Design Researcher

Role overview

We are seeking a Design Researcher for a 12-month-plus contract within a highly regarded Canadian institution’s digital team. The position is based in Toronto with a working pattern of four days in the office and one day remotely each week. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who enjoys exploring user needs, uncovering meaningful insights, and helping shape digital experiences that genuinely improve people’s lives.

The selected candidate will work as part of a cross-functional product group alongside designers, developers, and product leads. Research is expected to play a central role in shaping product direction, informing strategy, and influencing decisions from the earliest stages of development.

What you will do

You will own research work from planning and scoping through fieldwork, synthesis, and presentation of findings. The role calls for a proactive approach to identifying upcoming decisions and recommending the most effective research methods to support them.

You will collaborate closely with stakeholders to make research participatory and embedded throughout the product lifecycle. Your work will include facilitating usability testing, interviews, workshops, and other qualitative methods to build a detailed understanding of user behavior, needs, and motivations.

Insights will need to be translated into practical recommendations that guide product strategy, design choices, and roadmap priorities. You will also help strengthen a research-oriented culture by supporting product and design partners in developing research skills and ways of thinking.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate brings experience in UX research, human-centered design, or a closely related discipline. A solid grasp of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and the ability to choose the right method for the problem, is important for success in this role.

You should be comfortable working with designers, product managers, and developers in agile settings. Strong synthesis and communication skills are essential, especially when sharing findings with both technical and non-technical audiences. Curiosity, strong narrative ability, and a talent for connecting patterns across information will be highly valued.

Preferred background

A degree in Psychology, Anthropology, HCI, Information Studies, Design, or a related subject is considered an advantage. Additional experience working in large organizations or complex digital environments will also be beneficial.

It is helpful if you are comfortable moderating live sessions involving complex or sensitive topics and familiar with design thinking principles as well as facilitation techniques.

Why this opportunity stands out

This position offers the chance to influence products used by millions of people across Canada. You will join a design-focused team that values collaboration, inclusion, and continuous growth.

The organization treats research as a core part of product development rather than a box to check, creating an environment where your work can have real strategic impact.

Additional information

Hiring decisions are made by qualified recruitment professionals. Automated tools or AI-assisted systems may be used during screening, assessment, or candidate matching, but they are intended to support human judgment rather than replace it.

Canadian work experience is not required. Equivalent international experience will be considered equally.

This posting is intended as a general talent search for both current and future opportunities.

Work arrangement

This is a contract role with a Toronto-based schedule of four in-office days and one remote day per week.