Contract Senior Website Visual Designer (UX/UI) - Remote | US & Canada

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Kanopi

Location: Remote (US & Canada)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: UX/UI Design, Web Design, Digital Agency Operations

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years Professional Experience

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end visual and UX design for complex website projects, from discovery through launch, setting clear design direction and guiding clients and internal teams toward confident decisions.

• Create accessible, user-centered solutions including wireframes, user flows, UI designs, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems that support long-term consistency.

• Present and defend work clearly and confidently to a range of audiences, explaining thinking in simple terms and standing behind recommendations.

• Plan and facilitate discovery workshops, translating research and insights into practical UX deliverables such as sitemaps, user journeys, and personas.

• Collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to ensure solutions are cohesive, technically sound, and delivered as intended, including reviewing work during development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Visual Designer with a strong emphasis on UX/UI within a digital agency context. The "operations" aspect comes from the need to manage complex projects, collaborate across disciplines (content, development, project management), and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of client websites, aligning with Kanopi's mission-driven approach.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the visual and UX design strategy for intricate website projects, managing the entire design lifecycle from initial discovery and research phases through to final launch.

• Develop comprehensive user-centered design deliverables, including detailed wireframes, intuitive user flows, polished UI designs, interactive high-fidelity prototypes, and robust, scalable design systems.

• Articulate and defend design decisions with clarity and conviction to diverse stakeholders, including clients and internal teams, effectively translating user needs and business objectives into design rationale.

• Lead and facilitate client discovery workshops, synthesizing research findings, user insights, and project requirements into actionable UX artifacts such as sitemaps, comprehensive user journeys, and detailed personas.

• Foster strong, collaborative partnerships with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers, ensuring seamless integration of design into the overall project execution and providing critical design reviews during the development stages.

• Act as a key representative for the Creative Services team in client pitches and sales processes, leveraging strong design thinking and presentation skills to secure new business opportunities.

• Contribute to Kanopi's external presence and thought leadership by participating in webinars, presenting at industry events, and contributing to marketing content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level design role focused on client-facing project execution and strategic input. The emphasis on "end-to-end," "complex projects," and "leading" indicates a level of autonomy and strategic responsibility beyond typical design tasks. Collaboration with development and project management underscores the operational aspect of ensuring design feasibility and timely delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, user experience, and visual communication is expected, typically gained through formal education or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in designing responsive web experiences, with a minimum of 3 years specifically within an agency environment.

Required Skills:

• A robust and compelling portfolio that clearly demonstrates thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design for responsive websites, showcasing a strong command of accessibility, usability, and visual craft.

• Proven ability to present and defend design work with confidence and clarity to a diverse range of audiences, effectively incorporating feedback while maintaining a strong, consistent design direction.

• Fluency in Figma and proficiency with modern design workflows and collaboration tools, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Demonstrated capability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently, adapt swiftly to evolving project requirements, and operate effectively within both agile and waterfall development methodologies.

• Comfort and proven success working remotely within a distributed team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct coding experience in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.

• Familiarity with analytics and research tools such as Google Analytics 4 (GA4), heatmapping platforms (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg), and user testing tools (e.g., UserTesting.com).

• Prior experience working with mission-driven organizations, non-profits, or Drupal/WordPress-centric projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are specific about the duration and type of environment (agency), which is crucial for understanding the pace and client-service nature of the role. The "preferred skills" offer clear pathways for candidates to differentiate themselves and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the digital product development lifecycle.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 5 years of professional UI/UX design experience for responsive websites.

• Clear and detailed case studies demonstrating the full design process from discovery and research to final UI/UX implementation.

• Specific examples highlighting the application of accessibility standards (WCAG compliance) and user-centered design principles in past projects.

• Demonstrations of how user needs and business objectives were balanced, particularly in complex project scenarios or when presenting to stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should articulate the discovery and research methodologies employed, including workshop facilitation and insight translation into actionable UX deliverables.

• Illustrate the iterative design process, including how feedback was incorporated and how design decisions were defended.

• Detail the collaboration process with developers and project managers, including design reviews during development.

• Showcase the ability to translate complex requirements into clear, usable, and accessible design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on process and demonstrable skills, aligning with an agency's need to showcase client work and design methodology. The emphasis on "accessibility" and "user-centered design" is critical for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60 - $80 per hour.

Benefits: As this is a contract position, standard benefits packages are not typically offered. However, contract roles with Kanopi often provide:

• Flexible work schedule to support work-life balance.

• Opportunity to work with a distributed, expert team on mission-driven projects.

• Potential for ongoing project-based engagements based on performance and business needs.

• Exposure to a wide range of clients and industries, fostering continuous learning and skill development.

