UX Designer, Research and marketing at Desjardins

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer, Research and Marketing Company: Desjardins Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (20 months) Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design, Marketing Operations Date Posted: August 25, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

This role focuses on enhancing the digital user experience for Desjardins' members and clients across various virtual platforms, requiring a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and market research.
You will be instrumental in defining and refining user journeys, information architecture, and functional specifications, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.
The position involves extensive collaboration with cross-functional teams, including UI designers, product management, and IT development, to ensure seamless co-creation and successful solution delivery.
As a UX Designer, you will leverage analytical skills and market insights to identify opportunities for improvement, design experiments, and test solutions that optimize digital client behavior and platform performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title mentions "Research and Marketing," the core responsibilities and required skills strongly align with a dedicated UX/UI Design role with a focus on user research and data-driven design decisions, rather than traditional marketing execution. The "Marketing Operations" category is inferred due to the emphasis on improving client experience on digital platforms, which often involves marketing technology and data analysis.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

User Experience Definition: Define user journeys and the desired user experience within Desjardins' digital ecosystem, grounded in thorough research and analysis of member and client needs.
Design & Specification: Create detailed mock-ups, user personas, functional specifications, and information architecture for various digital projects and platform enhancements.
User Research & Testing: Design and execute experiments and usability tests to understand digital client behaviors, gather feedback, and iteratively improve platform performance and user satisfaction.
Opportunity Identification: Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the member and client experience, define business objectives, and validate user needs through continuous market and trend monitoring.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a key liaison between UI, product management, and IT development teams, ensuring smooth co-creation processes and that delivered solutions meet business objectives and user expectations.
Process Improvement: Monitor industry trends in digital design and user-focused design, recommending and implementing best practices to optimize workflows and deliverables.
Problem Solving: Analyze complex user experience challenges, leveraging analytical skills to develop and recommend effective solutions and action plans.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive and analytical approach to UX design, requiring the candidate to not only execute design tasks but also to drive strategic improvements based on data and user insights.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, or a relevant design discipline.

Experience:

A minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, User Interface (UI) design, or a closely related field.
Experience in designing for digital platforms, web applications, or mobile applications, with a portfolio showcasing relevant projects.
Proven experience in conducting user research, usability testing, and translating findings into actionable design improvements.

Required Skills:

User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of UX principles, methodologies, and best practices for creating intuitive and engaging digital experiences.
User Research & Analysis: Proficiency in conducting user research, analyzing user data, and translating insights into design strategies and solutions.
Information Architecture (IA): Strong ability to structure and organize content and navigation for optimal user flow and findability.
Wireframing & Prototyping: Expertise in creating wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
Stakeholder Communication: Excellent ability to communicate design concepts, research findings, and recommendations to diverse stakeholders, including technical and business teams.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify and resolve complex user experience challenges effectively.
French Language Proficiency: Fluency in French (written and spoken) is required for effective communication within the organization and with its member base.

Preferred Skills:

User Interface (UI) Design: Familiarity with UI design principles, visual design, and style guide development.
Design Thinking: Experience applying Design Thinking methodologies to problem-solving and innovation.
Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development environments and collaborating with cross-functional Agile teams.
Market Research: Understanding of market research techniques and their application to UX strategy.
Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of web accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for French language proficiency is critical and should be a key consideration for candidates. The "4+ years" experience level suggests a need for demonstrated impact and strategic contribution, not just task execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

User-Centered Design Case Studies: Present 2-3 detailed case studies showcasing your UX design process from problem definition to final solution, highlighting your role and contributions.
Problem Identification & Research: Demonstrate how you identified user needs and business objectives, including methodologies used (e.g., user interviews, surveys, competitive analysis).
Design Iteration & Rationale: Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, including wireframes, user flows, mock-ups, and prototypes, and how they evolved through iterations.
Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design solutions, using metrics such as increased user engagement, conversion rates, task completion success, or reduced error rates.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you collaborated with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to bring designs to fruition.

Process Documentation:

Workflow Design: Showcase examples of designed user flows and information architecture, demonstrating clarity and efficiency.
Prototyping & Testing: Include examples of interactive prototypes and descriptions of testing methodologies employed, along with key findings and subsequent design adjustments.
Data Analysis Integration: Illustrate how user data, analytics, and research findings were integrated into the design process to inform decisions and measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is essential for this role, demonstrating not just aesthetic design skills but also a robust process, analytical capabilities, and a proven ability to drive measurable improvements in user experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Estimated Range: $75,000 - $115,000 CAD annually.
Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for UX Designers with 4+ years of experience in major Canadian cities like Montreal, considering the "Mid-Senior Level" experience indicated. Factors such as the competitive benefits package and the temporary nature of the role (20 months) can influence the final offer. Desjardins, as a large financial institution, typically offers competitive compensation.

Benefits:

Competitive Salary: A competitive base salary commensurate with experience and skills.
Annual Bonus: Potential for an annual bonus, reflecting company and individual performance.
Flexible Vacation: 4 weeks of flexible vacation time, starting from the first year of employment.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan: A predictable and stable retirement income through a defined benefit pension plan.
Comprehensive Group Insurance: Includes medical, dental, vision coverage, and telemedicine services.
Health & Wellness Reimbursement: Reimbursement for health and wellness expenses.
Telework Equipment Reimbursement: Support for setting up a home office environment.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role suggests flexibility in scheduling, with specific days in the office likely determined by team needs and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is quite robust, particularly the defined benefit pension plan and flexible vacation, which are significant advantages for employees. The salary range is an estimate and actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Cooperative) Company Size: Large (Desjardins is one of Canada's largest financial institutions, employing over 40,000 people). Founded: 1900 (Desjardins has a long history, emphasizing stability, community, and member-centricity).

Team Structure:

Operations Team Context: While this role is within the "Marketing (FG)" job family, the UX Designer will likely collaborate closely with product management, IT development, data analytics, and potentially other operations teams focused on digital platform performance and client engagement.
Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Product Manager, with project-based reporting lines to various project stakeholders.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with UI designers, product owners, business analysts, marketing specialists, data analysts, and software engineers to ensure cohesive and effective digital solutions.

Methodology:

Data-Driven Design: Desjardins likely employs a data-driven approach to decision-making, with UX insights informed by user analytics, A/B testing, and market research.
Agile Development: Given the nature of digital product development, Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) are likely utilized for project management and team collaboration.
User-Centricity: The company culture emphasizes member and client focus, meaning user needs and feedback are central to the design and development process.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Desjardins' cooperative model and long history suggest a culture that values stability, member/client well-being, and long-term relationships. This translates to a focus on delivering trusted and valuable digital experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Senior Level UX Designer. This role requires a solid foundation of experience and the ability to work independently on complex design challenges, contribute to strategic discussions, and mentor junior team members if applicable.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a UX Designer reports to a Manager of UX/Product Design or a Product Owner, with close collaboration with development teams and product managers. The temporary nature (20 months) might mean project-specific reporting is more prominent.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer directly impacts member and client satisfaction, digital adoption rates, and the overall efficiency of digital channels. By improving user journeys and platform usability, they contribute to increased customer loyalty, reduced support costs, and potentially higher conversion rates for financial products and services.

Growth Opportunities:

Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as user research, interaction design, or accessibility.
Project Leadership: Potential to lead design efforts on significant projects or features within the digital ecosystem.
Cross-Functional Experience: Gain exposure to product management, marketing technology, and IT development processes within a large financial institution.
Potential for Permanent Role: While temporary, successful performance could lead to opportunities for permanent positions within Desjardins' UX or digital product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This temporary role offers a valuable opportunity to gain experience within a major Canadian financial institution, which can be a significant career booster. The focus on UX within a regulated industry like finance provides unique challenges and learning opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This implies a mix of remote work and in-office presence. Office Location(s): Primary locations mentioned are Montréal and Lévis, Quebec. The specific office for this role is in Montréal at 450, boul. de Maisonneuve.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic and collaborative workspace, fostering interaction with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve project goals.
Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools will be provided.
Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge sharing with fellow designers and product teams.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours, likely with flexibility offered within the hybrid model, allowing for focused work periods both remotely and in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model at a large organization like Desjardins usually involves a structured approach to office days to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio, discussing your process, design decisions, and problem-solving approach. This stage often includes a UX challenge or case study presentation.
Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, team fit, and alignment with Desjardins' values and ways of working.
Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues and stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Developers) to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.
Final Offer: Based on the cumulative assessment throughout the interview stages.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your UX process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prioritize projects similar to Desjardins' digital offerings.
Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively.
Highlight Research & Rationale: Emphasize how user research and data informed your design decisions and how you iterated based on feedback.
Demonstrate Collaboration: Mention how you worked with other teams (developers, product managers) and resolved any conflicts or challenges.
Prepare for Questions: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

