Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations - EN 762 at Export Development Canada

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations

Company: Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Job Type: Contract—14 months

Category: Design Operations / UX Content Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-15

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

Strategize, develop, and govern enterprise-wide content design standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure consistency, clarity, and usability across all digital experiences.
Coordinate and optimize user research operations, including participant management, logistics, documentation, and knowledge sharing to enhance the accessibility and impact of research insights.
Facilitate and enable design practices across teams by managing documentation, repositories, and enablement materials, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adoption of UX standards.
Serve as a key liaison for external research vendors and partners, managing timelines, deliverables, and communications to ensure successful project execution and operational efficiency.
Contribute to the evolution of design operations by supporting process improvements, developing metrics for practice adoption, and enhancing team enablement initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is hybrid, requiring 3 days in the office per week, and can be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa or any of their listed community hubs. The contract duration is 14 months.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and govern enterprise content design standards, guidelines, patterns, and best practices, ensuring alignment with accessibility (WCAG) and plain language principles.
Conduct thorough content reviews of digital product deliverables, providing actionable recommendations to ensure adherence to established content standards and guidelines.
Partner with UX designers, accessibility specialists, product teams, and various stakeholders to champion and support the consistent adoption of content design practices.
Facilitate the integration of content standards into enterprise design systems, templates, components, and delivery workflows to promote scalability and consistency.
Create and maintain essential supporting resources, practical examples, and comprehensive documentation to empower teams in consistently applying content design standards.
Coordinate all aspects of user research activities, including participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, consent management, and operational tracking, in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external research partners.
Assist in synthesizing research findings, meticulously documenting insights, identifying key themes, and preparing clear recommendations for project teams and subject matter experts.
Maintain and enhance research repositories, knowledge management systems, templates, and operational processes to improve the accessibility, discoverability, and reuse of valuable research insights.
Act as the primary point of contact for external research vendors and partners, coordinating activities, managing timelines, tracking deliverables, and facilitating clear communication.
Support the continuous improvement of design operations processes, governance frameworks, and team workflows, identifying areas for enhancement and efficiency.
Maintain and organize team standards, templates, repositories, design documentation, and shared resources to ensure easy access and consistent application.
Assist in planning, coordinating, and tracking design initiatives and critical operational activities, ensuring timely execution and stakeholder alignment.
Contribute to the management and evolution of design system documentation, content resources, and crucial enablement materials.
Develop and implement metrics and reporting mechanisms to measure the adoption, effectiveness, and maturity of design practices across the organization.
Support onboarding processes, knowledge-sharing sessions, training programs, and other team enablement initiatives to foster a high-performing design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes governance and enablement, suggesting a need for strong process orientation and the ability to influence adoption of standards across diverse teams. The coordination of research and vendor management highlights the importance of organizational and communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Communications, HCI, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior-level role of this nature.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in Content Design, UX Writing, Design Operations, or a closely related discipline within a digital product environment.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in creating, maintaining, and governing enterprise-level UX content standards, guidelines, design systems, or comprehensive content frameworks.
Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, inclusive design methodologies, and digital content best practices.
Strong grasp of information architecture concepts and their application in structuring content for optimal user experience.
Demonstrated experience conducting content reviews and effectively applying content standards to a variety of digital products and experiences.
Experience supporting or managing enterprise-level design systems, content systems, or component libraries.
Proficiency in managing content repositories, taxonomy, terminology, or information architecture assets.
Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative user research methods, including synthesis techniques and insight development.
Experience coordinating user research activities, including participant recruitment, screening, and managing research operations.
Solid knowledge of accessibility standards, particularly WCAG, and their application in inclusive content design practices.
