RQ11362 - UX Designer - Senior

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: RQ11362 - UX Designer - Senior

Company: Maarut

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Contract

Category: User Experience (UX) Design

Date Posted: August 25, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end user experience design process across multiple project delivery phases, including Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live.

• Lead and facilitate comprehensive user research activities, translating insights into actionable design strategies and deliverables.

• Develop and validate interactive prototypes, ensuring solutions meet user needs and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners and Developers, leveraging Agile (Scrum) methodologies to deliver high-quality user-centered products.

• Champion accessibility compliance and ensure all designs adhere to relevant standards throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role emphasizes a senior-level UX Designer with extensive experience in government or public sector digital transformation projects, given the detailed breakdown of delivery phases aligned with the Ontario Digital Service Design playbook. The focus on Agile and specific deliverables suggests a need for a candidate who can operate autonomously and effectively within a structured, iterative development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the facilitation of the Discovery phase, including kick-off meetings to produce key outputs such as Business Model Canvas, 5 Whys, User Personas, Stakeholder Mapping, Strategy Maps, Goals, Fears/Challenges, and Problem Statements.

• Design and execute user research activities during Discovery, creating User Interview Topic Maps, User Interview Scripts, User Interview Syntheses, and User Research Findings Reports.

• Plan and facilitate Inception (Science Fair Day) events to showcase findings, align stakeholders, and plan for the Alpha phase.

• Develop User Storyboards, Technical Service Blueprints, and define business Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) during the Discovery phase.

• Lead the Alpha phase by potentially conducting Google Ventures Design Sprints, producing clickable prototypes, validating them through usability testing, and iterating based on findings.

• Identify and document necessary process or policy changes to support new products or services, and create business proposals for funding the Beta phase.

• Define a clear solution vision and create prioritized feature lists for the Beta phase, ensuring alignment with user needs and defined KPIs.

• Drive the Beta phase by creating and validating user stories, participating in Agile ceremonies (Stand-up, Sprint Planning, Backlog Grooming, Retrospective), and designing user-centric solutions one iteration ahead of developers.

• Conduct accessibility compliance testing and regular usability testing sessions on the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) during Beta, iterating designs based on synthesis.

• Manage the Live phase by continuing user research, conducting accessibility and usability testing on live builds, and analyzing usage analytics to track KPIs and drive continuous improvement.

• Actively participate in Agile (Scrum) ceremonies, including Stand-up meetings, Sprint Planning, Backlog grooming, Reporting, Acceptance, and Retrospective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed breakdown of deliverables across four distinct phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live) indicates a requirement for a candidate deeply familiar with a government-style digital service design lifecycle, likely following frameworks similar to the Ontario Digital Service Design playbook. The emphasis on user research, prototyping, iterative development, and continuous improvement across all phases highlights the need for a proactive and adaptable UX professional.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Degree or diploma in graphic design.

• Degree or certification in usability, human-computer interaction, and technical writing is a plus. Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in User Experience (UX) Design.

• At least 3 years of relevant experience in participating in complex projects (products) of different sizes, ensuring alignment to plans, best practices, and incorporating user-centered design processes and agile (scrum) methodologies.

• Extensive experience in using UX design best practices to design solutions, with a deep understanding of mobile-first and responsive design principles.

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating User Research and Usability testing.

• Experience with strategies and actions to overcome resistance to change and capitalize on forces in support of change during all stages of projects (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live or similar delivery methodologies).

• Ability to deliver on a project product with a balanced team (product owner, user experience designers, developers) by participating in Agile (SCRUM) delivery methodologies. Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX software such as JustInMind, InVision, Sketch, Adobe Creative Cloud, Axure, Figma, and Zeplin.

• Proven ability to iterate designs and solutions efficiently and intelligently.

• Strong communication and mediation skills with business teams and core team members to ensure project progress.

• Experience in facilitating User Research and Usability testing activities.

• Proficiency in Agile (Scrum) delivery methodologies.

• Deep understanding of mobile-first and responsive design principles.

• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate design processes, ideas, and solutions to teams and clients.

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Preferred Skills:

• Accessibility compliance testing experience.

• HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript skills (React, Angular, NodeJS).

