatic as well as principled – able to judge where “good enough now” unlocks value versus where to hold the line on standards.
• Confident in influencing and engaging colleagues at all levels, building trusted relationships that support delivery and shared solutions.
• Collaborative, open, and supportive, with strong relationship-building skills
• Curious, reflective, and committed to continuous improvement
• Data and insight-led in decision-making
• Empathetic, critical thinker focused on user needs and outcomes

Essential Skills:

• Facilitation and coaching for change ( show-and-tell, pair-writing, crits, playbacks)
• Strong prioritization and delivery skills across multiple projects
• CMS (Umbraco or similar)
• Research and analytics tools (GA4, Search Console, Hotjar, Optimal)

Desirable Skills:

• Collaboration and workshop tools (Miro)
• Productivity tools (Trello and MS Teams)

Required Qualifications

• You will have a strong working understanding of content design best practice, either from a qualification or self-study, plus application of these skills.

Compensation & Benefits

• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service , plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time)  
• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service  
• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce  
• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives  
• Family-friendly policies and flexible working   
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Probationary period 6 months
• Notice period 2 months
• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce  

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Bristol office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply online to submit your CV and Cover Letter. Please note we look at applications on arrival and reserve the right to close this vacancy early. 
• For any queries, please contact [email protected] 

Interviews

• Please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email upon submitting your application. All candidates will subsequently receive an email to confirm whether they have made it through to the interview stage.    

Policies

We know the value of diversity in nature and want it in our organisation. We recognise that diverse backgrounds and experiences will bring a fresh perspective to our work. If you're not sure about applying, please get in touch with us for a chat. Thank you for your interest in supporting our work at the Soil Association.

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