Intermediate Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Intermediate Product Designer Company: World Vision Canada Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Job Type: Full Time Permanent Category: Digital Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: July 08, 2025 Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is integral to shaping the user experience and visual impact of World Vision Canada's mass market digital activities and digital products, ensuring they align with the organization's mission and brand values.
• The Intermediate Product Designer will execute visual design to solve complex functional and informational challenges, demonstrating proficiency in design methodologies, patterns, accessibility, and information architecture.
• A key aspect of this position involves active participation and contribution to the Product Design Community of Practice, fostering a collaborative learning environment among designers.
• The role requires strong cross-functional collaboration within product development teams, ensuring user-centered designs that incorporate stakeholder feedback and clear communication of work status.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data indicates a "Product Designer" role, the responsibilities and skills described (UX, visual design, brand integration, collaboration with product teams) strongly align with a digital product design focus, often referred to as UX/UI Design within operations contexts. We've categorized it as such for clarity and relevance to operations professionals, recognizing the overlap with GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy implementation for digital products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute high-quality visual design that effectively communicates and solves complex user experience and information architecture challenges, adhering to best practices, accessibility standards, and design patterns.
• Actively contribute to and evolve the organization's design system by recommending new components and ensuring adherence to established design standards and brand guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with Senior and Lead Product Designers to seamlessly integrate global brand guidelines and the brand platform into digital product experiences.
• Participate actively in the Product Design Community of Practice, sharing knowledge, insights, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration among designers across various business units.
• Partner effectively within product development teams to create user-centric designs, ensuring design decisions are informed by user insights, stakeholder feedback, and accurately communicated project status.
• Articulate design concepts and rationale with clarity and confidence, supporting narratives with user insights and sound judgment, and promoting transparency and feedback loops with team members.
• Seek mentorship from senior designers and provide mutual support to peers, aspiring to become a mentor for associate and intern designers in the future.
• Stay abreast of new industry trends and explore innovative approaches to enhance design work and foster a culture of innovation within the design team.
• Leverage data and user feedback to guide design decisions and demonstrate success in meeting Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and positively impacting product success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core design execution and community-building/mentorship, typical of an intermediate-level role. The emphasis on design systems, accessibility, and data-informed decisions is crucial for operations professionals to understand the impact of design on user adoption and product success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field is required.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of industry experience in digital product design, with a proven track record of working on digital products. A strong portfolio showcasing user experience design, visual design, and successful brand integration is essential.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Craft: Demonstrated ability to execute visual design to solve complex functional and informational challenges, with a strong understanding of design methodologies, patterns, accessibility, and information architecture principles.
• Visual Aesthetics: A keen sense of visual aesthetics, including typography, color theory, visual hierarchy, and Gestalt principles, to positively influence design outcomes.
• Design System Contribution: Ability to collaborate on design systems, recommend new components, and ensure adherence to brand guidelines and design standards.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively within cross-functional product development teams, integrating user feedback and stakeholder input.
• Communication & Presentation: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design concepts, rationale, and project status clearly and concisely to diverse stakeholders.
• Design Tools Proficiency: High proficiency in industry-standard design, prototyping, and collaboration tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Miro.
• Brand Integration: Understanding and ability to integrate global brand guidelines and brand platforms into digital product experiences.
• User-Centric Approach: Commitment to user-centered design principles and the ability to translate user insights into actionable design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Prototyping & User Testing: Familiarity with tools like Trymata for prototyping and user testing to validate design concepts.
• Front-End Familiarity: Basic understanding or familiarity with HTML/CSS and front-end development principles is a plus.