• Experience in facilitating User Research and Usability testing to produce specific outputs like User Interview Topic Maps, Scripts, Synthesis, and Findings Reports.

• Experience in creating User Storyboards, Technical Service Blueprints, and defining business KPIs.

• Experience with Google Ventures five (5) Day Design Sprint or variations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 10+ years of experience and specific software expertise positions this as a senior or lead UX role. The emphasis on government-style project phases and Agile methodologies suggests a need for a candidate who can navigate complex stakeholder environments and deliver tangible results within structured frameworks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end UX design process across multiple projects, ideally within government or public sector contexts.

• Highlight experience in user research, persona development, user journey mapping, and wireframing/prototyping.

• Include examples of iterative design processes, usability testing, and how feedback was incorporated to improve solutions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in mobile-first and responsive design principles through visual examples.

• Present case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, and the impact of your solutions, preferably with quantifiable results. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of experience in documenting user research findings, including synthesis and reporting.

• Showcase examples of user storyboards, technical service blueprints, and business KPIs definition.

• Demonstrate experience in creating clickable prototypes and documenting their validation through usability testing.

• Include examples of how you have identified and documented process or policy changes required for new digital products.

• Showcase experience in working within Agile (Scrum) frameworks, including backlog grooming, user story creation, and sprint planning documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the detailed nature of the job description, a portfolio that explicitly addresses the four delivery phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live) and the associated deliverables would be highly advantageous. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for each phase and how they contribute to the overall success of a digital service.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on the seniority (10+ years of experience), the location (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), and the contract nature of this role, a competitive hourly rate or daily rate is expected. For a Senior UX Designer in Toronto with this level of experience, the estimated range could be between CAD $70 to CAD $110 per hour, or an equivalent daily rate.

Benefits:

• As this is a contract position, benefits typically offered by the hiring organization may not be directly applicable. However, contractors often have access to:

• Competitive hourly/daily rate commensurate with experience.

• Opportunity to work on impactful government digital transformation projects.

• Exposure to established design frameworks and Agile methodologies.

• Potential for contract extensions based on performance and project needs.

• Professional development through hands-on experience and collaboration. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility may be available, but the role is primarily on-site, requiring consistent availability during core business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimations are based on market data for senior UX Designers in the Toronto area, considering the contract employment type. Candidates should negotiate their rate based on their specific skills, experience, and the project's duration. It's crucial to clarify benefit eligibility and contract terms directly with Maarut.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Consulting / Government Services

Company Size: Maarut Inc. is a technology and consulting firm. While specific size isn't provided, their specialization in recruitment and IT solutions suggests they operate within a dynamic, client-focused environment. The project is likely for a government or public sector client, given the detailed adherence to a specific digital service design playbook.

Founded: Information not directly available, but the company's focus on recruitment and IT solutions implies a modern operational structure.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will work within a "balanced team" which typically includes a Product Owner, Developers, and other UX Designers.

• Collaboration extends to business teams and core team members for project progression and approvals.

• The role operates within the framework of Agile (Scrum) ceremonies, indicating a collaborative and iterative team dynamic.

• The project follows a structured, phased approach (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live), suggesting clear roles and responsibilities within a larger project team. Methodology:

• Primarily Agile (Scrum) methodology for development and delivery.

• Adherence to the Ontario Digital Service Design playbook, which outlines a structured, user-centered approach to digital service development.

• Emphasis on iterative design, user research, and continuous improvement throughout all project phases.

• Data-driven decision-making based on user research findings and analytics.

Company Website: www.maarutinc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The project's context points towards a government client, implying a culture that values process, compliance, and user-centricity. Maarut, as a consulting partner, likely fosters a results-oriented and client-focused environment, with an emphasis on delivering specialized expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX Designer

This role represents a significant step in a UX design career, requiring extensive experience and the ability to lead complex design initiatives. It involves not just execution but also strategic input, mentorship potential, and significant stakeholder management.

Reporting Structure:

• The UX Designer will likely report to a Project Manager or a Lead Designer within the Maarut team or the client's organization.

