Senior User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Company: Ciklum

Location: Canada

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Development / User Experience Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-07T13:01:09

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and own the end-to-end user research lifecycle, from opportunity identification to insight integration into product strategy and roadmap development.

• Design, plan, and execute a variety of user research methodologies, including exploratory, assessment, evaluative, quantitative, and qualitative approaches, ensuring seamless integration within agile workflows.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, design, and engineering, to translate research findings into actionable product decisions and compelling, evidence-led narratives.

• Contribute to the advancement of the user research practice by developing guidelines, sharing knowledge, and mentoring junior researchers within the global team.

• Support presale activities by consulting on user research strategies and approaches for potential new projects, demonstrating the value of customer-driven insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of "Senior User Researcher" in a custom product engineering company like Ciklum implies a significant focus on translating complex business challenges into user-centric solutions. This involves not just conducting research but also influencing product strategy, shaping roadmaps, and acting as a subject matter expert in user experience and customer behavior. The emphasis on "engineering technology that redefines industries" suggests that the research will be at the forefront of innovation, requiring a proactive and strategic approach to uncovering user needs that can drive disruptive product development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the user research stream on projects, encompassing opportunity spotting, research planning, participant recruitment, execution, and ensuring insights are prioritized and embedded into product development.

• Establish and manage the user research process throughout the discovery and delivery phases of projects, ensuring alignment with agile methodologies and team workflows.

• Conduct diverse research activities, including but not limited to user interviews, surveys, usability testing, contextual inquiries, ethnographic studies, and A/B testing, to gather rich qualitative and quantitative data.

• Partner with design and product teams to action research insights, facilitating workshops and co-creation sessions to embed customer understanding into strategy, roadmaps, and solutions.

• Actively participate in enhancing the user research practice by contributing to internal guidelines, leading knowledge-sharing sessions, and providing support and mentorship to other researchers.

• Consult with presale teams to define and articulate user research approaches for potential new client projects, effectively communicating the value proposition of UX research.

• Analyze and synthesize complex research data to identify key themes, patterns, and actionable recommendations, translating findings into compelling narratives for diverse stakeholders.

• Proactively identify and explore new research tools, techniques, and methodologies to continuously improve the effectiveness and impact of user research efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on research execution and strategic influence. The expectation to "own user research stream" and "help the team prioritise and embed insight" indicates a senior-level responsibility for driving research impact, not just reporting findings. The mention of "consulting presale teams" suggests a business development aspect, where the researcher's expertise is leveraged to win new projects by demonstrating strong UX capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior User Researcher role.

Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in a standalone user research role, demonstrating a proven track record of independently leading and executing research initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Core User Research Methods: Deep proficiency and independent execution of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing, contextual inquiry, ethnography, A/B testing).

• Experimental Mindset with Rigor: Ability to explore and adopt new tools and approaches while maintaining a strong understanding of research validity, ethical considerations, and effective guardrails.

• Concept Validation: Proven experience in assessing and validating early-stage product concepts using diverse research methods beyond basic interviews.

• Customer Segmentation: Skilled in defining and understanding customer segments across various markets and user groups.

• Participant Recruitment: Expertise in planning and executing effective participant recruitment strategies for diverse research studies.

• Facilitation: Exceptional facilitation skills for leading workshops, design sprints, co-creation sessions, and other collaborative activities that drive creativity and alignment.

• Ownership & Proactivity: Strong sense of ownership, with the drive to move work forward independently and take initiative with minimal direction.

• Communication & Storytelling: Stellar communication skills for advising, negotiating, and collaborating with stakeholders at all levels; ability to connect research findings into compelling, evidence-led narratives.

• Prioritization & Adaptability: Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and adapt to changing project requirements and directions.

• Research Tools Proficiency: Well-versed in tools that streamline research processes, including synthesis, repositories, and unmoderated testing platforms (e.g., Maze, Dovetail, UserTesting.com, Qualtrics).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a custom product engineering or consulting environment.

• Familiarity with advanced statistical analysis for quantitative research.

• Experience with generative AI tools for research assistance or analysis.

• Knowledge of specific industry domains relevant to Ciklum's client base.

• Experience in mentoring or guiding junior researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize both foundational research skills ("well-versed in core user research methods") and advanced capabilities like strategic influence ("connect the dots and create compelling, evidence-led narratives"). The "experimental mindset combined with rigour" points to a need for researchers who can innovate while maintaining scientific integrity. The explicit mention of tools like Maze and Dovetail indicates a need for candidates familiar with modern UX research tech stacks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A robust portfolio showcasing 3-5 in-depth case studies detailing end-to-end user research projects, from problem definition to impact assessment.

