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

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Kanopi

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States (Remote)

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Design Operations / GTM Operations (Creative & Digital)

Date Posted: February 27, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (US & Canada)

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role focuses on leading end-to-end visual and UX design for complex website projects, emphasizing user-centered and accessible design principles.

• The position requires a strong ability to translate research and insights into practical UX deliverables and present design rationale clearly to clients and internal teams.

• A key aspect involves collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers, to ensure cohesive and technically sound digital solutions.

• The role also entails contributing to business development through client pitches and representing Kanopi in thought leadership initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw input describes a visual designer role, the emphasis on "complex website projects," "end-to-end visual and UX design," "design systems," "client pitches," and "collaboration with developers" strongly indicates a role with significant operational impact within a digital agency context. This role bridges creative execution with strategic GTM (Go-To-Market) support and operational efficiency in project delivery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete visual and UX design process for intricate website projects, from initial discovery phases through to final launch, establishing a clear design direction.

• Develop user-centered and accessible design solutions, including wireframes, user flows, UI mockups, high-fidelity prototypes, and scalable design systems to ensure long-term maintainability and consistency.

• Confidently present and articulate design decisions to diverse audiences, effectively explaining rationale, user needs, and project goals in clear, accessible language.

• Plan and facilitate client discovery workshops, translating raw research findings and user insights into actionable UX deliverables such as sitemaps, detailed user journeys, and comprehensive personas.

• Foster close collaboration with Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers to guarantee design cohesion, technical feasibility, and accurate implementation, including conducting design reviews during the development lifecycle.

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

• Contribute to Kanopi's external presence and industry standing through participation in webinars, public presentations, and other thought leadership activities.

• Ensure all designs adhere to web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices, promoting inclusive and usable digital experiences for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role involving project leadership, client-facing strategic interaction, and cross-functional team coordination, which are core to effective GTM and Design Operations. The emphasis on "leading end-to-end design," "setting clear design direction," and "representing Creative Services in client pitches" suggests a strategic operational function within the agency's project delivery framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is implied by the experience and portfolio requirements.

Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in designing responsive web experiences, including a minimum of 3 years in an agency environment, with a proven track record in visual and UX design.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency in creating user-centered UI/UX designs for responsive websites, clearly showcased in a robust portfolio.

• Expertise in designing for accessibility, usability, and visual craft across diverse digital platforms.

• Strong presentation and client-facing communication skills, with the ability to defend design rationale and incorporate feedback effectively.

• Fluency in Figma and modern design workflows.

• Experience with collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Workspace.

• Ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently, adapting to evolving project requirements.

• Comfort and effectiveness working within distributed, remote team environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Direct coding experience (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is considered a plus.

• Familiarity with analytics and user research tools (e.g., GA4, heatmapping platforms, user testing tools).

• Experience working with mission-driven or nonprofit organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements, particularly "5+ years of professional experience designing responsive web experiences, including at least 3 years in an agency environment," and the "strong portfolio demonstrating thoughtful, user-centered UI/UX design," are critical for operations roles. This indicates a need for candidates who can not only execute but also manage processes, understand project lifecycles, and deliver on client expectations consistently.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional UI/UX design work for responsive websites.

• Portfolio pieces must clearly demonstrate a user-centered design approach, highlighting accessibility features, usability considerations, and overall visual quality.

• Include detailed case studies that illustrate the design process from discovery and research through to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and strategic decision-making.

• Showcase experience with wireframing, user flows, high-fidelity prototypes, and the creation or application of design systems.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to design discovery, including workshop facilitation and translation of research into UX deliverables (sitemaps, user journeys, personas).

• Be ready to explain how they manage the end-to-end design process for complex website projects, from initial concept to launch and post-launch review.

• Illustrate experience in collaborating with development teams, including design reviews and ensuring design integrity during implementation.

• Provide examples of how they maintain design consistency and scalability through design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior-level operations-adjacent role, the portfolio is not just a showcase of aesthetic skill but a demonstration of process adherence, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to articulate project lifecycles. The emphasis on "user-centered solutions," "design systems," and "collaboration with developers" points to a need for candidates who understand the operational mechanics of digital product development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60 - $80 per hour.

Benefits:

• As a contract position, benefits are typically not included beyond the hourly rate. However, specific contract terms may vary.

• The role offers the significant benefit of being 100% remote, allowing for work-life integration and flexibility.

• Opportunity to work with mission-driven clients, adding purpose to the design work.

• Collaboration with a fully distributed team of experts in Drupal & WordPress, fostering a diverse and knowledgeable work environment.