Experience facilitating workshops, training sessions, onboarding programs, or other practice enablement activities.
Exceptional organizational, planning, and project coordination skills with meticulous attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.
Experience working within large-scale enterprise digital product environments, understanding the complexities of such ecosystems.
Proven ability to build strong, collaborative working relationships across multidisciplinary teams, including UX designers, researchers, product managers, and developers.
Experience developing governance models, standards, or operating practices specifically for UX content design and UX research functions.
Experience in measuring the adoption and effectiveness of standards, frameworks, or operational programs, and reporting on key metrics. Preferred Skills:
Prior experience working directly within a UX Design Operations or UX Research Operations function.
Familiarity with collaboration and research tools such as Figma, Miro, Mural, UserTesting, Dovetail, Fable Engage, Azure DevOps, or Microsoft 365.
Fluency in both English and French, with the ability to review, evaluate, and support content design practices in both official languages.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "7+ years" and the breadth of required skills indicate a senior-level position demanding a blend of strategic thinking, operational execution, and strong interpersonal abilities. The preferred skills highlight a desire for candidates with direct experience in Ops functions and bilingual capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate a track record of developing and implementing content design standards, guidelines, or frameworks, with clear examples of their impact on consistency and quality.
Showcase case studies of how you've managed or improved user research operations, including participant recruitment, logistics, and insight synthesis and dissemination.
Include examples of your involvement in design systems or content systems, highlighting your contributions to their development, maintenance, or governance.
Provide evidence of your ability to coordinate complex projects, manage vendor relationships, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality outcomes, with a focus on process efficiency.
Present examples of how you've developed or maintained operational processes, documentation, or enablement materials that have improved team efficiency or practice adoption. Process Documentation:
Documented examples of established content design standards, including style guides, pattern libraries, or governance models.
Workflow diagrams or process maps illustrating how content is reviewed, approved, and integrated into design and development lifecycles.
Case studies detailing the implementation of new research operations processes, including any improvements in efficiency or data quality.
Examples of knowledge management systems or repositories you have developed or managed for research insights or design assets.
Documentation outlining your approach to vendor coordination, including onboarding, communication protocols, and deliverable tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare a portfolio that not only showcases their design and writing skills but also their operational acumen in establishing and managing processes, standards, and collaborations within a design context. Emphasis on measurable outcomes and process improvement is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on the provided information, the salary range for this position is $96,557 to $128,743 CAD annually. This range is specific to the "Customer Experience 18" level at EDC and is stated to be based on qualifications and experience.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Compensation Package: A competitive salary structure.
Work-Life Balance: Commitment to employee well-being through various initiatives.
Paid Vacation: 3 to 4 weeks of paid vacation annually, providing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.
Corporate Closure Period: An additional period of corporate closure, offering extended time off.
Summer Early Fridays: Opportunities for abbreviated workdays during summer months.
No Meeting Fridays: Dedicated days for focused work without scheduled meetings, enhancing productivity.
Professional Development: Extensive opportunities for continuous learning, including training programs, workshops, and language training.
Inclusive Culture: A diverse and inclusive workplace that champions employment equity and values diverse perspectives.
Wellness Programs: Access to a range of wellness initiatives, including mental health support and fitness programs.
Community Engagement: Opportunities to participate in volunteer activities and social responsibility programs.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are likely aligned with a full-time contract position, typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with employees expected to work from the office three days per week. Specific daily schedules may vary but are generally within standard business hours, with provisions like "Summer Early Fridays" and "No Meeting Fridays" indicating a focus on efficient work practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly defined for the specified level. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing work-life balance, professional growth, and employee well-being, which are attractive aspects for operations professionals. The mention of specific work-life balance perks like "No Meeting Fridays" is a strong indicator of company culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Export Development. EDC operates as a Crown corporation, providing financial tools and expertise to support Canadian businesses in succeeding globally. This sector requires a high degree of professionalism, trust, and a focus on economic impact.