• They will collaborate closely with the Product Owner and Development team as part of the balanced project team. Operations Impact:

• Directly impacts the usability, accessibility, and overall effectiveness of digital services used by citizens or government employees.

• Contributes to achieving critical business goals by ensuring solutions are user-centered, efficient, and meet defined KPIs.

• Influences project direction and strategy through research insights and design recommendations. Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to lead design efforts on future projects, mentor junior designers, or take on a Lead UX Designer role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as accessibility, user research methodologies, or design systems.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain deeper understanding of Agile development processes, product management, and government digital transformation initiatives.

• Contract Extension/Full-Time Conversion: Successful performance may lead to contract extensions or opportunities for full-time roles within Maarut or the client organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a senior-level role offering substantial responsibility and the opportunity to influence significant digital projects. Growth is likely focused on deepening UX expertise, leadership within project teams, and contributing to strategic design decisions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement to work from a physical office location. This is typical for government projects to ensure security, collaboration, and adherence to specific protocols.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Postal Code M4C). Specific office details would be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates close collaboration with a "balanced team" (Product Owner, Developers) and other stakeholders. This suggests an open office layout or dedicated team spaces designed for frequent interaction.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office equipment and relevant design software (as listed in requirements) will be provided or expected to be utilized.

• Agile Ceremonies: The work environment will support participation in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and other Agile meetings, likely in dedicated meeting rooms or virtual collaboration spaces.

Work Schedule:

• Standard business hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with a focus on active participation in Agile ceremonies and team collaboration.

• While the role is on-site, there might be some flexibility depending on project needs and client policies, but primary presence in the Toronto office is required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is critical. Candidates must be willing and able to work from the specified Toronto location. The environment is likely structured, reflecting government project standards, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and adherence to Agile processes.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter (likely from Maarut) will review applications and resumes to assess basic qualifications and experience alignment.

2. Technical Interview: Candidates will likely undergo an interview with a UX Lead or hiring manager to discuss their experience, design philosophy, and approach to UX challenges. This may include a portfolio review.

3. Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present selected case studies from their portfolio, demonstrating their process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect detailed questions about your contributions and decision-making.

4. Stakeholder/Team Interview: Interviews with members of the "balanced team" (e.g., Product Owner, Developers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

5. Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion, potentially with senior management, to confirm fit and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your senior-level UX capabilities, particularly those involving government/public sector work, complex problem-solving, user research, and iterative design.

• Emphasize Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodologies used (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live, Agile), your design process, key decisions made, and the final outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics and data to demonstrate the success and impact of your designs (e.g., improved user satisfaction, increased task completion rates, reduced error rates).

• Highlight Research & Iteration: Showcase how you conducted user research, synthesized findings, and used that information to iterate on designs.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to discuss your rationale behind design choices, challenges encountered, and how you collaborated with technical and business teams.

• Accessibility Focus: Given the explicit mention, ensure your portfolio touches upon accessibility considerations in your design process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or an in-interview whiteboard exercise. This might involve analyzing a hypothetical problem, sketching user flows, or wireframing a solution.

• Methodology Application: Practice articulating how you would apply the Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live phases and Agile methodologies to a given scenario.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions that test your ability to break down complex problems, identify user needs, and propose innovative solutions.

• Communication: Practice explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, as if presenting to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a thorough evaluation of both technical UX skills and collaborative/process-oriented capabilities. A strong portfolio that aligns with the described delivery phases and methodologies is crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: JustInMind, InVision, Sketch, Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Axure, Figma, Zeplin. Proficiency in at least several of these is expected.

• Collaboration & Workflow: Tools supporting Agile ceremonies (e.g., Jira, Confluence) and design collaboration (e.g., Miro, Mural for whiteboarding and workshops).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote interviews, usability testing, and surveys (specifics not listed but commonly used).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience interpreting and utilizing data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to inform design decisions.

• Ability to define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed, understanding how UX design integrates with CRM systems and automated workflows could be beneficial, especially in understanding the broader user journey. Development Skills (Plus):

• HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript skills.