• Mentorship Aptitude: Demonstrated potential or experience in mentoring junior designers or contributing to a design community of practice.
• Data-Informed Design: Experience using data and user feedback to inform and iterate on design decisions.
• Accessibility Standards: Deep understanding of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and its practical application in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Intermediate" level implies a need for demonstrated self-management and the ability to contribute independently while also collaborating and learning. The preferred skills, particularly HTML/CSS familiarity, indicate a potential need for designers to understand the technical feasibility of their designs, a common requirement in GTM operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3 years of digital product design work, highlighting user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, and visual design execution.
• Demonstrate successful integration of brand guidelines and identity into digital product experiences across various projects.
• Include case studies that detail your design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.
• Showcase examples of how your designs have addressed specific user needs, business objectives, and performance metrics, ideally with quantifiable results.
• Highlight experience with design systems, including contributions to component libraries or adherence to existing design system principles.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of a structured design process, including user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) and how insights were translated into design decisions.
• Documentation of design iterations and the rationale behind key design choices, demonstrating a thoughtful and iterative approach.
• Examples of collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle, illustrating effective communication and teamwork.
• Demonstration of using design tools for prototyping and creating detailed design specifications for development handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, a portfolio is often treated as a "process portfolio," showcasing not just the final output but the methodology, data, and collaboration that led to it. This section emphasizes the need for candidates to demonstrate their systematic approach to design and problem-solving.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For an Intermediate Product Designer in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with 3+ years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is typically between CAD $70,000 and $95,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Greater Toronto Area, considering the organization's non-profit status which might influence compensation relative to the for-profit sector.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Health benefits commence on day one, including a Health Spending Account to cover eligible medical expenses.
• Pension Matching: World Vision Canada matches pension contributions up to 6%, contributing to long-term financial security.
• Parental Leave Top-Up: Provides a top-up for pregnancy and parental leaves, supporting employees during significant life events.
• Restoration Days: Offers an additional day off on long weekends six times a year, promoting employee well-being and work-life balance.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes up to six weeks of vacation, plus paid sick days, personal days, and wellness days.
• Family-Friendly Environment: Fosters a family-friendly, caring, and flexible work environment.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week, reflecting a full-time commitment. The hybrid work arrangement allows for a blend of in-office and remote work, offering some flexibility in how the 40 hours are structured, subject to team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general industry data for product designers in the specified region and experience level. The benefits package offered by World Vision Canada is quite comprehensive, particularly for a non-profit organization, and highlights a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which can be a significant draw for operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: World Vision Canada operates within the Non-Profit sector, specifically focusing on international development, humanitarian aid, and advocacy. This industry context means a strong emphasis on mission-driven work, ethical practices, and impactful outcomes for vulnerable populations. Company Size: World Vision Canada is a large organization, with approximately 400 Canadian employees and a global presence through World Vision International. This size suggests established processes, potential for diverse career paths, and a structured environment. Founded: World Vision was founded in 1950 by Dr. Bob Pierce. World Vision Canada was established shortly after, becoming a significant part of the global network dedicated to serving children and communities worldwide. This long history implies a stable organization with deeply ingrained values and a consistent mission.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer reports to the Lead, Product Designer, indicating a clear reporting line within a dedicated design function.
• The role is part of the "Mass Market activities and Digital Products" team, suggesting a focus on user-facing digital platforms and campaigns aimed at a broad audience.
• The Product Designer is expected to be an active participant in a "Product Design Community of Practice," implying a departmental or organizational structure that supports knowledge sharing and collaboration among designers across different projects and business units.

