Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI)

Company: Kanopi

Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: UX/UI Design, Web Design, Visual Design

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end visual and UX design for complex website projects, from discovery through launch, ensuring clear design direction and confident client/internal team decisions.

• Develop accessible, user-centered solutions including wireframes, user flows, UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems.

• Confidently present and defend design work, translating complex thinking into simple terms and justifying recommendations with solid reasoning.

• Plan and facilitate discovery workshops, transforming research and insights into actionable UX deliverables like sitemaps, user journeys, and personas.

• Collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to ensure cohesive, technically sound solutions and oversee design implementation during development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a contract Senior Website Visual Designer with a strong emphasis on UX/UI. The responsibilities and required skills highlight a need for a designer who can independently lead projects, engage directly with clients, and contribute to the strategic direction of web design initiatives, particularly within an agency setting focused on Drupal and WordPress. The emphasis on "mission-driven clients" suggests a need for designers who can align creative solutions with impactful organizational goals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire visual and UX design process for intricate website projects, initiating from the discovery phase and continuing through to launch, while establishing a definitive design direction and guiding stakeholders towards decisive outcomes.

• Craft user-centered and accessible design solutions, encompassing the creation of detailed wireframes, comprehensive user flows, intuitive UI designs, high-fidelity interactive prototypes, and adaptable design systems that facilitate sustained visual consistency and brand integrity.

• Strategically present and advocate for design decisions to diverse audiences, articulating the underlying rationale in clear, digestible language and substantiating design choices with robust evidence and user-centric principles.

• Orchestrate and lead discovery workshops, effectively translating client needs, research findings, and strategic insights into tangible UX deliverables such as sitemaps, detailed user journey maps, and representative user personas.

• Foster close collaborative relationships with Content Strategists, Software Developers, and Project Managers to ensure that all design outputs are seamlessly integrated, technically feasible, and accurately implemented, including conducting design reviews during the development lifecycle.

• Act as a key representative for Creative Services in client acquisition activities, including pitches and sales consultations, leveraging strong design thinking and compelling presentation skills to secure new business opportunities.

• Actively contribute to Kanopi’s broader marketing and thought leadership initiatives through participation in webinars, public presentations, and other knowledge-sharing platforms, enhancing the company's industry presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior-level role requiring ownership and leadership. The emphasis on "end-to-end" design, client presentations, workshop facilitation, and collaboration with development and content strategy points to a holistic approach to web design, beyond just visual aesthetics. The inclusion of contributing to client pitches and thought leadership suggests a role that also involves business development and brand ambassadorship for the agency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a deep understanding of design principles is paramount. Applicants are expected to possess a comprehensive knowledge base typically acquired through formal design education or extensive self-study and professional application.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience designing responsive web experiences, with at least 3 years in an agency environment, is required. This includes a proven track record in leading complex website design projects from conception to completion.

Required Skills:

• A robust portfolio showcasing thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design for responsive websites, with clear and compelling examples of accessibility, usability, and visual craft.

• Proven ability to present and defend design work to a variety of audiences, effectively incorporating feedback while maintaining a clear and consistent design direction.

• Fluency in Figma and modern design workflows, coupled with hands-on experience using collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple concurrent projects, adapt to evolving project requirements, and operate effectively within both Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies.

• Comfort and proficiency working remotely within a distributed team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with mission-driven or nonprofit organizations.

• Familiarity with analytics and research tools such as GA4, heatmapping platforms, and user testing tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of hard skills (Figma, Adobe CC, accessibility standards) and soft skills (presentation, client management, collaboration). The agency environment experience and specific tool proficiencies are critical for immediate contribution. Experience with mission-driven clients and analytics tools are noted as preferred, suggesting these would make a candidate stand out.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that vividly demonstrates thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design for responsive websites.

• Clear and detailed case studies showcasing the application of accessibility principles and usability best practices in your design process.

• Examples of visual craft that highlight aesthetic quality, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of visual hierarchy and branding.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your process for translating research and insights into actionable UX deliverables, such as sitemaps, user journeys, and personas.

• Demonstrate your approach to planning and facilitating discovery workshops with clients.

• Provide examples of how you present and defend your work, articulating your design thinking and reasoning to diverse audiences.

• Illustrate your collaborative workflow with developers and content strategists, showing how you ensure designs are technically sound and implemented as intended.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's capabilities. It needs to go beyond just showcasing final visuals and include detailed process documentation. This demonstrates a strategic and collaborative approach to design, which is essential for an agency setting where client interaction and cross-functional teamwork are paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $55 - $70 per hour (CAD or USD, depending on local currency). This rate is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: As a contract position, standard employee benefits are not typically provided. However, the role offers:

• Flexibility: Fully remote work allows for a flexible schedule and the ability to work from anywhere within Canada or the US.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to work on diverse, mission-driven projects with a team of experts.

• Collaboration: Access to a strongly skilled and diverse distributed team, fostering continuous learning and collaboration.

• Project Variety: Exposure to a range of clients and project types within the Drupal and WordPress ecosystems.