• A collaborative and supportive remote work environment.

Working Hours: This is a contract role with variable hours. While the typical full-time expectation is 40 hours per week, this can fluctuate based on project demands and client needs. Flexibility is a key component of the remote work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly defined per hour, which is standard for contract roles. The "benefits" section is tailored to the contract nature of the position, focusing on the advantages of remote work, project variety, and team collaboration rather than traditional employer-sponsored benefits. The note about "no minimum hours guaranteed" is important for managing expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Agency (Web Design, Development & Support) with a specialization in Drupal & WordPress.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Kanopi operates as a fully distributed agency, suggesting a size that allows for specialized teams while maintaining a cohesive culture. They are actively growing, indicating a dynamic environment.

Founded: Kanopi Studios was founded with a clear mission to support mission-driven clients. This foundation influences their company culture, emphasizing purpose and impact.

Team Structure:

• The design team is part of a larger, fully distributed agency. This role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative.

• Designers collaborate closely with Content Strategists, Developers, Project Managers, and potentially client-facing roles like Account Managers or Sales.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on translating research and insights into user-centered solutions, with a preference for analytics and user testing tools.

• Agile & Waterfall Integration: Ability to adapt design processes to fit various project management methodologies.

• Accessibility First: Designing with inclusivity and accessibility (WCAG) in mind from the outset.

• Client Collaboration: A culture of transparent communication, workshop facilitation, and presenting work with clarity.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's identity as a mission-driven agency specializing in Drupal and WordPress is a key differentiator. The "fully distributed" model implies a culture that values autonomy, strong communication, and effective use of remote collaboration tools.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level contract role, indicating a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and responsibility for leading design initiatives. It requires not just execution but also strategic input, client-facing leadership, and mentorship potential.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, suggesting a direct line to leadership within the creative and strategic functions of the agency.

Operations Impact: The designer's work directly impacts client success by creating user-friendly, accessible, and visually compelling websites that support their missions. This includes contributing to client retention through excellent service and potentially winning new business through participation in pitches.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced accessibility design, design systems, or UX research methodologies.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop stronger skills in client communication, presentation, and strategic advising.

• Leadership in Design: Gain experience in leading design direction for larger, more complex projects, and potentially mentoring junior designers.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to Kanopi's thought leadership through public-facing opportunities like webinars and presentations.

• Contract-to-Hire Potential: While a contract role, strong performance and business needs could lead to longer-term engagements or even full-time opportunities if available.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior contract role, growth is less about traditional hierarchical promotion and more about deepening expertise, expanding influence, and taking on more complex or strategic projects. The opportunity to contribute to thought leadership is a unique growth avenue.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This means work is conducted from a home office or co-working space, with no central physical office required.

Office Location(s): The role is open to candidates legally able to work in the US and Canada, with a focus on the timezone of Langley, British Columbia (America/Vancouver) as an example location, suggesting a need for overlap with Pacific Time Zone operations.

Workspace Context:

• Autonomy & Flexibility: The remote setup allows for significant autonomy in managing one's workday and work environment.

• Digital Collaboration Focus: Work relies heavily on digital tools for communication, project management, and design collaboration.

• Team Connectivity: Emphasis on intentional efforts to maintain team connection and culture despite physical distance, through scheduled meetings, virtual social events, and open communication channels.

Work Schedule: The role requires adherence to a flexible schedule, with the expectation of being available for key client meetings, internal team syncs, and project deadlines. While hours can vary, maintaining consistent availability during core working hours that overlap with team and client schedules is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully remote" aspect is central, emphasizing the need for self-discipline, strong digital communication skills, and the ability to thrive in an independent work setting. The mention of US & Canada locations and specific timezones suggests a need for some overlap in working hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Initial screening of resumes, cover letters, and portfolios.

• Initial Questions: A short set of questions to gauge personality, basic fit, and initial design thinking.

• Interviews: Multiple rounds of interviews with various team members, including potentially the Director of Strategy and Creative, and other designers or project leads. These will assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Skills Assessments: Candidates may be asked to complete one or two short, practical tasks to demonstrate their approach to design challenges (e.g., a small design exercise, a critique, or a problem-solving scenario).

• Final Evaluation: Comprehensive review of all assessment data and interview feedback.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Your Best: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase end-to-end UX/UI design for responsive websites.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes or impact. Use visuals generously.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly call out examples of accessibility implementation, user-centered design methodologies, and how you presented and defended your work.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and design system examples where applicable. Explain your rationale for design decisions.

• Accessibility Focus: Dedicate specific attention to how accessibility was integrated into your design process and final deliverables.

