UX Designer

Workday
Full-time$101k-152k/year (CAD)Vancouver, Canada

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer

Company: Workday

Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Job Type: Other

Category: User Experience (UX) Design

Date Posted: February 27, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • This role is for a seasoned UX Designer focused on creating intuitive and efficient user experiences for Workday Adaptive Planning, a critical component of the oCFO suite.

  • Responsibilities include end-to-end ownership of feature design, from discovery and problem framing through to high-fidelity prototypes and final delivery, balancing user needs, technical feasibility, and business objectives.

  • A key aspect involves influencing product direction and design decisions through compelling storytelling, prototypes, and rationalized recommendations, with a focus on raising the bar for design patterns and accessibility.

  • The position offers an opportunity to work with AI-assisted design tools and contribute to the design of AI-powered product experiences, a growing area within enterprise software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "UX Designer" is broad. Given the context of "Workday Adaptive Planning" and "oCFO," this role is deeply embedded within enterprise software solutions, specifically for finance teams. The emphasis on "complex workflows," "accuracy," and "enterprise environment" signals a need for a designer adept at B2B SaaS products, not consumer-facing applications. The mention of AI tools and AI-powered experiences suggests a forward-thinking design team, and candidates with experience in this nascent area will be highly valued.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Lead the end-to-end user experience design for multiple features and workstreams within Workday Adaptive Planning, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user journey.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Managers to define product requirements, understand user needs, and translate them into effective design solutions.

  • Partner with Engineering teams to ensure designs are technically feasible and can be implemented efficiently, while maintaining a high standard of user experience.

  • Conduct user research, synthesize findings, and leverage data to inform design decisions and make practical trade-offs between user needs, technical constraints, and business goals.

  • Develop high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed design specifications using Figma to communicate design concepts and facilitate development.

  • Present rationalized design recommendations to stakeholders, effectively articulating the user value proposition and business impact through compelling storytelling and visual aids.

  • Contribute to the evolution of design systems, patterns, and best practices within the UX team, focusing on consistency, usability, and accessibility across the Adaptive Planning product suite.

  • Explore and integrate AI-assisted design tools and methodologies to enhance the design process and contribute to the development of AI-powered features that improve user efficiency and decision-making.

  • Mentor and coach junior UX designers, fostering a collaborative team environment and sharing expertise in design craft and process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on "end-to-end ownership," which means candidates should be prepared to manage projects from initial concept through to launch. The mention of "balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business goals" is a core tenet of product design, but for an enterprise context like Workday, the "business goals" likely lean heavily towards efficiency, ROI, and compliance for finance departments. The "AI-assisted design tools" and "AI-powered product experiences" are significant differentiators and point towards a need for candidates who are not only skilled in traditional UX but also curious and capable of navigating emerging technologies in design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for UX design roles of this seniority.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in a UX Designer role, with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex software products.

Required Skills:

  • Extensive experience in end-to-end experience design, encompassing user research, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.

  • Advanced proficiency in Figma, including wireframing, high-fidelity design, and interactive prototyping.

  • Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management and Engineering, throughout the entire product development lifecycle (discovery to delivery).

  • Strong capability to present and articulate rationalized design recommendations, clearly communicating design rationale and user value.

  • Experience in problem framing, requirements definition, and exploring innovative design solutions.

  • Ability to balance and prioritize user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives in design decisions.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience designing for enterprise/B2B products, particularly within financial planning, budgeting, or forecasting domains.

  • Fluency or demonstrated experience with AI-assisted design and build tools (e.g., Lovable, Cursor, Figma AI).

  • Experience designing and implementing AI-powered product experiences, with an understanding of trust, transparency, and graceful failure mechanisms.

  • Proven ability to influence product strategy and design decisions through effective storytelling and prototyping.

  • Experience mentoring or coaching junior designers, demonstrating leadership potential and a commitment to team development.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear stakeholder engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Basic Qualifications" clearly emphasize Figma and cross-functional collaboration, which are standard for mid-to-senior UX roles. However, the "Other Qualifications" are where the role's specific value proposition lies. The preference for "enterprise/B2B products" and "AI tool fluency/experience designing AI-powered experiences" strongly suggests that candidates with this specialized background will have a significant advantage. The mention of "mentoring/coaching" also indicates a desire for a candidate who can contribute to team growth, hinting at a potential for leadership development within the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, demonstrating ownership from initial discovery through to shipped products.

  • Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the resulting impact or outcomes.

  • Examples of user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes created using Figma.

