RQ11197 - UX Designer - Senior

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: RQ11197 - UX Designer - Senior

Company: Maarut

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design & Service Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver exceptional user experiences for web and mobile applications, focusing on intuitive and visually appealing interfaces.

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives, from participant recruitment to synthesis, to inform design decisions and product strategy.

• Develop comprehensive service design artifacts, including customer journey maps and service blueprints, to visualize and optimize user interactions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, QA specialists, and business stakeholders, to ensure seamless product development and successful project outcomes.

• Champion accessibility standards, ensuring all designs meet WCAG 2.1 AA requirements and align with relevant design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role integrates core UX/UI design responsibilities with a strong emphasis on service design methodologies and user research. The "Senior" title, coupled with the requirement for leading projects and workshops, suggests a need for strategic thinking and stakeholder management beyond typical design execution. The mention of "legacy systems" and "nuanced stakeholder/approval relationships" indicates a complex environment requiring strong problem-solving and negotiation skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Create effective, user-friendly, and visually appealing interfaces for digital products, ensuring a great user experience through iterative design based on user testing.

• Design the overall functionality of products, iterating on designs in accordance with user testing and feedback.

• Define and lead UX projects, including design workshops and alignment sessions with stakeholders and business users.

• Manage end-to-end user research processes, from participant recruitment to synthesis of findings.

• Develop and present sitemaps, user flows, user journey maps, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.

• Identify design problems and devise elegant, user-centered solutions.

• Make strategic design and user-experience decisions related to core and new product functions and features.

• Gather user feedback to configure and refine existing interfaces.

• Ensure designs are accessible and meet WCAG 2.1 AA requirements.

• Collaborate with developers and QA specialists to ensure the successful implementation of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The emphasis on "leading UX projects and design workshops" and "making strategic design and user-experience decisions" points to a senior-level individual contributor role with significant autonomy and influence. The inclusion of "legacy systems" and "nuanced stakeholder/approval relationships" implies a need for strong problem-solving and diplomatic communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for senior UX roles. A professional certificate in Design Thinking, Lean Six Sigma, or similar methodologies is listed as a desirable skill, indicating a focus on process and strategic thinking.

Experience: 5-10 years of relevant experience in UX design, interactive design, UI design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of designing for web and mobile applications. Experience conceiving and conducting user research, interviews, and surveys is essential.

Required Skills:

• Excellent understanding of user research methods and their application in service design.

• Strong proficiency in service design tools and techniques (e.g., journey mapping, service blueprinting, personas).

• Expertise in creating and interpreting customer journey maps and service blueprints to visualize service interactions.

• Relevant experience creating GUI designs based on user interaction and performance.

• Experience as a UX designer, interactive designer, UI designer, or similar role, designing for web and mobile applications.

• Ability to define and lead UX projects and design workshops and alignment sessions with stakeholders, business users.

• Managing end-to-end user research from recruiting to synthesis.

• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Canvas).

• Thorough understanding of the limitations and appropriate use of web development technologies.

• Experience in designing online programs with emphasis on the emotional aspects of human experience.

• Experience conceiving and conducting user research, interviews and surveys, and translating them into sitemaps, user flows, user journey maps, wireframes, mockups and prototypes that lead to intuitive user experiences.

• Experience designing the overall functionality of the product to ensure a great user experience, iterating upon it in accordance with user-testing.

• Experience designing and delivering wireframes, user stories, user flows, user journeys, mockups and prototypes optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.

• Experience facilitating the client’s product vision by researching, conceiving, sketching, prototyping and user-testing experiences for digital products and optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.

• Experience identifying design problems and devising elegant solutions.

• Experience making strategic design and user-experience decisions related to core, and new, functions and features.

• Experience gathering user feedback to configure existing interfaces.

• A team player with a track record for meeting deadlines, managing competing priorities and client relationship management experience.

• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive documentation, including reports, reviews, and assessments.

• Skilled in conveying design concepts and development processes in a clear, understandable manner to diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience within a collaborative team working at different levels. Preferred Skills:

• Certification in Design Thinking, Lean Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

• Knowledge of accessibility testing.

• Ability to work with Ontario Design System.

• Knowledge of digital service standards.

• Experience with complex design challenges, especially in dealing with legacy systems and nuanced stakeholder/approval relationships.

• Proficient in designing with accessibility in mind, and meeting WCAG 2.1 AA requirements.

• Prior Public Service/OPS experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Haves" list is extensive and covers a broad spectrum of UX and service design skills. The "nice to have" and "desirable" sections provide clear indicators of what would make a candidate stand out, particularly experience with public sector projects and specific design systems. The emphasis on research, strategy, and stakeholder interaction aligns with a senior-level role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end UX design projects, detailing the problem, your process, and the impact of your solutions.

• Include examples of user research methodologies applied, such as user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, with synthesized findings.

• Present detailed customer journey maps and service blueprints that illustrate complex service interactions and identify areas for improvement.

• Demonstrate proficiency with design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Canvas) through interactive prototypes or detailed mockups.

• Highlight projects where accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) was a key consideration and demonstrate how requirements were met. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate the user research process, from planning and recruitment to synthesis and reporting.