Understand the Context: If given a case study or design challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement, target audience, and business goals.
Structure Your Approach: Outline your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration) and articulate your reasoning at each step.
Focus on Process, Not Just Solution: Interviewers are often more interested in how you arrive at a solution than the final visual output.
Time Management: Practice completing design exercises within a given timeframe, prioritizing key elements.
Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your approach and solution clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given Desjardins' focus on member experience and financial services, expect interview questions to probe your understanding of user needs within this specific context, as well as your ability to handle complex requirements and a regulated environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision. Proficiency in at least one is expected.
User Research Platforms: Tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics), user testing (e.g., UserTesting.com), and analytics platforms.
Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence (for project management and documentation), Slack, Microsoft Teams (for communication).

Analytics & Reporting:

Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (for tracking user behavior on digital platforms).
Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (for analyzing and presenting user data and performance metrics).

CRM & Automation:

CRM (Customer Relationship Management): While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX impacts CRM data and customer journeys is beneficial.
Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like Marketo, HubSpot, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud could be advantageous for understanding the broader marketing technology stack.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern UX design tools like Figma is highly valued. Experience with analytics tools to interpret user behavior data and inform design decisions is also crucial for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Member/Client Focus: Prioritizing the needs and experience of members and clients in all design and development activities.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas and a commitment to constantly enhancing digital platforms and user experiences.
Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where teams work together effectively to achieve common goals.
Integrity & Responsibility: Upholding ethical standards and taking ownership of work and its impact.
Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and responding effectively to evolving user needs and market trends.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Emphasis on seamless collaboration between design, product, marketing, and development teams.
Constructive Feedback: A culture that encourages open and constructive feedback to drive quality and improvement.
Shared Ownership: Encouraging a sense of shared responsibility for the success of digital products and member experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Desjardins' cooperative nature likely reinforces values around community, trust, and mutual support, which should translate into a collaborative and member-centric team culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively integrating user needs with Desjardins' business objectives, technical constraints, and regulatory requirements.
Navigating a Large Organization: Adapting to the processes and stakeholder dynamics within a large financial institution.
Data Interpretation: Synthesizing insights from diverse data sources (user feedback, analytics, market trends) to inform design decisions.
Agile Development Integration: Ensuring design processes align seamlessly with rapid development cycles in an Agile environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Industry Best Practices: Staying abreast of the latest trends and best practices in UX/UI design, user research, and digital product development.
Financial Services Acumen: Gaining deeper knowledge of the financial services industry and its unique user needs and regulatory landscape.
Advanced Design Tools & Techniques: Opportunity to master new design software, prototyping methods, and research techniques.
Cross-Departmental Exposure: Learning about different facets of a large financial organization, including product management, marketing, and IT.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to develop specialized UX skills within the financial sector, a challenging yet rewarding domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

Operations Strategy: "How would you approach understanding the primary user needs for a new digital banking feature?" "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements for a design project."
Company & Culture: "What do you know about Desjardins and our mission?" "How do you stay updated on UX trends in the financial industry?" "Describe your ideal team collaboration environment."
Portfolio Presentation: "Walk us through your most impactful UX project from conception to completion." "What was the biggest challenge you faced in this project, and how did you overcome it?" "What metrics did you use to measure the success of your design?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Context is Key: For each project, clearly define the "why" – the problem being solved and the business/user goals.
Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and solutions.
Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs.
Be Prepared to Defend Decisions: Articulate the rationale behind your design choices and be open to constructive feedback.
Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your project walkthroughs to ensure clarity, conciseness, and a compelling story.

Challenge Preparation:

Focus on Process: For design challenges, emphasize your structured approach, research methods, and decision-making criteria.
Prioritize: If time is limited, focus on the most critical aspects of the problem and solution.
Communicate Assumptions: Clearly state any assumptions you make during the challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that highlight your analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience working with complex requirements, relevant to the financial services industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided link on the Desjardins careers portal.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating user research, interaction design, and measurable improvements in user experience, ideally within digital platforms or financial services.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 4+ years of relevant UX/UI experience, specific skills, and achievements using keywords from the job description. Highlight your French language proficiency.
Prepare for Interview: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and project outcomes. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and potentially complete a design challenge. Research Desjardins' values and digital offerings.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Desjardins' mission, values, and recent digital initiatives to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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.

UX Designer, Research and marketing