  • Evidence of cross-functional collaboration and how you navigated technical constraints and business goals.

Process Documentation:

  • Case studies should detail your approach to problem framing, user research methodologies, and iterative design processes.

  • Illustrate how you translate complex requirements into clear, efficient, and user-friendly designs.

  • Showcase examples of how you have influenced product direction and influenced stakeholders through design rationale and storytelling.

  • Include examples of contributions to design systems, patterns, or best practices, demonstrating an impact on consistency and scalability.

  • If applicable, include examples of work with AI-assisted design tools or AI-powered features, detailing the process and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer role at this level, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showing pretty screens, but about demonstrating a strategic design process. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership" and "shipped outcomes" means case studies must be robust, detailing problem definition, user research, ideation, iteration, and measurable results. The mention of "AI-assisted design/build tools" and "AI-powered product experiences" suggests that any portfolio pieces related to these areas will be highly scrutinized and valued. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their specific contributions and the rationale behind their design choices, especially in relation to complex enterprise software.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The annualized base salary range for this role in Vancouver, BC, Canada is $101,400 - $152,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

  • Participation in the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus structure.

  • Annual refresh stock grants.

  • Comprehensive benefits package, details of which can be obtained during the hiring process (link to benefits.workday.com provided).

  • Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.

Working Hours:

  • The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week.

  • The company operates on a "Flex Work" model, requiring teams to spend at least 50% of their time each quarter in the office or interacting with customers/partners. This offers flexibility in scheduling while ensuring meaningful in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range ($101,400 - $152,000 CAD) is a strong indicator for a mid-to-senior UX Designer role in Vancouver, Canada. This range aligns with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in the tech sector in that region. The "Flex Work" policy is a key differentiator, implying a hybrid model where significant in-office presence is expected, but with flexibility for scheduling. This is crucial for candidates to understand regarding their work-life balance expectations. The inclusion of bonus plans and stock grants signifies a total compensation package beyond just base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Technology, specifically focusing on AI and Cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions for Human Capital Management (HCM) and Financial Management.

Company Size: Fortune 500 company, indicating a large, established, and globally recognized organization with significant resources and market presence.

Founded: Workday was founded in 2005. This history suggests a company that has grown significantly and evolved with the cloud technology landscape, maintaining a culture of innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

  • The UX team is part of the Workday Adaptive Planning division, which falls under the broader "oCFO" (Office of the CFO) umbrella.

  • This team designs tools specifically for finance professionals, focusing on budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance analysis.

  • The team emphasizes strong craft, candid feedback, and collaborative outcomes, suggesting an environment that values both individual contribution and collective success.

Methodology:

  • The company culture is described as rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm, seeking "curious minds and courageous collaborators."

  • The design methodology for the Adaptive Planning team focuses on turning complex financial workflows into clear, efficient, and trustworthy user experiences, with a thoughtful application of AI.

  • This involves a strong emphasis on user needs, technical constraints, and business goals, likely employing agile development principles and user-centered design practices.

  • There's an expectation of continuous improvement, raising the bar on patterns, consistency, and accessibility.

Company Website: https://www.workday.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Workday's culture is presented as optimistic, collaborative, and focused on meaningful work. For operations-minded candidates, understanding that Workday is a large, stable, and influential player in enterprise software is key. The specific mention of "oCFO" and "Adaptive Planning" points to a specialized domain within finance technology, requiring designers who can grasp complex financial concepts and translate them into user-friendly interfaces. The emphasis on AI integration is a significant cultural and technological driver.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level UX Designer, indicated by the "5+ years" requirement and the expectation of end-to-end ownership and potential mentoring. It's a hands-on design role with significant autonomy and responsibility for key product features.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a UX leadership role (e.g., Manager or Director of UX) within the Workday Adaptive Planning team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads, forming a core product triad for feature development.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work directly impacts the efficiency, accuracy, and usability of Workday Adaptive Planning, a critical tool for finance teams. By simplifying complex financial processes and enhancing decision-making through design and AI, this role contributes significantly to the financial operations of Workday's enterprise clients, thereby driving customer satisfaction and the adoption of Workday's solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in enterprise UX, financial planning software, and AI-powered design and product experiences.

  • Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives for larger features, and potentially move into a Senior UX Designer or Lead UX Designer role.

  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper insights into product management, engineering processes, and the intricacies of financial technology.