Company Size: Export Development Canada is a large, established organization. While the exact number of employees isn't provided in the raw data, its status as a Crown corporation and its extensive network of offices suggest a significant workforce, likely in the thousands. This size implies structured processes, established hierarchies, and a wide array of internal resources and collaboration opportunities.

Founded: Export Development Canada was founded in 1944. This long history signifies stability, deep industry experience, and a well-established operational framework. The company's mission has evolved over decades to support Canadian businesses in increasingly complex global markets.

Team Structure:

Experience Design Team: This team is part of EDC's broader Customer Experience Centre of Excellence, indicating a strategic focus on customer journey optimization.
Specialization: The team comprises expertise in user experience design, content design, accessibility, user research, service design, and design operations, highlighting a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to creating seamless customer experiences.
Reporting: The Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations, will likely report to a Manager or Director within the Experience Design team or the Customer Experience Centre of Excellence. This structure suggests a clear hierarchy with opportunities for guidance and mentorship.
Cross-functional Collaboration: The team works closely with product teams, technology partners, business stakeholders, and customer-facing teams, emphasizing a highly collaborative environment focused on aligning digital experiences with customer needs and business objectives.

Methodology:

Data-Driven Insights: The team emphasizes understanding customer needs and translating insights from user research into meaningful experiences.
Standards and Patterns: A core function involves establishing and evolving standards, patterns, research practices, and design capabilities to ensure consistent and scalable experiences.
Collaboration and Continuous Learning: The team culture is built on collaboration, continuous learning, and a shared commitment to solving real customer problems.
Customer Outcome Focus: The ultimate goal is to improve individual interactions and shape a connected end-to-end customer journey.

Company Website: https://www.edc.ca

📝 Enhancement Note: EDC's status as a Crown corporation and its long history suggest a stable, mission-driven organization with a strong emphasis on process, compliance, and long-term impact. The structure of the Experience Design team within a Centre of Excellence points to a mature approach to customer experience design and operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position within the Design Operations and UX Content Design domain. It requires a substantial amount of experience (7+ years) and the ability to independently develop, govern, and enable complex operational processes and standards. The role is crucial in shaping how design and content are executed consistently and effectively across a large enterprise.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Experience Design team, which is part of the Customer Experience Centre of Excellence. This structure places the role within a dedicated function focused on improving customer experiences through design and content. Direct reporting is likely to a Manager or Director of Experience Design, with ample opportunity for interaction with UX Designers, Researchers, Product Managers, and Technology Partners.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations, has a significant impact by:

Ensuring Consistency & Quality: Establishing and enforcing standards directly impacts the quality, accessibility, and usability of all digital experiences, leading to improved customer satisfaction and reduced friction.
Driving Efficiency: Optimizing research operations and design processes through documentation, enablement, and tool integration can lead to faster delivery cycles and more effective use of resources.
Enhancing User Understanding: By coordinating user research and managing insights, the role ensures that design and content decisions are evidence-based and aligned with customer needs.
Facilitating Scalability: The development of design systems, content patterns, and standardized workflows allows for the scalable delivery of consistent experiences across a growing digital product portfolio.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialization: Deepen expertise in Design Operations, UX Content Strategy, Accessibility, or Research Operations.
Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Content Designer role, or a Design Operations Lead/Manager position, potentially managing a team or key operational initiatives.
Cross-Functional Advancement: Move into broader roles within Product Management, UX Strategy, or Customer Experience leadership, leveraging a strong understanding of operational excellence and user-centric design.
Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities provided by EDC, including training, workshops, and potential language training, can further enhance capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with responsibilities for governance and enablement, suggests this role is a key contributor to the maturity of EDC's design and content operations. Growth opportunities are likely within specialized operational leadership or broader CX/product strategy roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Export Development Canada operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are currently required to work from the office three days per week. This model aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): This role can be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa or from one of their Community Hubs located in:

Toronto
Mississauga
Montreal
Brossard
Laval
Calgary
Edmonton
Halifax
Vancouver

The specific office chosen will depend on the candidate's location and preference, provided it's one of the listed hubs.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model promotes in-person collaboration for key activities like workshops, team meetings, and design sprints, fostering a sense of team cohesion and shared purpose.
Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools are listed as preferred (Figma, Miro, UserTesting, etc.), it's expected that EDC provides a robust technology stack to support design, research, and operational tasks. Access to shared repositories and documentation platforms will be essential.
Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with UX designers, researchers, product managers, and other stakeholders will be frequent, both in-person and virtually, enabling effective communication and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: The role is likely a standard full-time position (approximately 40 hours per week). The hybrid nature offers flexibility in how and where the work is done, with specific days in the office mandated. The company culture also emphasizes work-life balance with perks like "Summer Early Fridays" and "No Meeting Fridays," suggesting a focus on efficient and productive workdays rather than simply hours logged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and multiple office location options provide significant flexibility. The emphasis on collaboration within this model suggests that in-office days will be utilized for high-impact, interactive work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the required experience and skills.
Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion about your background, experience in content design and design operations, and understanding of the role's responsibilities.
Panel Interview / Case Study Presentation: This stage will likely involve presenting a portfolio piece or working through a scenario related to content design standards, research operations, or design enablement. You may be asked to demonstrate your process and articulate your strategic thinking.
Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key team members and cross-functional partners (e.g., UX designers, product managers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.
Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight Operations Expertise: Beyond UX content design examples, ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your experience in establishing and managing processes, standards, governance, and operational workflows.
Process Improvement Case Studies: Select 1-2 projects where you significantly improved a process (e.g., content review workflow, research participant management, design system adoption). Detail the problem, your approach, the actions taken, and the measurable outcomes.
Metrics and ROI: Be prepared to discuss how you measure success. Quantify the impact of your work wherever possible (e.g., "Increased adoption of content standards by X%", "Reduced content review time by Y%", "Improved research participant satisfaction scores").
Company-Specific Context: Tailor your presentation to EDC's mission and the Experience Design team's goals. Show how your operational skills can directly contribute to their objectives of creating simpler, more connected, and effective customer experiences.
Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve outcomes, highlighting your communication and influence skills.