Working Hours: This is a contract role. While specific daily hours are flexible and depend on project demands and individual work style (emphasizing "work where and when you do your best"), the role is expected to align with a standard 40-hour work week for project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in both CAD and USD, indicating flexibility for candidates in either country. The emphasis on "fully remote" and "work where and when you do your best" highlights the flexibility aspect of the contract. Benefits are framed around the intrinsic value of the role and the collaborative environment, rather than traditional employee perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Design, Development & Support Agency, specializing in Drupal & WordPress.

Company Size: Kanopi operates with a fully distributed team, suggesting a lean, agile, and potentially growing organization. While exact numbers aren't provided, the "distributed team" model implies a focus on individual accountability and remote collaboration rather than a large, centralized physical office.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but the company description indicates it is an established agency with a clear mission and growing presence.

Team Structure:

• The "fully distributed team" structure means team members are geographically dispersed but connected through digital collaboration tools.

• The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a hierarchical structure within the creative department where strategic thinking and creative output are valued.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on "user-centered solutions" and translating "research and insights into practical UX deliverables" points to a data-informed design approach.

• Agile & Waterfall: The ability to work within both Agile and Waterfall environments suggests a flexible project management methodology adapted to client needs.

• Accessibility First: Designing with accessibility in mind from the start is a key operational principle.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's culture is defined by its distributed nature, mission-driven client focus, and expertise in Drupal/WordPress. The emphasis on team growth, well-being, and collaboration suggests a supportive, albeit remote, work environment. The "mission-driven" aspect is a recurring theme, indicating a preference for employees who align with these values.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level Contract role. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, leadership, and expertise in visual and UX design for websites. The responsibilities extend beyond task execution to include strategic direction-setting, client management, and contributing to business development.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative. This places the designer within the creative department, with a clear line of communication for strategic guidance and project oversight.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts client satisfaction, project success, and Kanopi's reputation. By creating effective, accessible, and visually appealing websites, they contribute to the clients' mission success and, by extension, Kanopi's business growth. Representing Creative Services in client pitches also directly influences revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: While this is a contract role, successful performance can lead to further contract opportunities or potentially full-time roles with Kanopi, allowing for deeper specialization in complex UX/UI challenges.

• Leadership Development: The role inherently involves leading design direction, presenting to clients, and influencing project outcomes, which builds significant leadership and client-facing skills.

• Industry Exposure: Working with various mission-driven clients and contributing to thought leadership provides broad industry exposure and networking opportunities.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Each project offers an opportunity to add high-impact case studies to the designer's portfolio, showcasing their ability to handle complex challenges and deliver results.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a contract role, "growth" is framed more around skill enhancement, portfolio building, and potential for repeat engagements rather than traditional corporate ladder progression. The seniority of the role implies a significant level of responsibility and impact, offering valuable experience for a seasoned designer.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning there is no central office requirement. Employees are expected to work from their own dedicated workspace.

Office Location(s): The position is open to candidates located and able to work in Canada or the United States. The specific mention of "Victoria, British Columbia, Canada" in the job listing likely indicates a primary region of interest or the location of a key stakeholder, but the role itself is remote.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The environment is built around digital collaboration tools, fostering connection and teamwork despite geographical distance.

• Tools & Technology: Candidates are expected to be proficient in essential design software (Figma, Adobe CC) and collaboration platforms (Google Workspace), which are the primary tools for the remote workspace.

• Team Interaction: Interaction occurs through video calls, messaging platforms, and project management software, facilitating communication and knowledge sharing amongst the distributed team.

Work Schedule: Fully remote with flexibility. The emphasis is on achieving results and meeting project deadlines rather than adhering to rigid office hours. This allows designers to structure their day effectively, balancing personal needs with professional responsibilities, which is particularly beneficial for deep work and creative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully remote" nature is a key aspect of the work environment, emphasizing autonomy and flexibility. The agency's commitment to this model suggests a well-established infrastructure for remote collaboration and management.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Your resume, cover letter, and portfolio will be thoroughly reviewed to assess your qualifications and fit.

• Initial Questions: If your initial application is strong, you may receive a short set of targeted questions to gauge your background and interest further.

• Interviews: Multiple interviews will be conducted with various team members to discuss the role, your experience, and cultural alignment. This is a key stage to assess your communication skills and how you articulate your design process.

• Skills Assessments: A short practical task or assessment may be required to evaluate your design approach, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency with design tools.

• Ongoing Communication: Kanopi aims for consistent communication throughout the process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your design thinking, research methods, and problem-solving approach, not just the final visuals. Use case studies to tell a story of how you tackled a challenge.

• Highlight Accessibility: Explicitly detail how you incorporated accessibility best practices into your designs. This is a key requirement for this role.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or quantifiable results to demonstrate the impact of your work (e.g., improved user engagement, conversion rates, task completion times).

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with agency work, responsive web design, and ideally, experience with mission-driven clients if applicable.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Present your work logically and clearly. Be prepared to walk through your projects verbally, explaining your decisions in plain language.

Challenge Preparation:

• **Anticipate Design Tasks