  • Career Progression: Potential pathways into UX management, product management, or specialized design roles within Workday's broader product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is clearly defined for an experienced designer, not an entry-level position. The "5+ years" and "end-to-end ownership" are hallmarks of a mid-level to senior individual contributor. The "mentoring/coaching" aspect is a strong indicator of potential leadership growth. For someone in operations or a related field looking to transition or leverage their understanding of business processes into a design role, this level of responsibility and the focus on enterprise solutions makes it an attractive proposition.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a "Flex Work" model, which is a hybrid approach. This means employees will spend at least 50% of their time each quarter in the office or engaging with customers/partners, with the remaining time being flexible. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster connection and teamwork, balanced with personal flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary specified location is Vancouver, BC, Canada. Workday has multiple office locations globally, but this role is tied to the Vancouver presence.

Workspace Context:

  • The office environment is designed to facilitate collaboration among design, product, and engineering teams, crucial for iterative development in enterprise software.

  • Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma and potentially AI-assisted design tools, will be standard.

  • Opportunities for direct interaction with UX leadership, product managers, and engineers to ensure alignment and efficient workflow.

  • The hybrid model emphasizes intentional in-person collaboration for key activities like brainstorming, feedback sessions, and strategic planning.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the "Flex Work" policy allows for flexibility in scheduling, provided the 50% quarterly in-office or field presence requirement is met. This balance is intended to support both team cohesion and individual work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Flex Work" policy is a critical aspect of the work environment. It's not fully remote, nor is it strictly in-office. Candidates must be comfortable with a hybrid model that requires significant in-person collaboration, likely meaning regular days in the Vancouver office. The emphasis on "spending at least half... in the office or in the field" suggests that spontaneous collaboration and team building are highly valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

  • Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: Candidates will present their portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact. This may be followed by a design exercise or take-home challenge to assess practical design skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to work within constraints.

  • Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineering leads to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of technical feasibility, and ability to communicate design rationale effectively.

  • Team/Leadership Interview: Discussion with UX leadership to assess design craft, strategic thinking, potential for mentoring, and alignment with Workday's culture and values.

  • Final Round: Potentially a wrap-up interview with a senior leader or hiring manager.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on Case Studies: Select 2-3 strong case studies that highlight your end-to-end design process for complex projects, ideally B2B or enterprise software.

  • Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user efficiency, reduced error rates, improved adoption).

  • Show Your Process: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the research and design methods used, key decisions, and iterations. Visual aids like user flows, wireframes, and prototypes are essential.

  • Highlight AI Experience: If you have experience with AI-assisted design tools or designing AI-powered features, make sure this is prominently featured and detailed. Explain the challenges and how you addressed them.

  • Tell a Story: Structure your presentation to tell a compelling narrative about each project, emphasizing your problem-solving skills and contribution.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, trade-offs you've made, and your collaboration style.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with Workday Adaptive Planning and the challenges faced by finance teams in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

  • Practice Design Exercises: Work through common UX design challenges, focusing on problem decomposition, ideation, and rapid prototyping.

  • Articulate Your Rationale: Be ready to clearly explain the "why" behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

  • AI Integration: Consider how AI might be applied to common financial planning tasks and how you would design for trust and transparency in such systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a broad range of skills, from pure design craft to strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration. The portfolio review is the most critical step. Candidates should prepare to discuss their work in detail, especially how they navigate the complexities of enterprise software and any experience with AI. The mention of "AI-assisted design/build tools" and "AI-powered product experiences" is a strong signal that candidates with this specific experience will be highly sought after and should highlight it prominently.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: Explicitly mentioned and required for wireframing, high-fidelity design, and prototyping. Proficiency is a must.

  • Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities are key, but familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial.

  • Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working within established design systems is valuable for consistency and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not directly a UX tool, an understanding of how user behavior is tracked and analyzed through analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is beneficial for informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

  • Workday Platform: As a designer at Workday, familiarity with the Workday ecosystem and its various modules (though not necessarily deep expertise in all) would be advantageous.

  • Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello are commonly used for tracking design tasks and collaborating with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a required skill is paramount. Candidates must be highly proficient. The preference for AI-assisted design/build tools (Lovable, Cursor, Figma AI) is a significant differentiator. While not explicitly required, familiarity with these tools will strongly position a candidate. A general understanding of analytics, CRM, and project management tools is expected for effective cross-functional work in a tech company.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Integrity, Empathy, Shared Enthusiasm: Workday's core values are expected to permeate team interactions and decision-making.

  • Curiosity and Courage: Encourages exploration of new ideas and approaches, particularly relevant with the integration of AI.

