Our mission at Smartbox is to ensure no one is left without a voice. We create assistive technology for people with disabilities who experience speech difficulties to help them communicate and live more independent lives. A big part of our culture is our passion, which drives us to continuously improve our products, services and ways of working, so the people who use our technology can achieve their ambitions.
Based in the UK, US, France, Germany, Netherlands and Australia, with partners in over 40 countries, we are a leading supplier in the global augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) community. We don’t take this for granted, and every person in our team is key to ensuring more people who would benefit from assistive technology can access it.
The successful candidate will join the Content team in developing and delivering AAC content for our Grid software. This content is used by people with disabilities around the world to communicate, learn, and live more independent lives. The Content team aims to develop innovative, market-leading, user-friendly content that is guided by research, customer needs, and technological advancement.
We are looking for someone with a strong, applied understanding of the needs of people who use AAC, particularly children who use symbols to support their communication and learning, and the ability to translate this into effective content design decisions. A background in education will be particularly valuable in supporting the development of content that enables language, literacy and curriculum access through AAC.
In this role, you will design and develop grid sets and supporting resources that harness the power of Grid and support successful use in real-world contexts. You will take ownership of content development projects, working independently across planning, design, development, testing and release. You will make informed decisions about content structure, vocabulary and accessibility, balancing user needs, evidence, and software constraints. You will also contribute to how work is carried out, developing efficient and effective processes for content creation and maintenance, and supporting Content Assistants to contribute to delivery where appropriate. You will work in a way that is efficient, consistent, and scalable to other languages.
As a global company, we localise our content into more than 35 languages. You will work with the Localisation Manager to coordinate and support the delivery of content across languages, ensuring consistency in design principles and user experience.
Working closely with colleagues across the Smartbox family, including Software, UX (User Experience), Marketing, Training and Sales, you will help ensure that content is well understood and effectively implemented. You will support others to understand user needs and how our content is designed to meet those needs, particularly in relation to communication and learning.
A vital part of this role is maintaining exceptional attention to detail. You will take responsibility for the quality of your work, ensuring that all content meets Smartbox’s high standards through thorough review and testing prior to release.
This role requires a proactive and flexible approach, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to the evolving needs of users and markets. You will report to the Head of Content.
Content Development & Delivery
· Own and deliver AAC content development projects end-to-end, including planning, design, development, testing and release.
· Design and develop symbol-based content for communication and learning, with a particular focus on supporting language, literacy and educational participation.
· Apply a strong understanding of AAC users, communication development, and the needs of communication partners when designing and refining content.
· Make informed decisions about content structure, vocabulary and accessibility, balancing user needs, evidence and software constraints.
· Maintain and improve existing content, including updates for new software features, usability improvements and response to feedback.
· Adapt grid sets to support a wide range of physical, cognitive and visual access needs.
Quality & Improvement
· Take responsibility for the quality and consistency of content within your work, ensuring it meets our quality standards before release.
· Review and test content systematically, identifying and resolving issues in a timely manner.
· Apply quality standards consistently and instinctively within your own work.
· Identify opportunities to improve existing content and contribute ideas for new content, particularly to support communication and learning.
Collaboration
· Work closely with Content team colleagues, including Content Assistants and Specialists, to deliver high-quality content.
· Coordinate aspects of content development, including supporting or delegating tasks to our Content Assistants where appropriate.
· Collaborate with Software, UX, Marketing, Sales, and Training teams to ensure content is effectively implemented and understood.
· Support others to understand user needs and how our content is designed to support those needs, in particular communication, learning and independence.
Localisation
· Coordinate and support the localisation of content into multiple languages, ensuring consistency in design principles and user experience.
Knowledge & Development
· Maintain and develop your understanding and expertise in AAC, with a focus on communication, literacy, and education.
· Use feedback, research and data to inform your work and improve content, working with and seeking insights from the UX team.
Organisational Responsibilities
· Uphold and actively support Smartbox's Quality Management System (QMS), contributing to continuous quality improvement, regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
· Support the company’s sustainability goals through responsible working practices and consideration of environmental impacts in our day-to-day activities.
· Actively support Smartbox’s purpose of empowering people with disabilities through assistive technology, ensuring that all work contributes to improving user experience and accessibility.
· Handle personal and sensitive information in line with company policies, GDPR, HIPAA and data protection regulations.
· Follow all health and safety policies and promote a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace for team members and customers.
· Maintain high standards of conduct, professionalism, and integrity in all internal and external interactions.
· Contribute to an inclusive culture that values every individual’s contribution and upholds equality and respect.
You will also be asked to perform other duties on an ad-hoc basis and will need a proactive attitude to this.
· Degree or equivalent experience in education, teaching, child development, or language/linguistics.
· At least 3+ years’ experience in the field of AAC and/or relevant fields such as education, speech and language therapy, or assistive technology.
· A strong, applied understanding of the needs of people who use AAC.
· Experience supporting the language and literacy development of children who use AAC.
· Confident and experienced in the use of Grid 3 and/or Grid for iPad.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
· Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple pieces of work effectively.
· Exceptional attention to detail and ability to identify when content does or does not meet our quality standards.
· A genuine passion for enabling people to be who they are.
· Experience in creating or adapting educational or AAC-related content or resources.
· Understanding of curriculum access and how AAC can be integrated to support participation in education.
· Fluency in one or more languages besides English.
· Knowledge of linguistics and language structures across languages.
· Experience with a range of access methods for assistive technology (e.g., switch, eye gaze).
· Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., educators, therapists).
· We work in a hybrid way, so you’ll have the flexibility to split your time between home and our Malvern or Bristol offices. You’ll need to be in the Bristol office at least two days a week to stay connected with the team and collaborate in person.
· You will gain in-depth knowledge of our products and see first-hand the impact they have on empowering people every day.
· You will have the opportunity to collaborate with teams across the business and contribute to shared goals.
Discover a world of rewards and benefits tailored to your wellbeing at Smartbox. Beyond a competitive salary and private medical insurance, explore perks like a hybrid working model, wellness benefits, and paid volunteering days. Dive into our website to uncover all the fantastic benefits waiting for you at Smartbox: https://thinksmartbox.com/careers/.
We welcome applications from all communities and those from diverse backgrounds and groups. Please outline your experience and ability to excel in this role within your cover letter.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we are committed to the employment and development of disabled people. We’re always happy to make reasonable adjustments, please contact [email protected] or 01684 213075 if you need any support with your application.
We’re driven by making a positive social and environmental impact and are working towards B Corp certification as part of a global movement for people and the planet. Find out more about our sustainability commitments here: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability.