UX Design Researcher

AQUENT has an EXCITING opportunity for a UX Design Researcher in Toronto, ON!

Please note that the only candidates we will consider for this role are those who live in the immediate Toronto area and can work on-site up to 3 days/week.

In addition, to be considered for this role, you must:

• Be authorized to work in Canada and not require sponsorship of any kind during the entire assignment
• Be able to showcase your work through case studies and/or portfolio. Work samples must be narrative in nature, detailing your process in solving problems.

Position Summary:

Design researchers shape the experiences we create through each of our digital products. You’ll work with a cross-functional group of designers, product managers, and developers. Embedded in a product, journey, or channel, you will identify upcoming decisions that need research inputs, propose methodologies, carry out fieldwork, analyze, and socialize the implications. Our client believes that research is not to be a silo or a black box that outputs ‘insights’; if you believe this as well, you can help our client achieve this by working closely with the rest of the team to ensure they are participating along each step of the way.

Job Responsibilities:

• Design Research Strategy: Build relationships with key stakeholders within and outside of the design team. Support designers and business stakeholders in prioritizing potential research activities. Develop research fieldwork approaches (moderated or unmoderated) which address business and design objectives.
• Research and Testing (Execution, Synthesis, Analysis): Develop research activities to evaluate prototypes, improve understanding of current context, or to generate new understanding of changing user needs.
• Moderate live sessions with users and other participants covering high-complexity or sensitive topics.
• Communicate core themes and implications from your research activities to the design team and other stakeholders. Design and facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative work activities.

Education, Experience, and Skill Requirements:

• BA/BS degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design (e.g., interaction, graphic, visual communications, product, industrial), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science (CS), or a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in research. Technical understanding of design research theory/design research tools.
• Working knowledge of a variety of design research methodologies. Experience working on cross-functional teams.
• MA/MS degree or certification in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design (e.g., interaction, graphic, visual communications, product, industrial), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science (CS), or a related field. Appreciation for the potential of “design thinking.”
• Experience working within a large organization and within an agile environment. Experience contributing to the launch of a digital product.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is C$58.74 to $63.74 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.