IT - Design Researcher - Expert

Job Details

Industry: Banking/ Financial

Job Title: Design Researcher

Duration: 12+ Months

Location: Toronto, Canada

• Design Researcher – Expert contractor supporting a Direct Investing business within Wealth Management, focused on strategic and evaluative UX research for a new digital product targeting younger self-directed investors and other direct investing initiatives.
• The role partners closely with product designers, product managers, and business stakeholders to plan and execute research, synthesize insights, and influence product and business decisions.

• Build strong relationships with designers, product managers, business stakeholders, and other partners across squads.
• Identify upcoming product and design decisions that require research input and propose suitable methodologies.
• Develop and execute research fieldwork (moderated and unmoderated) aligned to business and design objectives.
• Plan and run research to evaluate prototypes, understand current experiences, and uncover changing user needs.
• Moderate live sessions with clients and internal stakeholders, including high-complexity or sensitive topics.
• Analyze research data, synthesize findings, and clearly communicate themes, implications, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Design and facilitate workshops, ideation sessions, and collaborative working sessions with cross-functional teams.
• Work with designers on user test plans while empowering them to run and analyze their own usability tests where appropriate.
• Partner with business and product to validate strategic goals, hypotheses, and new initiatives for Direct Investing.
• Help mature the UX research practice by advocating research best practices, methodologies, and tools.

• BA/BS degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design, HCI, CS, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in research with deep understanding of design research theory and tools.
• Extensive hands-on experience with a variety of design research methodologies (generative and evaluative).
• 10+ years of experience working on cross-functional teams in digital product environments.
• A minimum of 3 years specifically in UX research, with proven examples of end-to-end research delivery.
• Experience working in a large organization and within an agile environment.
• Experience with service design and journey mapping.
• Strong communication skills with ability to articulate research insights and connect them to business goals and design decisions.
• Ability to build relationships with stakeholders, take initiative in proposing research plans, and present confidently to business leadership.
• Proficient in English (written and verbal).

• MA/MS degree or certification in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design, HCI, CS, or related field.
• Background or knowledge in self-directed investing or wealth management.
• Appreciation and practical understanding ofdesignthinking.
• Experience contributing to the launch of a digital product.
• Experience with service design across end-to-end client journeys in financial services.

EEO: Mindlance is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to inclusive, equitable, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes, and a work environment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We will be happy to work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.