Methodology:

• The company embodies an "Agile mindset," suggesting that product development and design processes are likely iterative, collaborative, and responsive to change, common in modern digital product environments.
• The emphasis on user-centered design, data, and feedback indicates a data-driven approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers) is a core aspect, aligning with standard agile development methodologies.

Company Website: https://www.worldvision.ca/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the non-profit context is crucial. While the role is in digital product design, the ultimate goal is to support World Vision's mission. This often means balancing user needs with the organization's impact goals and donor engagement strategies. The "Agile mindset" is a key operational methodology that impacts how design work is integrated into product development cycles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Intermediate." In a design context, this typically means having mastered foundational design skills and the ability to work independently on defined projects, while also beginning to influence design thinking within a team and potentially mentor junior designers. The focus is on executing design craft, collaborating effectively, and contributing to the design system and community.

Reporting Structure: The Intermediate Product Designer reports directly to the Lead, Product Designer. This provides a clear line of management and mentorship. The role also involves contributing to a broader "Product Design Community of Practice," indicating interaction with peers and potentially other design leaders across the organization.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts the user experience of World Vision Canada's digital products, which are critical for engaging donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. By creating intuitive, accessible, and visually compelling digital assets, the designer contributes to:

• Donor Engagement: Enhancing the experience for individuals donating or engaging with campaigns online.
• Brand Perception: Reinforcing World Vision's mission and values through consistent and high-quality design.
• Efficiency of Digital Operations: Ensuring digital platforms are easy to use, which can lead to higher conversion rates for donations and greater reach for advocacy efforts.
• Internal Collaboration: Facilitating smoother workflows between design, marketing, and development teams through clear design assets and participation in agile processes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: Progression to a Senior Product Designer role, taking on more complex projects, greater ownership of design systems, and increased mentorship responsibilities.
• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in areas like UX research, interaction design, or design systems management.
• Lead Product Designer: Potential to move into leadership roles, managing a design team or a specific product area.
• Cross-functional Movement: Possibility to move into related roles within product management or digital marketing, leveraging design expertise.
• Skill Development: Access to learning opportunities through the Community of Practice, industry trends, and potentially external training or conferences to deepen expertise in areas like accessibility, new design tools, or specific design specializations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Intermediate" level is a critical stepping stone. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not just execution skills but also the ability to articulate their reasoning, collaborate proactively, and show potential for growth and leadership within the design function and the broader operational goals of the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: World Vision Canada offers a Hybrid work environment. This means employees are expected to work from the office in Mississauga for a portion of their week, complementing remote workdays. This model aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. This location is within the Greater Toronto Area, offering access to a major metropolitan hub with various amenities and transportation options.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model and the emphasis on a "Community of Practice" suggest an office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, with meeting rooms, shared workspaces, and areas for informal interaction.
• Digital Tools Integration: Expect a tech-forward environment where digital tools for design, communication (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams), and project management (e.g., Jira, Asana) are central to daily operations.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage directly with the Lead Product Designer, other designers, product managers, and development teams, fostering a dynamic and interactive work setting.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement allows for some flexibility in scheduling, with specific in-office days likely coordinated with team needs and project requirements. This flexibility can be beneficial for operations professionals who may need to balance deep work sessions with collaborative meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work is a key operational consideration. Candidates should be comfortable with a mix of remote and in-office work, understanding that the office days are likely structured for collaboration, team building, and key meetings relevant to product development and design operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: An in-depth session with the Lead Product Designer and potentially other team members to discuss your portfolio, design process, and problem-solving approach. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail.
• Skills-Based Interview: A discussion focused on design methodologies, tool proficiency, collaboration experience, and understanding of user-centered design principles. This may include scenario-based questions.
• Cross-functional/Team Interview: Meeting with potential colleagues from product management, engineering, or marketing to assess cultural fit and collaboration style.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager or department head to confirm overall fit and discuss organizational alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to digital product design, UX, and UI. Prioritize projects that demonstrate impact and a clear understanding of user needs.
• Tell a Story: For each project, structure your presentation around the problem statement, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions made, the challenges encountered, and the final outcome or impact. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design thinking, problem-solving approach, and how you incorporate user feedback and data. This is crucial for demonstrating your operational understanding of the design lifecycle.
• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, include examples of how you collaborated with engineers, product managers, or other stakeholders, and describe how you managed feedback and differing opinions.
• Design System Examples: If you have experience with design systems, showcase your contributions or how you've utilized them effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise or case study. This might involve critiquing an existing design, proposing solutions for a given problem, or sketching out a user flow.
• Focus on Process: When tackling a design challenge, articulate your thought process clearly. Explain your assumptions, the questions you'd ask if you had more time, and the steps you'd take to arrive at a solution.
• Time Management: Practice managing your time effectively during timed exercises. Prioritize key elements of the design problem.
• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your solution concisely and confidently, highlighting your rationale and expected outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for design roles, especially in organizations with established operations, often heavily relies on the portfolio as a demonstration of practical skills and process. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design decisions and their impact, aligning with the organization's mission and operational goals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools is essential. Candidates are explicitly expected to be proficient in:
  • Figma: For UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud: This suite likely includes tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially XD, used for various design tasks and asset creation.
• Collaboration & Ideation:
  • Miro: For brainstorming, user flow mapping, wireframing, and collaborative whiteboarding sessions.
• User Feedback & Testing (Preferred):
  • Trymata (formerly TryMyUI): Familiarity with tools that facilitate user testing and gather feedback on digital products.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as core requirements for the designer, understanding how to interpret and utilize data from analytics platforms is beneficial. This could include familiarity with:
  • Web Analytics Tools: Such as Google Analytics, for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.
  • Product Analytics Tools: Like Amplitude or Mixpanel, for tracking feature usage and user engagement.

