Proud to be Sunderland

The University of Sunderland offers life‑changing opportunities for more than 27,500 students across our campuses in Sunderland, London and Hong Kong, as well as through global partnerships in 19 countries.

We’re an inclusive, ambitious and forward‑looking University in a vibrant city that’s constantly evolving. We’re also entering an exciting new phase with a refreshed vision and strategic ambitions shaped around the changing higher education landscape.

As we move through 2026, we’re celebrating being recognised as:

• A top 30 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2026)
• 1st in the North‑East for student support services (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
• 1st in the North‑East for teaching quality (The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)

Your next opportunity

Within this role, there will be a focus on designing and developing content for the new corporate website due to launch in November 2025, building webpages within the new content management system based on the updated information architecture, and creating content that supports a user focused, sustainable and legally compliant web presence for the University. It will also ensure that digital content across all formats meets required standards.

This role is a fixed-term maternity cover until 31/07/2027.

Is this you?

The successful candidate will have:

1. User-Centred Content Design & WCAG Accessibility Standards

• Proven experience identifying user needs, mapping user stories, designing content plans, and creating outstanding, impactful copy for web interfaces.

• Expertise in following user-centered design principles to shape, structure, and optimize content across a website while ensuring strict compliance with accessibility (WCAG) standards.

2. Data-Driven Content Optimization & SEO Expertise

• Experience using web analytics, user feedback, user research, and metrics to continuously audit and improve content performance.

• Ability to conduct user research and use SEO tools (such as Ahrefs, Hotjar, and GA4) to identify content gaps, map out keyword targeting, and build optimized content pillars.

3. Stakeholder Management & Collaborative CMS Project Delivery

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a proven track record of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and managing diverse stakeholder/client expectations across a large organization.

• Hands-on experience working with complex Content Management Systems (CMS) or Digital Experience Platforms (DXP) to build, manage, and publish high-quality website content under tight project deadlines.

Why join us?

At the University of Sunderland, we’re more than a place of learning, we’re a welcoming community that values inclusivity, collaboration, and well-being. We don’t just offer jobs, we offer careers that come with support, flexibility, and plenty of perks:

• Up to 44 days’ holiday - that’s 31 days’ annual leave, 5 festive closure days and 8 Bank Holidays!
• Award-winning staff networks that celebrate who you are.
• Lifestyle benefits, with savings on shopping, tech, bikes, and even cars.
• Health and well-being support, from private medical cover to gym discounts.
• Learning and development that helps you achieve your goals.

Ready to Apply?

Before getting started, please download the Role Profile under ‘Job Description’ so you have everything you need.

Our application questions assess you directly against the essential and desirable criteria for the role. We do not review CVs at this stage, so please provide detailed, evidence-based answers to help us understand your suitability.

Closing date: Monday 15th June (23:59 GMT)

If you have questions about the role, please contact: Web Manager Sadhu Kanakarajan at sadhu.kanakarajan@sunderland.ac.uk