Senior User Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Company: Ciklum

Location: Canada

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and own the entire user research process, from initial opportunity identification through to the successful integration of insights into product strategy and roadmaps.

• Define and execute a robust user research framework that seamlessly aligns with agile development workflows across discovery and delivery phases.

• Conduct a diverse range of research methodologies, including exploratory, assessment, evaluative, quantitative, and qualitative studies, to uncover deep user understanding.

• Foster strong collaboration with design and product teams, translating research findings into actionable strategies and tangible product solutions.

• Actively contribute to the growth and standardization of the user research practice within Ciklum, sharing knowledge and supporting fellow researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior User Researcher, indicating a need for independent ownership of research streams and a proactive approach to problem-solving within product development lifecycles. The emphasis on "engineering technology that redefines industries" suggests a focus on innovation and impactful product development, requiring deep user empathy and strategic insight.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently manage the end-to-end user research stream for projects, encompassing opportunity spotting, research planning, participant recruitment, execution, and insight dissemination.

• Establish, refine, and manage user research processes, ensuring seamless integration within agile project environments and contributing to efficient discovery and delivery cycles.

• Execute a variety of research methods, including but not limited to user interviews, usability testing (moderated and unmoderated), surveys, card sorting, tree testing, and ethnographic studies, to gather comprehensive user data.

• Collaborate closely with UX/UI designers, product managers, and engineering teams to translate raw research data into actionable insights that inform product strategy, roadmap prioritization, and feature development.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Ciklum's user research practice by developing guidelines, sharing best practices, mentoring junior researchers, and participating in knowledge-sharing sessions.

• Provide expert consultation to presales teams on user research approaches and methodologies for potential new client projects, ensuring a customer-centric perspective from the outset.

• Synthesize complex research findings into compelling, evidence-led narratives that effectively communicate user needs, pain points, and opportunities to diverse stakeholders, including executive leadership.

• Champion a customer-driven approach to product development, ensuring that user insights are prioritized and embedded throughout the product lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "consult presale teams on user research approaches" suggests that this Senior User Researcher will also play a role in business development, contributing to proposals and client pitches by articulating the value of UX research in solving complex business challenges.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field is highly advantageous. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in a dedicated user research role, with a track record of successfully leading research initiatives from conception to impact.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in core user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, ethnographic research) and the ability to apply them independently in various project contexts.

• Proven experience in assessing and validating early-stage product concepts using a range of methods beyond just interviews.

• Skilled in defining and analyzing customer segmentation across diverse markets to inform product strategy.

• Demonstrated experience in participant recruitment for research studies, including sourcing, screening, and scheduling.

• Exceptional facilitation skills for leading workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions that drive team alignment and innovation.

• Strong sense of ownership, proactivity, and the ability to drive initiatives forward with minimal direction.

• Stellar communication and presentation skills, with the ability to advise, negotiate, and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Ability to synthesize complex data into compelling, evidence-led narratives that influence product decisions and build empathy for users.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing project demands.

• Proficiency with research tools such as Maze, Dovetail, or similar platforms for synthesis, data repositories, and unmoderated testing. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and experimental design principles.

• Knowledge of design thinking frameworks and their application in product development.

• Experience working within a custom product engineering or consulting environment.

• Familiarity with emerging technologies and their impact on user behavior.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "5+ years of hands-on experience in a standalone user research role" combined with the need for an "experimental mindset combined with rigour" and the ability to "connect the dots and create compelling, evidence-led narratives" strongly suggests that candidates will be expected to not only execute research but also to strategically influence product direction and business outcomes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of user research projects, demonstrating end-to-end ownership and impact across different product lifecycles.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, methodology employed, key findings, and the tangible impact of the insights on product strategy, design decisions, or business outcomes.

• Examples of research planning documents, participant screeners, interview guides, and synthesis outputs.

• Demonstrations of how user research was integrated into agile workflows and collaborated with design and product teams.

• Evidence of utilizing research tools (e.g., Maze, Dovetail) for efficient data synthesis, management, and reporting. Process Documentation:

• Examples of research process documentation, including how research plans were developed, how participant recruitment was managed, and how insights were synthesized and shared.

• Documentation illustrating the integration of research findings into product roadmaps, feature prioritization, and design iterations.

• Records of how research processes were adapted to fit within agile development sprints and project timelines.

• Examples of how research outcomes were measured for their impact on product success or business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on owning research streams and influencing strategy, the portfolio should highlight not just the execution of research but also the strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and measurable impact derived from that research. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for turning raw data into actionable recommendations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior User Researcher in Canada with 5-10 years of experience in a remote capacity, a competitive salary range is estimated between CAD $100,000 - $150,000 annually. This range accounts for the specialized skills, experience level, the demand for UX research professionals, and cost of living variations across Canada.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare coverage.

• Basic Life Insurance.

• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance, aligned with Ciklum's established Benefit Plans.

• Access to internal events, including meetups, conferences, and workshops to foster professional development and community.

• Udemy access for continuous online learning and skill enhancement.

