Role Summary
The client is seeking a Senior UX Designer to lead user-centered design activities for digital products and services. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting user research, translating insights into intuitive user experiences, developing wireframes and prototypes, facilitating design workshops, and collaborating closely with business stakeholders, developers, QA teams, and other cross-functional partners.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience in UX/UI design, user research, Figma, Canva, prototyping, accessibility, and responsive web/mobile design. Experience working with Ontario Public Service (OPS), Ontario Design System, Digital Service Standard, and WCAG 2.1 AA will be highly valued.
Key Responsibilities
UX Research & Discovery
- Plan and conduct user research, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, and consultations.
- Manage the end-to-end user research process, from participant recruitment through synthesis.
- Gather and analyze user feedback to identify usability issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Translate research findings into actionable UX recommendations.
- Develop:
- User journeys
- Customer journey maps
- Sitemaps
- User flows
- User stories
- Wireframes
- Mockups
- Interactive prototypes
UX/UI Design
- Create effective, user-friendly, visually appealing interfaces for web and mobile applications.
- Design and refine the overall functionality of digital products to deliver an intuitive user experience.
- Apply a user-centered design approach and continuously iterate based on usability testing and user feedback.
- Design responsive experiences optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.
- Identify complex design problems and develop elegant, practical solutions.
- Make strategic UX/UI decisions related to core functionality and new product features.
- Design interfaces for digital displays, publications, media, and other creative requirements where applicable.
Design Leadership & Workshops
- Define and lead UX projects, design workshops, stakeholder alignment sessions, and discovery activities.
- Facilitate discussions with stakeholders and business users to understand requirements and establish product vision.
- Support the client's product vision through research, ideation, sketching, prototyping, and user testing.
- Work effectively with stakeholders across different organizational levels.
Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with:
- Developers
- QA specialists
- Business analysts
- Product/business stakeholders
- Project teams
- Ensure UX designs are technically feasible and aligned with web development technologies.
- Balance user needs, business requirements, technical constraints, and project timelines.
- Manage competing priorities while meeting project deadlines.
Documentation & Communication
- Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive UX documentation, including reports, assessments, design reviews, and recommendations.
- Clearly communicate design concepts, research findings, and development processes to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Present UX decisions and recommendations effectively to diverse audiences.
Required Skills & Experience
UX/UI & Design – Must Have
- Relevant experience creating GUI designs based on user interaction and performance.
- Strong experience as a UX Designer, UI Designer, Interactive Designer, or similar role.
- Experience designing web and mobile applications.
- Experience defining and leading UX projects.
- Experience facilitating UX workshops and stakeholder alignment sessions.
- Experience conducting end-to-end user research, including recruitment, interviews, surveys, analysis, and synthesis.
- Strong experience developing:
- Wireframes
- Mockups
- Prototypes
- User flows
- User journeys
- Sitemaps
- User stories
- Experience conducting usability testing and iterating designs based on user feedback.
- Experience identifying UX problems and developing effective design solutions.
- Experience making strategic UX decisions around core functionality and new features.
- Hands-on experience with Figma, Canva, and similar design/prototyping tools.
Collaboration – Must Have
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with developers, QA specialists, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and client relationship skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Experience working collaboratively across different organizational levels.
Communication Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive documentation.
- Ability to explain UX concepts and design decisions to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
Requirements
Desirable Skills
The following experience will be considered an asset:
- Knowledge of accessibility testing.
- Experience working with the Ontario Design System.
- Knowledge of the Ontario Digital Service Standard.
- Experience designing accessible digital products in accordance with WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Experience dealing with complex design challenges and legacy systems.
- Experience navigating complex stakeholder structures and approval processes.
- Strong UI/UX experience involving:
- Wireframing
- Surveys
- Questionnaires
- User consultations
- User research
Public Sector / OPS Experience
- Previous Ontario Public Service (OPS) or broader public-sector experience is preferred.
- Experience with Ontario Service Design is an asset.
- Familiarity with government digital services, standards, accessibility requirements, and stakeholder/approval processes is advantageous.
Technology & Design Tools
Core:
- Figma
- Canva
- Prototyping tools
- Wireframing tools
Accessibility:
- WCAG 2.1 AA
- Accessibility testing
Ontario Government:
- Ontario Design System
- Ontario Digital Service Standard
- Ontario Service Design
Candidate Must-Haves
For initial screening, prioritize candidates who demonstrate all or most of the following:
- Senior UX/UI design experience for web and mobile applications.
- Strong user research experience, including interviews, surveys, recruitment, synthesis, and usability testing.
- Experience creating wireframes, user flows, user journeys, mockups, and prototypes.
- Ability to lead UX projects, workshops, and stakeholder alignment sessions.
- Strong hands-on experience with Figma and Canva.
- Proven collaboration with developers, QA, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
- Strong communication, documentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
Strong Differentiators
- Previous OPS/Public Sector experience
- Ontario Service Design experience
- Ontario Design System experience
- Digital Service Standard knowledge
- WCAG 2.1 AA/accessibility experience
- Experience with complex/legacy government systems
- Strong UI/UX research and consultation background