• Document the iterative design process, including wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and refinement stages.

• Illustrate how service design tools and techniques were employed to map out and optimize service delivery.

• Provide examples of how you've translated user needs and business requirements into actionable design solutions.

• Showcase how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams and managed stakeholder expectations throughout the design lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on service design, user research, and complex stakeholder environments, a portfolio demonstrating a structured, research-driven approach to problem-solving will be highly valued. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and demonstrate measurable impact is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Designer role in Toronto, Ontario, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is CAD $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This estimation is based on current market data for similar roles in the Toronto metropolitan area, considering the specified experience level and the advanced skill set required, including service design and accessibility expertise.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Retirement savings plan contributions or matching programs.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, workshops, and conference attendance.

• Access to modern design tools and technology.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

Working Hours: The standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility regarding start and end times, subject to team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry benchmarks for senior UX designers in a major Canadian city. Specific benefits packages can vary significantly by company and are often detailed further during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Maarut operates within the technology sector, likely focusing on software development and digital solutions. Their presence on a recruitment platform and mentioning of "web and mobile applications" suggests they are involved in creating and delivering digital products or services. The mention of "Public Service/OPS experience" as desirable indicates potential work or collaboration with government entities, suggesting a focus on public sector technology solutions or a company that values experience in that domain.

Company Size: Maarut is likely a medium to large-sized organization, given the structured recruitment process and the breadth of skills required for a senior role. This size often allows for dedicated teams in specialized areas like UX/UI and service design, fostering collaboration while providing opportunities for individual impact.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided. However, the company's presence on a modern recruitment platform and the nature of the role suggest an organization that is established and actively engaged in current technology practices.

Team Structure:

• The UX team likely consists of dedicated designers with specific expertise in user research, UI design, and service design.

• This role will report into a Design Lead, UX Manager, or a Product Development Manager.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Software Developers, QA Engineers, and potentially Business Analysts or Stakeholders from client organizations. Methodology:

• Data-driven design decisions informed by user research and analytics.

• Iterative design processes involving prototyping and user testing.

• Application of service design principles to map and optimize user journeys.

• Emphasis on agile methodologies for project execution and collaboration.

• Commitment to accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.

Company Website: www.maarutinc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Public Service/OPS experience" as a desirable skill strongly suggests that Maarut either works with or is part of the public sector, or has a significant focus on developing solutions for government clients. This implies a need for understanding of public sector procurement, policy, and user needs within that context.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer position. It signifies an individual contributor role with a high degree of autonomy, expected to lead projects, mentor junior designers (if any), and influence design strategy. They are expected to handle complex design challenges independently and provide expert guidance.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a Product Lead. They will work closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and business stakeholders, playing a key role in the product development lifecycle.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer will directly impact the usability, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of Maarut's digital products. By ensuring intuitive interfaces and seamless user experiences, they will contribute to increased user adoption, customer retention, and ultimately, the success of the products and services offered. Their strategic input will shape product direction and feature development.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as user research, interaction design, or accessibility consulting.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Design Lead role, managing a team and setting design vision.

• Product Strategy: Contribute more significantly to product strategy and roadmap planning, leveraging deep user insights.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Move into Product Management roles, utilizing a strong understanding of user needs and product development.

• Mentorship: Mentor junior designers, sharing knowledge and guiding their professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation and the breadth of responsibilities suggest a role that offers substantial growth potential, particularly in leadership and strategic product involvement, especially if Maarut is expanding its digital offerings or working on significant government projects.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a collaborative atmosphere where in-person interaction with colleagues and stakeholders is prioritized.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is a major metropolitan hub, offering access to a diverse talent pool and a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely designed to foster collaboration, with shared design areas, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan office layouts.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including powerful workstations and relevant software, is expected.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with cross-functional teams (developers, product managers, QA) will be integral to the daily workflow.

• The environment may be dynamic, especially if working on multiple projects or with government clients, requiring adaptability.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. While on-site, there might be some flexibility in daily hours, but adherence to project deadlines and team availability is paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement in Toronto suggests a company that values in-person collaboration, team synergy, and direct interaction. This can be beneficial for complex problem-solving and rapid iteration, especially within a public sector context where relationships and clear communication are key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, skills, and understanding of UX/UI and service design principles. Expect questions about your approach to user research, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: You will likely be asked to present a case study from your portfolio, detailing a specific project's challenge, your process, and its outcome. A practical design challenge or exercise may also be part of this stage, assessing your problem-solving skills and design approach in real-time.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (e.g., developers, product managers) and key stakeholders to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Maarut's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Projects: Present 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your full design process, from discovery and research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.

• Highlight Service Design: Emphasize projects where you've utilized service design tools (journey maps, blueprints) to understand and improve user experiences across multiple touchpoints.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets).

• Detail Your Process: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions. Explain the user research methods used, the rationale for wireframes and prototypes, and how user feedback influenced iterations.

• Accessibility Focus: Specifically call out any projects where accessibility was a primary concern and explain how you addressed WCAG guidelines.

• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio highlights skills and experiences most relevant to this Senior UX Designer role, particularly service design, user research, and experience with complex environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the problem statement, target audience, and any constraints.

• Think Aloud: During a live challenge or exercise, articulate your thought process clearly. Explain your assumptions, design choices, and how you'd approach problem-solving.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, even if you don't reach a "perfect" solution. Show how you'd gather information, explore options, and make informed decisions.

• Consider Stakeholders: Think about how your design would be implemented and how you would communicate it to various stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on service design and complex stakeholder environments suggests that interviews will likely probe your ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and communicate design rationale effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Canvas, and similar tools are explicitly mentioned as required. Proficiency in creating wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes using these platforms is essential.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user research, surveys, and usability testing. This could include platforms like UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or more specialized research tools.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools that facilitate team collaboration, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence, or similar project management and communication platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, familiarity with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is beneficial for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified for this role, but understanding how UX designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms might be advantageous, especially if user journeys extend into sales or marketing funnels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Canvas points to a modern design workflow. A candidate's ability to demonstrate proficiency and practical application of these tools in their portfolio will be critical. Experience with other design and research tools will further strengthen their application.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user throughout the design and development process.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to producing high-quality, effective, and visually appealing design solutions that meet user needs and business objectives.

• Innovation & Iteration: A culture that encourages creative problem-solving, embraces new ideas, and values continuous improvement through iteration and feedback.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A commitment to designing products that are usable and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Expect to engage in frequent and transparent communication with product managers, developers, and stakeholders, providing design rationale and seeking input.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The design process is likely integrated seamlessly with development sprints, requiring close collaboration with engineering teams to ensure design feasibility and proper implementation.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to refine designs and improve processes.

• Workshop Facilitation: The ability to lead and facilitate design thinking workshops and alignment sessions with diverse groups is a key aspect of collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the mention of "Public Service/OPS experience," Maarut might also value values such as accountability, transparency, and a focus on public good or service delivery within their operational culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Landscapes: Working with diverse stakeholders, potentially in a public sector context, with varying priorities and approval processes. This requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Designing for Legacy Systems: Integrating modern UX/UI with existing, potentially outdated, systems presents technical and design constraints that require creative problem-solving.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Constraints: Ensuring that user-centric designs are feasible and implementable within technical limitations and project timelines.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across multiple platforms and features, especially when dealing with complex product suites.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/Service Design Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas of UX and service design through workshops, courses, or certifications.

• Exposure to Public Sector Projects: Gaining experience in designing for government or public service applications, which often have unique user needs and regulatory requirements.

• Mentorship and Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and develop leadership skills by leading projects and initiatives.

• Industry Conferences and Networking: Access to industry events to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX, UI, and service design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges described are typical for senior roles in established organizations, especially those with a history of legacy systems or complex organizational structures like government bodies. The growth opportunities are aligned with advancing within a design career path.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX project where you had to balance competing stakeholder needs. How did you manage the process and arrive at a solution?" (Focus on stakeholder management, negotiation, and problem-solving.)

• "Walk me through a customer journey map or service blueprint you created. What insights did it reveal, and how did you use them to improve the user experience?" (Focus on service design methodology and impact.)

• "How do you approach user research when designing for legacy systems? What are the key considerations?" (Focus on adaptability, research skills, and understanding constraints.)

• "Tell me about a time you identified a significant design problem and devised an elegant solution. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem identification, creative thinking, and impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Maarut, and why are you interested in this Senior UX Designer role?" (Research the company website and any public information; connect your skills to their mission.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility is integrated into your design process, particularly meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards?" (Demonstrate knowledge of accessibility best practices.)

• "Describe your experience working within a cross-functional team, especially with developers and product managers. How do you ensure effective collaboration?" (Highlight teamwork and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the measurable outcome or impact.

• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize the "how" and "why" behind your decisions. Explain the user research methods used, the rationale for design choices, and how feedback influenced iterations.

• Showcase Service Design Artifacts: Be prepared to discuss your journey maps, service blueprints, and personas in detail, explaining their creation and utility.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention and, if possible, show examples of your work in Figma, Canvas, or other relevant tools.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion, reduced errors, positive user feedback). If quantitative data isn't available, use qualitative insights to convey success.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on service design and complex environments, interviewers will likely probe your ability to think strategically, manage ambiguity, and articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively to a varied audience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position at Maarut:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the online application through the provided link on the Maarutinc.zohorecruit.com portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end UX design projects. Ensure they prominently feature your user research, service design artifacts (journey maps, blueprints), and proficiency with tools like Figma. Tailor your case study descriptions to highlight experience relevant to complex environments and accessibility.

• Optimize Your Resume: Clearly outline your 5-10 years of experience, emphasizing roles in UX/UI design, service design, and user research. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "user research," "service design," "journey mapping," "Figma," "WCAG 2.1 AA"). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse presenting your selected case studies. Focus on articulating your design process, the rationale behind your decisions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with stakeholder management and complex projects.

• Research Maarut: Understand Maarut's mission, their work, and any public information available. Consider how your skills and experience align with their focus, particularly if they engage with the public sector.

⚠️ 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.