• Language courses to support diverse team communication and integration.

• Company-paid certifications to support specialized skill development and career advancement.

• Opportunities for internal mobility and exploration of diverse domains.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected to be approximately 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature and global team, flexibility may be required to accommodate different time zones for meetings and collaboration, but a core set of business hours will likely be established for team synchronicity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of similar Senior User Researcher roles in Canada, considering the remote work arrangement and the company's stated focus on attracting top talent. This range can fluctuate based on specific location within Canada, the candidate's exact experience, and negotiation. The benefits package is robust, indicating a commitment to employee well-being and professional growth, which is attractive for experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ciklum operates within the Technology and IT Services sector, specifically as a custom product engineering company. They support a range of clients from large multinational organizations to scaling startups, engineering technology that aims to redefine industries. This implies a dynamic environment with exposure to diverse business challenges and technological advancements.

Company Size: Ciklum is a large organization with over 4,000 employees globally. This size suggests a well-established structure, robust internal processes, and ample opportunities for career development and cross-functional collaboration. For operations professionals, this means access to resources, a clear hierarchy, and the potential to impact large-scale initiatives.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, Ciklum has a significant global presence, indicating a mature company with substantial experience in the tech and engineering services market.

Team Structure:

• The user research team is part of a larger global team, suggesting specialization within UX and product development. As a Senior Researcher, you would likely be a key figure in shaping the research function.

• Reporting structure would likely be within a UX or Product Development leadership, with close collaboration across product managers, designers, and engineering leads.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core tenet, as the role involves partnering with design, product, and presales teams, as well as contributing to the broader user research community within Ciklum. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights methods are central to the role, requiring rigorous application of user research techniques to derive actionable intelligence.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be employed to integrate research seamlessly into agile development.

• Automation and efficiency practices are encouraged, particularly through the use of research tools like Maze and Dovetail to streamline synthesis and testing.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Ciklum's positioning as a custom product engineering company implies a focus on innovation and client-specific solutions. The company's scale and global reach suggest a professional environment with structured processes, while the emphasis on "engineering technology that redefines industries" points to a culture that values cutting-edge solutions and impactful work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Senior," indicating a mid-to-senior level position. A Senior User Researcher is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead complex research initiatives, mentor junior team members, and significantly influence product strategy. This level typically requires 5-10 years of dedicated experience.

Reporting Structure: As a Senior User Researcher, you will likely report to a Head of UX, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership role within a product development or design department. You will also collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Designers, and other cross-functional stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is direct and significant. By providing crucial user insights, the Senior User Researcher will shape product direction, enhance user experience, validate product concepts, and ultimately contribute to the success and market-fit of the products engineered by Ciklum for its clients, thereby driving client satisfaction and business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Advance into a Lead User Researcher or UX Research Manager role, overseeing a team and setting the strategic direction for research.

• Strategic Influence: Deepen expertise in product strategy and business consulting, leveraging research insights to drive major product decisions and client engagements.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a broader understanding of product development lifecycles, potentially transitioning into Product Management or UX Strategy roles.

• Continuous Learning: Utilize provided resources like Udemy, certifications, and internal workshops to stay at the forefront of UX research methodologies and tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the description of owning research streams, influencing strategy, and consulting presales teams point to a role with considerable autonomy and potential for leadership. The emphasis on growth is evident through the explicit mention of internal mobility and tailored learning opportunities, suggesting a clear path for career progression within Ciklum.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a Fully Remote position, allowing the Senior User Researcher to work from any location within Canada. This offers maximum flexibility and autonomy.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, Ciklum has a global presence, including expanding across Canada. The specific use of "Canada" as the location implies that candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada.

Workspace Context:

• The remote work environment necessitates strong self-discipline and effective asynchronous communication strategies.

• Access to digital collaboration tools and Ciklum's technology stack (detailed below) will be crucial for seamless interaction with distributed teams.

• Opportunities for interaction will primarily be through virtual meetings, collaborative platforms, and potentially occasional virtual team-building events.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approximately 40 hours/week). While remote, maintaining alignment with core business hours and team meeting schedules will be important. Flexibility is implied, but consistent availability for critical project phases and team syncs is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role in Canada is a significant draw for talent seeking flexibility. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to work independently and effectively in a virtual setting, highlighting experience with remote collaboration tools and time management.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focusing on your experience, approach to user research, and understanding of the role's responsibilities. Expect questions about your past projects and how you've handled specific research challenges.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A dedicated session where you will present a selection of your work, detailing your process, insights, and the impact of your research. This is a critical step to showcase your skills and strategic thinking.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (designers, product managers) and possibly senior stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with higher-level management to discuss long-term career alignment and organizational fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best represent your end-to-end research capabilities, strategic thinking, and impact.

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling narrative: the business/product challenge, your research approach and rationale, key findings, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Include visual artifacts such as research plans, participant screeners, interview guides, synthesis outputs (e.g., personas, journey maps), and examples of how insights were translated into product recommendations.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the value of your research (e.g., "improved conversion rates by X%", "reduced support tickets by Y%", "validated product-market fit leading to Z investment").