• Process Documentation: Clear documentation of research methodologies employed, including rationale for method selection, participant profiles, and research plans.

• Insight Generation: Demonstrable examples of how research insights were synthesized, translated into actionable recommendations, and influenced product strategy, design, or roadmap decisions.

• Impact Metrics: Evidence of the impact of research on product success, such as improvements in user satisfaction, task completion rates, conversion rates, or business KPIs.

• Collaboration Artifacts: Examples of collaborative outputs, such as workshop summaries, co-creation artifacts, or stakeholder presentations that illustrate effective teamwork.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in designing and optimizing research workflows that integrate seamlessly into agile development cycles.

• Implementation & Automation: Examples of how research findings were implemented and how tools were used to automate or streamline research processes (e.g., unmoderated testing, automated analysis).

• Measurement & Analysis: Demonstrated ability to measure the effectiveness of research initiatives and analyze results to drive continuous improvement in both research practices and product outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior User Researcher, a portfolio is critical. It's not just about showing research projects, but demonstrating the ability to drive strategic impact. The portfolio should highlight how the candidate identified opportunities, executed rigorous research, synthesized complex data into clear insights, and influenced product decisions, ultimately leading to measurable business outcomes. The emphasis on "embedding insight into the product" means showcasing how research directly informed design and strategy.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior User Researcher with 5+ years of experience in Canada, the estimated salary range is CAD $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific location within Canada (e.g., major tech hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal may offer higher compensation), the candidate's precise experience and skill set, and the specific project scope.

Benefits:

• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical coverage.

• Life Insurance: Basic life insurance policy.

• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Professional Development: Access to Udemy, language courses, and company-paid certifications to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Growth Opportunities: Internal mobility options and opportunities to work on large-scale, global projects with cutting-edge technologies.

• Work Environment: Supportive and collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional networking and knowledge sharing.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While core working hours will align with project needs and team collaboration, there may be flexibility offered depending on project demands and team agreements, common in remote or hybrid work environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on general market data for Senior User Researchers in Canada, considering the experience level and the nature of a global custom product engineering company. Benefits are detailed as provided in the job description, with added context on how they support professional growth which is highly valued in operations and research roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Custom Product Engineering, Technology Services, IT Consulting. Ciklum operates at the intersection of technology development and business strategy, supporting diverse industries from fintech and e-commerce to healthcare and logistics by engineering innovative digital solutions.

Company Size: Over 4,000 employees globally. This large size indicates a well-established organization with structured processes, a broad range of projects, and significant opportunities for internal networking and career progression.

Founded: Ciklum was founded in 2002. This signifies a company with extensive experience and a proven track record in the technology services sector, suggesting stability and deep expertise.

Team Structure:

• Global Research Community: The Senior User Researcher will be part of a global team of user researchers, fostering a community of practice that shares knowledge and best practices.

• Project-Based Teams: Researchers will typically work within cross-functional, agile teams comprising product managers, designers, developers, and QA engineers, collaborating closely on specific client projects.

• Reporting: While specific reporting lines aren't detailed, senior roles often report to a Head of UX, Research Lead, or a Director of Product/Engineering, with direct collaboration with project stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Agile Integration: Research processes are designed to fit seamlessly within agile workflows, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback loops.

• Customer-Driven Evidence: A strong reliance on user insights to inform product strategy, challenge assumptions, and guide decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.

• Data-Informed Innovation: Combining qualitative and quantitative research with market analysis to engineer solutions that address complex business challenges and redefine industries.

Company Website: https://www.ciklum.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for Oracle Cloud, the correct company URL is used here)

📝 Enhancement Note: Ciklum's positioning as a custom product engineering company suggests a culture focused on innovation, technical excellence, and client-centric solutions. The global presence and large employee base imply a dynamic environment with diverse project opportunities and a strong emphasis on collaboration and knowledge sharing across different regions and disciplines.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the User Research domain, which is a critical component of the broader Go-To-Market (GTM) and Product Development Operations. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for driving research outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The Senior User Researcher will likely report to a research lead or manager, working within project-specific cross-functional teams. This structure allows for both specialized growth within the research discipline and broad exposure to product development processes.