• Familiarity with front-end frameworks such as React, Angular, or NodeJS.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of industry-standard UX design tools is a baseline requirement. Experience with tools that support collaborative workflows and Agile development will be highly valued. Familiarity with front-end technologies is a plus, indicating an ability to better bridge the gap between design and development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value driving all design decisions, ensuring solutions are built with the end-user in mind.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership with development, product, and business stakeholders.

• Iteration & Continuous Improvement: A commitment to refining designs based on feedback, testing, and data, fostering a culture of ongoing enhancement.

• Agility: Embracing Agile principles to adapt to changing requirements, deliver value incrementally, and respond effectively to feedback.

• Quality & Excellence: Striving for high standards in design execution, accessibility, and overall user experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Distributed Collaboration: Comfortable working with teams across different locations (though this role is on-site, the broader team might be distributed).

• Transparent Communication: Open sharing of design ideas, processes, and findings through regular meetings, documentation, and design reviews.

• Constructive Feedback: Actively seeking and providing constructive feedback to improve designs and processes.

• Partnership: Working closely with Product Owners and Developers as part of a balanced team, ensuring alignment and shared ownership of project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture, as inferred from the job description, is heavily influenced by government digital service standards and Agile methodologies. This means a focus on process, user advocacy, and collaborative problem-solving.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Environments: Working with diverse stakeholders in a government context often involves balancing competing priorities and managing expectations.

• Adhering to Strict Methodologies: Following established design playbooks and Agile processes requires discipline and adaptability.

• Iterative Design Under Pressure: Delivering high-quality designs within short sprint cycles and tight deadlines.

• Ensuring Accessibility Compliance: Integrating accessibility standards thoroughly into every design stage.

• Translating User Needs to Technical Solutions: Bridging the gap between user research insights and feasible technical implementations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Government UX Expertise: Gain extensive experience in digital transformation within the public sector.

• Master Agile Practices: Enhance skills in Scrum ceremonies and iterative design workflows.

• Expand Tool Proficiency: Become highly proficient in a range of advanced UX design and prototyping tools.

• Accessibility Specialization: Develop advanced skills in accessibility testing and inclusive design principles.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to team knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges that are directly tied to opportunities for professional growth, particularly in specialized areas like government UX and accessibility.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for conducting user research during the Discovery phase, including specific deliverables you would produce."

• "How would you approach designing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for a new government service, and what role would Agile play?"

• "Walk me through a complex UX challenge you faced in a previous project and how you resolved it, focusing on your problem-solving and communication skills."

• "How do you ensure accessibility compliance throughout the design lifecycle, and what tools or methods do you use?"

• "Describe your experience working in a 'balanced team' environment using Scrum. What is your role in sprint planning and backlog grooming?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working on government digital services?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX design trends and best practices, especially those relevant to public sector projects?"

• "Describe a time you had to mediate a disagreement between design, development, and business stakeholders. How did you achieve alignment?"

• "How do you ensure your designs align with defined business KPIs and user goals?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation around the four delivery phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live) if possible, or clearly articulate the UX lifecycle for each case study.

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative – the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact.

• Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, user flow diagrams, and research synthesis outputs to illustrate your work.

• Process Deep Dive: Be prepared to explain why you made certain design decisions, referencing user research, heuristics, or business requirements.

• Quantify Results: Highlight any metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your solutions.

• Focus on Collaboration: Explain how you worked with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interview questions that directly probe your understanding and application of the described delivery phases, Agile methodologies, and user research techniques. Your portfolio presentation is your primary opportunity to showcase this expertise.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Zoho Recruit portal.

• Curate Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of UX design experience, explicitly mentioning experience with government/public sector projects, Agile/Scrum methodologies, user research, prototyping, and proficiency in the required UX software. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 strong case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end UX process, focusing on projects that align with the Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live phases and showcase your research, design, and iteration skills. Ensure it highlights accessibility considerations.

• Research Maarut and Digital Service Design: Familiarize yourself with Maarut's services and their approach to client solutions. Understand the principles of the Ontario Digital Service Design playbook or similar government UX frameworks.

• Practice Interview Questions: Prepare responses to common UX interview questions, focusing on how your experience aligns with the specific responsibilities and requirements of this senior role, particularly regarding collaboration, Agile, and user-centered design.

⚠️ 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.

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