  • Craft and Collaboration: A strong emphasis on high-quality design execution and working effectively with others to achieve shared goals.

  • Data-Driven Decisions: Using research and data to inform design trade-offs and validate solutions.

  • Efficiency and Clarity: A core objective for the Adaptive Planning team, aiming to simplify complex financial operations for users.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Close partnership with Product Management and Engineering is central to the design process.

  • Candid Feedback: An environment where constructive critique is encouraged to improve design quality.

  • Outcome-Oriented: Focus on shipping products that deliver real value to users and the business.

  • Mentorship and Support: A culture that supports the growth of its team members, including junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The described team culture aligns with modern tech company values, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and user focus. For a UX designer, understanding that feedback is solicited and valued, and that the team works closely with product and engineering, is key. The specific mention of "turning complexity into clear, efficient, and trustworthy experiences" highlights the team's mission and the kind of impact they strive for.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for Complexity: Translating intricate financial planning processes into simple, intuitive user interfaces for enterprise users requires deep analytical and design thinking.

  • Balancing Multiple Needs: Effectively mediating between user desires, technical limitations, business objectives, and the evolving capabilities of AI.

  • AI Integration Nuances: Designing AI-powered features that are trustworthy, transparent, and provide genuine value without alienating users or introducing unexpected errors.

  • Hybrid Work Model: Successfully navigating the balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility to maintain team cohesion and productivity.

  • Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with advancements in UX design, AI tools, and enterprise software trends.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • AI Design Expertise: Opportunity to become a specialist in designing AI-driven product experiences, a rapidly growing field.

  • Enterprise UX Mastery: Deepen skills in designing for complex B2B SaaS environments.

  • Mentorship and Leadership: Develop coaching skills and potentially lead design efforts on significant product initiatives.

  • Workday Ecosystem Knowledge: Gain comprehensive understanding of Workday's product suite and its impact on enterprise operations.

  • Professional Development: Access to internal training, workshops, and potentially external conferences or certifications relevant to UX and AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges listed are typical for senior roles in complex enterprise software. The specific challenge around "AI Integration Nuances" is particularly relevant and presents a significant growth opportunity. Candidates who are comfortable tackling ambiguity and are eager to learn about and apply AI in design will find this role stimulating.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you took a complex financial workflow and simplified it through UX design for an enterprise audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, user research, solution design, and impact.)

  • "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business goals when designing features? Can you provide an example?" (Demonstrate practical trade-offs and decision-making.)

  • "Discuss your experience with AI-assisted design tools or designing AI-powered features. What were the unique challenges, and how did you address them?" (Highlight curiosity, experimentation, and understanding of AI ethics/trust.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you interested in Workday and specifically the Adaptive Planning UX team?" (Research Workday's mission, values, and the specific product.)

  • "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback within a design team and with cross-functional partners?" (Emphasize collaboration, openness, and constructive communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome.

  • Quantify Results: Use data and metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the impact of your designs.

  • Highlight AI Contributions: If you have relevant experience, dedicate time to explaining your approach to AI-assisted design or AI-powered features. Discuss the user trust and transparency aspects.

  • Showcase Figma Mastery: Be prepared to walk through specific Figma files, demonstrating your proficiency in creating detailed wireframes, prototypes, and design systems.

  • Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Ask clarifying questions and be prepared to discuss your design choices in detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating the ability to handle complex enterprise problems and any experience with AI. Candidates must be ready to articulate their design process rigorously and back it up with portfolio examples. The questions suggested aim to probe these specific areas.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the Workday Careers portal link provided.

  • Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with enterprise/B2B products, Figma proficiency, end-to-end design ownership, and any exposure to AI tools or AI-powered product experiences, using keywords from the job description.

  • Prepare your portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that showcase your process, problem-solving skills, cross-functional collaboration, and quantifiable impact, with a specific focus on complex workflows and ideally any AI-related projects.

  • Research Workday: Understand Workday's mission, values, and the specific challenges and opportunities within Workday Adaptive Planning and the oCFO space.

  • Practice your narrative: Be ready to articulate your career goals and why this role is interesting to you, as requested in the application instructions, and practice presenting your portfolio case studies, emphasizing your approach to design challenges and AI integration.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have 5+ years in a UX design role with strong Figma skills, experience driving projects from discovery to delivery, and the ability to partner cross-functionally. Preferred qualifications include experience with enterprise/B2B products and fluency with AI-assisted design tools or designing AI-powered experiences.