Operations Impact: The Senior User Researcher's impact is direct and substantial, influencing product strategy, design decisions, and ultimately, market success through customer-driven evidence. By ensuring products resonate with users and solve real problems, they contribute significantly to the company's ability to deliver high-value solutions and achieve client objectives, thereby impacting revenue and client retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Research: Potential to lead research streams for larger, more complex projects, mentor junior researchers, and contribute to shaping the future of Ciklum's UX research practice.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or expand into related areas like UX strategy, service design, or product management through diverse project involvement.

• Domain Specialization: Exposure to a wide range of industries (fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, etc.) allows for specialization in particular domains, making the researcher a valuable asset for specific client types.

• Internal Mobility: Ciklum's "Endless Opportunities" promise suggests pathways for moving into different roles or projects within the company, facilitating a dynamic career trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior User Researcher role is crucial for a product engineering company. It bridges the gap between user needs and product development, directly impacting the success of the products engineered for clients. The growth opportunities highlight a path for individuals who want to specialize deeply in research, take on leadership responsibilities, or explore broader product development roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is advertised as "TELECOMMUTE" with "Remote OK" and specified locations in Canada, indicating a primary remote work arrangement. This suggests a distributed team environment with a focus on asynchronous communication and collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): Canada. This broad designation suggests that candidates can be located anywhere within Canada, with potential for flexibility in time zones, though alignment with core project hours will be necessary.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expectation of a highly collaborative remote environment, utilizing digital tools for communication, project management, and research execution.

• Technology Stack: Access to and proficiency with a range of digital tools for research, collaboration, and project management will be essential.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with design, product, and engineering teams, as well as other researchers globally, through virtual meetings, shared documents, and communication platforms.

Work Schedule: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. While remote work offers flexibility, adherence to project timelines and team collaboration needs will be paramount, requiring proactive time management and clear communication regarding availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a remote work environment in Canada means that candidates should be comfortable with digital collaboration tools and possess strong self-management skills. The company's global presence implies that interaction with colleagues across different time zones will be a part of the role, requiring adaptability and effective communication strategies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role requirements. Be prepared to highlight specific projects that demonstrate your capabilities in core research methods and strategic impact.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focusing on your experience, approach to user research, problem-solving skills, and understanding of agile methodologies. Prepare examples of how you've handled complex research challenges and influenced product decisions.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home assignment or present a case study from your portfolio. This will likely involve demonstrating your research planning, execution, analysis, and synthesis skills, as well as your ability to communicate findings effectively.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential team members (designers, product managers) and/or other stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit. Be ready to discuss how you partner with different roles.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss your strategic vision for user research and long-term career aspirations within Ciklum.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Prioritize case studies that clearly demonstrate the impact of your research on product strategy, design, and business outcomes. Quantify results where possible.

• Detail Your Process: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your research questions, the methodologies used (and why), your role, the insights generated, and how those insights were translated into action.

• Highlight Collaboration: Illustrate how you worked with cross-functional teams, including designers, product managers, and engineers, to ensure insights were understood and acted upon.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with Ciklum's focus on custom product engineering, innovation, and working with diverse industries.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Present your work clearly and concisely. Use visuals and storytelling to make your findings compelling and easy to understand.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Scenarios: Be prepared for scenario-based questions asking how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge within an agile product development context.

• Methodology Justification: Practice explaining why you would choose certain research methods over others for different project phases or objectives.

• Insight Communication: Rehearse how you would present research findings to various stakeholders (e.g., engineers, executives, clients), tailoring your message to their needs and understanding.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with specific research tools mentioned (Maze, Dovetail) and how they facilitate your workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior User Researcher at a company like Ciklum will likely be rigorous, focusing not only on research skills but also on strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to drive business impact. A well-prepared portfolio is paramount, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's capabilities and experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Maze, UserTesting.com, Lookback, UserZoom (for unmoderated testing, surveys, and usability analysis).

• Synthesis & Repository Tools: Dovetail, Miro, Mural, Notion (for organizing research data, synthesizing findings, and creating shareable repositories).

• Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Asana (for project management and documentation within agile workflows).

• Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom (for team communication and virtual meetings).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Survey Tools: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms (for quantitative data collection).

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude (for understanding user behavior in live products, often used in conjunction with research).

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or built-in features of other tools for presenting quantitative findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user research insights can inform CRM strategies and marketing automation efforts is beneficial. Familiarity with how user data is managed and utilized within these systems is a plus.