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

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Scenarios: Be prepared for hypothetical research scenarios related to Ciklum's industry or a given product problem. You might be asked to outline a research plan, propose methodologies, or interpret sample data.

• Process Optimization: Anticipate questions about how you would set up or improve a research process within an agile framework.

• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating complex research findings clearly and concisely to different audiences, focusing on actionable recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio presentation/case study" and "evidence-led narratives" suggests that candidates must be adept at not only conducting research but also at communicating its value and impact persuasively. This is a key differentiator for senior-level operations roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Maze, Dovetail (or similar tools for synthesis, repositories, unmoderated testing). Proficiency in these is explicitly required.

• Survey Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms, or similar for quantitative data collection.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet for communication and virtual meetings.

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (for reviewing designs and collaborating with designers).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude (for understanding user behavior and product usage patterns, to inform research questions).

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI (potentially, for presenting quantitative findings and identifying trends).

• Synthesis & Analysis Tools: Miro, Mural for collaborative whiteboarding and affinity mapping during synthesis.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how user research insights can inform CRM strategies or customer segmentation within a CRM context is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for integrating research tasks into development workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Maze and Dovetail highlights their importance. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience, preferred use cases, and any advanced functionalities they have leveraged within these or comparable platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user, ensuring that their needs and experiences are at the forefront of product development.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on empirical evidence from user research to guide strategy, validate hypotheses, and minimize risks associated with product decisions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A proactive approach to working with cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an environment where insights are shared openly.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A willingness to explore new research methods, tools, and approaches while maintaining rigor and a focus on delivering impactful results.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for research streams, driving initiatives forward, and ensuring that insights lead to tangible improvements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively embedding within product and design teams to ensure research is an integral part of the development process, not an afterthought.

• Partnership Approach: Working collaboratively with product managers, designers, engineers, and presales teams, acting as a partner in problem-solving and strategy development.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of open communication and sharing of research findings, methodologies, and best practices across the wider user research community at Ciklum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "engineering technology that redefines industries" and "solving complex business challenges" suggests a results-oriented and innovative culture. The "One Team culture" mentioned in the company description highlights the importance of collaboration and shared success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Rigor and Speed: Effectively conducting thorough research within fast-paced agile development cycles, ensuring insights are timely and actionable.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and levels of understanding of UX research to adopt user-centric recommendations.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Defining clear research objectives and methodologies when faced with complex or ill-defined product challenges.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote environment, especially when collaborating with globally distributed teams.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the ROI and direct business impact of user research initiatives to demonstrate ongoing value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to delve deeper into specialized research techniques and explore emerging trends in UX research.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior researchers, lead research initiatives, and contribute to the strategic direction of the UX function.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gain exposure to various industries and product types through Ciklum's diverse client base, broadening your understanding of different market dynamics.

• Skill Enhancement: Access to Udemy, language courses, and company-paid certifications to continuously upskill and stay competitive in the field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges outlined are typical for senior-level roles in dynamic tech environments. Ciklum's commitment to learning and development provides a strong framework for addressing these challenges and fostering professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a stakeholder at a senior level to change their product direction based on your research findings. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, evidence, and persuasion)

• "How would you set up a user research process for a brand new product concept from scratch within an agile development team?" (Focus on planning, methodology selection, and integration)

• "Walk me through a complex research project from your portfolio. What was the problem, what was your process, what were the key insights, and what was the impact on the product or business?" (Focus on storytelling, methodology, and impact) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Ciklum's approach to custom product engineering and how do you see user research fitting into that?" (Research Ciklum's mission, values, and client work)

• "How do you approach collaboration with designers and product managers, especially in a remote setting?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of your user research efforts?" (Prepare to discuss metrics and ROI) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Prioritize Impact: Focus on the "so what?" of your research. Clearly articulate the business or product outcomes.

• Showcase Your Process: Visually represent your research steps, from discovery to synthesis and recommendations. Use diagrams or flowcharts if helpful.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, participant selection, data analysis, and how you handled any challenges or unexpected findings.

• Tailor to Ciklum: If possible, draw parallels between your past work and the types of industries or challenges Ciklum addresses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely emphasize not just the technical execution of research but also the candidate's strategic thinking, ability to influence, and capacity to drive business outcomes through user insights. A strong portfolio presentation is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your portfolio to highlight 3-4 of your most impactful user research projects. Focus on demonstrating end-to-end ownership, strategic influence, and measurable outcomes. Be prepared to present these case studies in detail.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to clearly showcase your 5+ years of standalone user research experience, proficiency in required methodologies and tools (Maze, Dovetail), and your ability to drive product decisions through evidence-led narratives. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Practice: Rehearse answers to common user research strategy questions, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and stakeholder management. Practice articulating your portfolio case studies concisely and persuasively.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ciklum's services, client portfolio, and company values. Understand their approach to custom product engineering and how user research contributes to their mission.

⚠️ 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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