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned as direct design requirements. However, designers may need to understand how their work integrates with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms to ensure consistent user journeys across different touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Miro highlights the core technology stack. For an Intermediate Product Designer, demonstrating proficiency and understanding of how these tools facilitate efficient design operations and collaboration is key. Familiarity with analytics tools is a plus, showing an understanding of the impact of their design work on business metrics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Commitment to the Poor: As a core value, this drives the mission and ensures that all work, including design, is ultimately aimed at serving vulnerable populations.
• Christian Faith: While not a requirement for designers to be Christian, the organization's Christian foundation influences its ethical framework, decision-making, and overall culture of service.
• Stewardship: Emphasizes responsible use of resources, which translates to efficient design processes and thoughtful creation of digital assets that maximize impact.
• People Focus: A value that underpins the importance of human-centered design and fostering a supportive internal environment.
• Partnership: Encourages collaboration both internally and externally, reflecting the interconnectedness of design work with other departments and stakeholders.
• Responsiveness: A commitment to adapting to changing needs and feedback, aligning with agile methodologies and continuous improvement in design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other teams, integrating design into the broader product development lifecycle.
• Community of Practice: An environment that fosters open sharing, feedback exchange, and mutual support among designers, promoting collective learning and design excellence.
• Mentorship & Peer Support: A culture that encourages both seeking mentorship and providing support to peers, contributing to team growth and skill development.
• Data-Driven & Iterative: Collaboration is likely informed by data and user feedback, with an iterative approach to design that welcomes continuous refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: World Vision Canada's culture is deeply rooted in its mission and values. Operations professionals, including designers, are expected to align with these values and contribute to the organization's goals in a collaborative and mission-driven manner. Understanding this cultural context is vital for assessing fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Mission and User Needs: A key challenge will be to create digital experiences that are both effective for users and align with World Vision's mission, brand, and fundraising objectives.
• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and maintaining a design system for a large organization requires ongoing effort, collaboration, and attention to detail to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring that design vision is understood and implemented effectively across different teams (e.g., development, marketing) can be challenging due to varying priorities and technical constraints.
• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of design decisions on organizational goals (e.g., donation conversion, engagement rates) requires robust data tracking and analysis.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Expertise: Deepen skills in design system architecture, component creation, and governance.
• Accessibility Specialization: Enhance knowledge and practical application of accessibility standards (WCAG) to ensure inclusive digital products.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop mentorship skills by guiding junior designers and potentially take on lead responsibilities for specific projects or design initiatives.
• Industry Trends & Tools: Stay current with emerging design trends, tools, and methodologies through the Community of Practice and external learning resources.
• Impact Analysis: Gain experience linking design outcomes to key performance indicators (KPIs) and business objectives, enhancing strategic contribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities for growth in specialized areas of design and leadership. Candidates should be aware of the challenges, particularly in translating mission into tangible digital experiences and demonstrating the value of design through data.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Methodology: "Walk me through a project from your portfolio that you're most proud of. What was the problem, your role, your process, and the outcome?" (Be prepared to discuss your design thinking, research methods, and how you iterated based on feedback.)
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: "Describe a time you had to present a design concept to stakeholders with differing opinions. How did you manage the feedback and reach a consensus?" (Focus on your communication skills, empathy, and ability to advocate for user needs while considering business goals.)
• Problem-Solving & Design Challenges: "Imagine we want to redesign our donation form to increase conversion rates. What would be your initial approach and key considerations?" (Demonstrate your ability to break down a problem, brainstorm solutions, and think about user flows and UI elements.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "What interests you about World Vision Canada's mission, and how do you see your design skills contributing to it?" (Research the organization's current campaigns and values.)
• Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to collaborate with engineers and product managers? What makes a good cross-functional partnership in your experience?" (Highlight your understanding of agile workflows and your collaborative approach.)
• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your design work? Can you give an example of when you used data to inform a design decision?" (Be ready to discuss metrics relevant to digital products and user engagement.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (problem), Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, Impact/Outcome, Key Learnings.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flows, and any relevant data visualizations. Ensure clarity and readability.
• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions, not just the "what."
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure you cover key points effectively within the allotted time.
• Engagement: Be prepared to answer questions and engage in a discussion about your work. Show enthusiasm and passion for design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for operations roles often involves demonstrating not just technical skills but also strategic thinking, collaborative ability, and an understanding of how design contributes to broader business and mission objectives. A well-prepared portfolio walkthrough is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Intermediate Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Dayforce portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your proficiency in UX/UI design for digital products, brand integration, and collaboration within cross-functional teams. Select case studies that showcase your design process and problem-solving skills.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 3+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in key design tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Miro), and any experience with design systems or user testing tools. Use keywords from the job description.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with World Vision Canada's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understanding their work in international development will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.
• Prepare for Portfolio Walkthrough: Practice presenting 2-3 of your strongest portfolio projects, focusing on your process, decision-making, and the impact of your designs. Be ready to discuss your approach to user-centered design and collaboration.

⚠️ 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.