• Integration Tools: Awareness of how different tools in the product development and research stack integrate to streamline workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a modern UX research tech stack is essential. The mention of Maze and Dovetail specifically indicates a need for candidates familiar with tools that facilitate efficient research execution, synthesis, and knowledge management, especially in a remote and agile environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Engineering Excellence: A core value of engineering cutting-edge solutions and pushing technological boundaries. Researchers are expected to contribute to this by uncovering user needs that inspire innovation.

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, making user research a vital component of the company's ethos.

• Collaboration & "One Team" Culture: Emphasis on working together across global teams and disciplines to achieve common goals, fostering an environment of mutual support and shared success.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on evidence, including user research insights, to inform strategies and validate product decisions, ensuring rigor and effectiveness.

• Continuous Learning & Growth: Encouragement for employees to expand their expertise, learn new technologies, and pursue professional development, aligning with the company's dynamic nature.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Researchers are expected to be integrated members of product teams, working closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure research findings are understood and actionable.

• Open Communication & Feedback: A culture that values open dialogue, constructive feedback, and the sharing of knowledge and best practices, particularly within the global user research community.

• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration occurs within an agile framework, supporting iterative development and continuous refinement based on user feedback and research insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ciklum's stated values—"Explore, empower, engineer"—suggest a culture that encourages curiosity, proactive problem-solving, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful solutions. For a Senior User Researcher, this means being an active participant in the discovery and innovation process, not just a service provider.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Rigor with Speed: In an agile, fast-paced environment, a key challenge is maintaining research rigor while meeting tight project deadlines and delivering timely insights.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and advocating for user needs to diverse stakeholders, some of whom may have differing priorities or a less user-centric perspective.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Navigating the complexities of remote collaboration, ensuring clear communication, strong team cohesion, and effective knowledge sharing across distributed teams and time zones.

• Defining New Opportunities: Proactively identifying and validating opportunities for new products or significant improvements to existing ones, requiring a strategic and forward-thinking approach to research.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specialized research methods, advanced quantitative analysis, or emerging areas like AI-driven research.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining broad experience across diverse industries and product lifecycles, leading to specialization and expertise in high-demand sectors.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives, and contribute to the strategic direction of the user research practice within Ciklum.

• Professional Development: Access to Udemy, language courses, and company-paid certifications provides structured avenues for skill enhancement and career advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges reflect the realities of senior-level research in a dynamic, client-focused engineering company. Overcoming these requires strong communication, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering paths for both deep specialization and broader career development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product roadmap based on user research. What was the challenge, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on demonstrating strategic influence and impact.)

• "How would you approach user research for a completely new product concept in [mention a relevant industry like fintech or e-commerce]? What methodologies would you prioritize and why?" (Assess your strategic planning and methodological rationale.)

• "Imagine you have conflicting feedback from different user segments. How would you reconcile these differences and guide the team towards a decision?" (Evaluate your problem-solving and negotiation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Ciklum's custom product engineering model and our 'One Team' culture?" (Showcase your understanding of their business and your fit.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with product managers and designers in an agile environment?" (Assess your teamwork and integration capabilities.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings lead to tangible impact and ROI for clients?" (Focus on measurement, actionable insights, and business value.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as narratives—problem, journey, solution, impact. Emphasize your role and the critical decisions made based on research.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals (e.g., journey maps, personas, key quotes, screenshots of your synthesis work) to make your presentation engaging and easy to follow.

• Metrics Focus: Clearly articulate the outcomes and impact of your research. Quantify improvements (e.g., "reduced task completion time by 20%") whenever possible.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your chosen case study within a specific timeframe (e.g., 15-20 minutes), leaving ample time for Q&A.

• Proactive Discussion: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process, decisions, and the challenges you faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research expertise, but strategic thinking, collaboration, and a proven ability to drive business impact. Candidates should be ready to articulate their value proposition through compelling stories and data.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Oracle Cloud portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 2-3 case studies that best align with the requirements of a Senior User Researcher role in custom product engineering, emphasizing your end-to-end ownership and strategic influence.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume highlights your 5+ years of standalone research experience, core methodologies, facilitation skills, and experience with tools like Maze and Dovetail. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, key learnings, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present a detailed case study.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ciklum's work, client industries, and company culture. Understand their approach to custom product engineering and how user research contributes to their success.

⚠️ 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.