• Potential for ongoing work or future contract opportunities with Kanopi based on performance and project needs.

Working Hours: The role is expected to require approximately 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time contract engagement. Flexibility in working hours is implied by the fully remote nature of the position, allowing individuals to manage their schedules effectively within project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified hourly rate places this role within a competitive range for senior-level contract UX/UI designers in the US and Canada. The absence of traditional benefits is standard for contract roles but is offset by the high degree of flexibility and the opportunity to work with a reputable agency on impactful projects. The "40 hours per week" expectation is a key operational parameter for resource allocation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

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

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, "fully distributed team" and the nature of agency work suggest a medium-sized organization, likely between 50-200 employees, allowing for specialized teams without excessive bureaucracy.

Founded: Kanopi Studios was founded to provide expert Drupal and WordPress services, focusing on mission-driven clients. The company emphasizes a people-first approach, supporting team growth, well-being, and success.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Director of Strategy and Creative, indicating a leadership structure that values strategic thinking and creative direction.

• The designer will be part of a distributed team, working alongside Content Strategists, Developers, and Project Managers, fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Methodology:

• Kanopi employs a client-centric methodology, focusing on designing, building, and supporting websites that help their mission-driven clients thrive.

• Emphasis is placed on user-centered design, accessibility, and inclusive digital experiences.

• The agency leverages expertise in Drupal and WordPress to deliver robust and effective web solutions.

Company Website: https://kanopi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's focus on "mission-driven clients" and a "people-first approach" shapes its culture. For operations professionals, this means an environment that values impact, collaboration, and employee well-being, which can translate into more engaged project teams and a focus on delivering quality outcomes that align with client missions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Contract Role. This position is for an experienced professional who can lead projects independently, mentor junior team members indirectly through collaboration, and contribute strategically to client engagements.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Strategy and Creative, providing a clear line of communication for strategic direction and project oversight.

Operations Impact: This role significantly impacts client success by ensuring digital products are not only visually appealing but also highly usable, accessible, and aligned with client objectives. The contributions to client pitches and thought leadership also drive the agency's business growth and market position, demonstrating a broad operational influence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced accessibility design, complex design system development, or specialized UX research methodologies.

• Project Leadership: Take on increasingly complex and high-profile client projects, leading design strategy and execution.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop stronger client relationships through consistent delivery and strategic consultation.

• Mentorship: Potentially influence and guide junior designers or team members through collaborative efforts and shared best practices.

• Thought Leadership: Expand contributions to Kanopi's marketing efforts, potentially leading webinars or speaking engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a senior contract role, growth isn't necessarily about traditional hierarchical advancement but about deepening expertise, expanding project scope, and increasing strategic influence. This aligns with the operational goal of leveraging senior talent for critical, high-impact projects and business development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully remote. This means no physical office environment in the traditional sense, but a virtual workspace.

Office Location(s): While the raw data mentions Charlotte, NC, the role is explicitly "fully remote" and open to applicants in the US and Canada. This implies that location is not tied to a specific office but rather to legal and tax compliance within these regions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The work environment is highly collaborative, relying on digital communication tools (e.g., Slack, Figma, Google Workspace) to connect with team members and clients across different geographies.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud) and project management tools is essential for effective work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction will be through scheduled meetings, virtual workshops, and asynchronous communication channels, fostering a connected yet flexible work experience.

Work Schedule: The role is expected to be around 40 hours per week, with flexibility in how those hours are scheduled, as is common in remote contract positions. This allows designers to balance personal needs with project demands, optimizing productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role is a key operational characteristic. It requires strong self-discipline, excellent digital communication skills, and the ability to maintain productivity without direct physical supervision. The "work where and when you do your best" ethos supports a focus on output and efficiency.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Initial screening of resumes and cover letters, with a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and relevance.

• Initial Questions: Candidates may receive a short set of questions to assess basic fit and understanding of the role.

• Interviews: Multiple interviews with team members, including potentially the Director of Strategy and Creative, to discuss experience, design philosophy, and collaboration style.

• Skills Assessments: Potential for short, practical tasks or design challenges to evaluate hands-on skills, problem-solving abilities, and approach to specific design problems.

• Final Evaluation: Discussion focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, client management capabilities, and overall operational alignment with Kanopi's values and project needs.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Highlight 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate expertise in responsive web design, UX/UI, accessibility, and client collaboration.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Process: Show your thinking – include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and explain your rationale behind key design choices.

• Emphasize Accessibility: Explicitly call out how accessibility was integrated into your design process and any specific considerations made.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or client feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, positive user feedback).