• Tailor to Kanopi: If possible, reference Kanopi's mission-driven approach or their Drupal/WordPress specialization in your project selection or descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process in detail, particularly how you approach discovery, user research, and translating requirements into design solutions.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, focusing on the "why" behind your choices.

• Anticipate questions about how you handle feedback, manage conflicting priorities, and collaborate with developers and other team members.

• If a design exercise is given, focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, not just the final output. Think out loud and explain your steps.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a thorough evaluation of design skills, process, and client-facing capabilities. The portfolio and challenge preparation advice is tailored to showcase the specific requirements of a senior UX/UI designer in an agency setting.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Required for end-to-end UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expected for graphic design tasks, image editing, and potentially motion graphics.

• Google Workspace: Standard for collaboration, documentation, and communication (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Familiarity is preferred for understanding website performance and user behavior.

• Heatmapping Platforms (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg): Preferred for understanding user interaction on web pages.

• User Testing Tools (e.g., UserTesting.com): Preferred for gathering qualitative feedback on designs.

CRM & Automation: While not primary design tools, understanding how designs integrate with CMS platforms like Drupal and WordPress is crucial. Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello) is also beneficial for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a required tool is critical. The preferred analytics and research tools indicate Kanopi's data-informed approach to design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong focus on supporting clients with meaningful missions, fostering a sense of purpose in the work.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support within a distributed environment.

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: Commitment to high-quality design and development, with a focus on detail and user experience.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Dedication to creating a web that works better for everyone, prioritizing accessible design for all users.

• Growth & Learning: Encouraging continuous professional development and skill enhancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous Communication: Reliance on digital tools for clear, documented communication to bridge time zone differences.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Active collaboration between designers, content strategists, developers, and project managers to ensure holistic project success.

• Feedback Integration: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback to improve both individual contributions and project outcomes.

• Client Partnership: Building strong relationships with clients through transparency, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's values are central to its identity and will heavily influence how team members interact and approach their work, especially within a remote setting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Client Expectations: Balancing client desires with user needs and technical feasibility, especially in a remote setting.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring brand integrity and user experience across multiple projects and platforms, particularly when working with diverse clients.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with web technologies, design trends, and best practices in an ever-changing digital landscape.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Navigating communication and collaboration effectively across different time zones and without in-person interaction.

• Advocating for Accessibility: Consistently championing accessibility best practices even when faced with budget or timeline constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge UX/UI patterns and design methodologies.

• Accessibility Certifications: Pursuing formal certifications like IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) to deepen expertise.

• Client Strategy Workshops: Gaining experience in leading strategic client discussions and influencing project direction.

• Industry Exposure: Learning from a diverse client base and contributing to thought leadership initiatives.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior team members and contribute to the growth of junior designers if opportunities arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior designer in an agency, with a specific emphasis on the nuances of remote work and client management. Growth opportunities are geared towards expanding expertise and influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex website project you led from discovery to launch. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your end-to-end leadership, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users? Can you walk us through an example of how you've implemented accessibility best practices?" (Be ready to discuss WCAG guidelines and specific design choices.)

• "Imagine a client wants a feature that you believe will negatively impact usability. How would you approach this conversation and present your alternative?" (Demonstrate your client management, communication, and design rationale skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kanopi's mission-driven approach and our specialization in Drupal/WordPress?" (Research Kanopi's website and recent projects.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a remote, distributed team? What are your preferred communication methods?" (Highlight your experience with asynchronous communication and digital tools.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process (discovery, ideation, iteration, testing), the solution, and the quantifiable impact or results.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flows, and prototypes to visually guide the interviewer through your work.

• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to explain the "why" behind every design decision, linking it back to user needs, business goals, or accessibility requirements.

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with developers, content strategists, and clients throughout the process.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse presenting your work concisely and confidently, anticipating questions and managing time effectively. Be ready to answer "What would you do differently?" or "What did you learn?"

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on demonstrating senior-level design thinking, client-facing skills, and a deep understanding of process and accessibility, all within the context of a remote agency environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Use the ‘Apply for this Job’ button located toward the bottom of the page on Workable.

• Fill out all required fields on the Application page.

• Upload a resume and cover letter.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5+ years of web design experience, specifically mentioning agency experience and any work with mission-driven clients. Quantify achievements where possible, and use keywords like UI/UX, accessibility, Figma, responsive design, and client presentations.

• Cover Letter Focus: Craft a compelling cover letter that addresses your fit for the role, your passion for user-centered and accessible design, and your answer to the question: "What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?" This is a critical step to showcase your personality and thinking.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily navigable, and clearly showcases your best work relevant to this role. Be ready to present specific case studies that demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver high-quality, accessible designs.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kanopi's website, their mission, their work with Drupal/WordPress, and their company culture. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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