• Prepare to Present: Be ready to walk through your portfolio during interviews, articulating your contributions and design philosophy clearly and concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design exercise that may involve a hypothetical client problem or a specific design challenge related to website usability or accessibility.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale under timed conditions.

• Focus on demonstrating your ability to balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with Figma and other relevant design tools in practical terms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process, particularly the emphasis on a portfolio review and potential skills assessments, is critical for assessing a candidate's operational capabilities. This is not just about visual talent but about their structured approach to design, problem-solving, and ability to deliver results within a project framework.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Required for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system development. Fluency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Proficiency in tools like Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation and manipulation.

• Google Workspace: Essential for collaboration, document sharing, and general productivity (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Analytics & Reporting:

• GA4 (Google Analytics 4): Familiarity is an asset for understanding user behavior and website performance, informing design decisions.

• Heatmapping Platforms (e.g., Hotjar, Crazy Egg): Useful for visualizing user interaction and identifying areas for design improvement.

• User Testing Tools (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze): Experience with tools that facilitate user research and feedback collection.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, an understanding of how design integrates with marketing automation platforms or CMS (Content Management Systems) like Drupal and WordPress is beneficial. Knowledge of front-end best practices implies an awareness of how designs are implemented and interact within these systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement, highlighting its central role in the digital design workflow. Familiarity with analytics and user testing tools is increasingly important for operations roles, as it demonstrates an ability to work with data to drive design decisions and measure impact, rather than relying solely on subjective aesthetics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring all designs are accessible, usable, and inclusive.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to producing high-quality, visually appealing, and technically sound design work.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and teamwork across disciplines to achieve shared project goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to learning, adapting to new technologies, and refining design processes.

• Mission Alignment: A passion for supporting mission-driven organizations and contributing to positive social impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with content strategists, developers, and project managers are fundamental. This involves active participation in project planning, design reviews, and problem-solving sessions.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes, fostering collective improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings across the distributed team through various communication channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kanopi's values, particularly "User-Centricity" and "Mission Alignment," are crucial for understanding the operational ethos. This means that design decisions are not made in a vacuum but are tied to tangible client goals and user benefits, which is a hallmark of effective GTM and operational alignment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively managing communication, coordination, and creative synergy within a fully distributed team requires proactive effort and strong digital communication skills.

• Balancing Design Vision with Client Needs: Navigating client feedback and project constraints while maintaining design integrity and advocating for user best practices.

• Translating Complex Requirements: Taking abstract client needs or technical specifications and translating them into clear, functional, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technologies: Staying current with the latest design tools, web technologies, and accessibility standards in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

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

• Accessibility Expertise: Deepen knowledge and application of accessibility standards and best practices.

• Design System Development: Gain experience in building and maintaining scalable design systems.

• Client Strategy & Pitching: Develop skills in strategic client consultation and business development through participation in pitches.

• Industry Exposure: Engaging with diverse clients and project types offers broad exposure to different industries and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in senior-level remote operations roles. They require not only technical skill but also strong problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. The growth opportunities focus on deepening specialized skills and expanding strategic influence, which are key to career progression in operations-adjacent fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for leading a complex website design project from initial client brief to final launch." (Focus on your methodology, key decision points, and how you manage project scope and timelines.)

• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in your design work?" (Be ready to provide specific examples from your portfolio.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kanopi's focus on mission-driven clients?" (Research Kanopi's portfolio and values to articulate alignment.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and productive remote team environment?" (Discuss your communication style, collaboration tools, and approach to virtual teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing a journey through your design process.

• Narrative: For each key project, tell a compelling story that highlights the problem, your role, your process, your creative solutions, and the impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and process diagrams. Ensure your presentation is visually clean and easy to follow.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure you cover key points efficiently and engagingly.

• Interaction: Be prepared to answer questions and engage in a discussion about your work, demonstrating critical thinking and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also operational acumen: project management, client communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving. The portfolio is the primary tool for illustrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this contract position:

• Utilize the 'Apply for this Job' button to initiate your application.

• Upload a comprehensive resume that clearly outlines your experience in web design, UX/UI, and agency environments. Ensure it highlights achievements relevant to senior-level responsibilities and remote work.

• Craft a tailored cover letter that addresses why you are a strong fit for Kanopi and this specific role. Be sure to answer the provided question: "What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?" This is an opportunity to showcase your personality, analytical skills, and passion.

• Prepare your portfolio for review. Ensure it is easily accessible (e.g., via a link) and showcases your best work, with clear case studies demonstrating your design process, problem-solving abilities, and impact.

• Research Kanopi Studios thoroughly, understanding their mission, client base, and design philosophy to better align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.