Challenge Preparation:

Content Governance & Standards: Be ready to discuss how you would approach developing or refining content standards for a large organization. Consider aspects like accessibility, plain language, brand voice, and the process for getting them adopted.
Research Operations Scenarios: Prepare to outline how you would manage the logistics for a multi-stage user research study, including participant recruitment, scheduling, consent, and data management.
Design Operations Enablement: Think about how you would help teams adopt new design practices or tools. What resources would you create? How would you measure adoption?
Tool Proficiency: While specific tools are preferred, be prepared to discuss your experience with common UX and design operations tools (e.g., Figma, Miro, documentation platforms, research tools) and how you leverage them for efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily scrutinize your operational capabilities and your ability to demonstrate tangible results through your portfolio. The focus is not just on design execution but on the systems and processes that enable effective, scalable design and content.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design & Collaboration: Figma (preferred), Miro, Mural. These tools are crucial for design system management, wireframing, prototyping, collaborative ideation, and documentation.
Research Platforms: UserTesting, Dovetail, Fable Engage (all preferred). These platforms are essential for conducting user research, managing participant recruitment, synthesizing findings, and storing research insights.
Project Management & Workflow: Azure DevOps, Microsoft 365 (including tools like SharePoint, Teams, Planner). These are vital for project tracking, team communication, document management, and workflow automation within an enterprise environment.

Analytics & Reporting:

While specific tools aren't listed for analytics, expect to work with enterprise-level analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, internal BI tools) to track the impact of content and design improvements.
Reporting tools will be used to communicate the effectiveness of standards, research insights, and design operations initiatives to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:
EDC likely uses a robust CRM system for managing client relationships. While not directly a UX content or design ops tool, understanding CRM data can be beneficial for context.
Automation tools may be integrated into workflows for tasks such as content review reminders, reporting, or updates to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preferred tools suggest a modern tech stack focused on collaboration, user research, and efficient workflow management. Proficiency in at least some of these, particularly Figma, Miro, and research platforms, will be a significant advantage. The mention of Azure DevOps and Microsoft 365 indicates a need to navigate enterprise-level IT infrastructure.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Excellence in Design & Content: A commitment to creating high-quality, user-centered, accessible, and consistent digital experiences.
Collaboration and Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Tech, Business) to achieve shared goals.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user research and analytics to inform design and content strategies.
Continuous Improvement: An ongoing effort to refine processes, standards, and tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in design and research operations.
Inclusivity and Accessibility: A core value embedded in all design and content practices, ensuring digital products are usable by everyone.
Efficiency and Scalability: Developing and implementing practices that enable the organization to deliver high-quality experiences consistently and at scale.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: The team actively collaborates with product, technology, and business units, acting as a central hub for experience design expertise.
Process Review and Feedback: A culture that encourages open feedback loops for design standards, research findings, and operational processes.
Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing best practices, learnings from research, and insights gained from operational improvements through documentation, workshops, and team meetings.
Evidence-Based Design: Decisions are grounded in user research and data, fostering a culture of informed design and content strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team values a blend of creative excellence, operational rigor, and collaborative spirit. The emphasis on data-driven insights and continuous improvement aligns well with the core principles of revenue and sales operations, even though this role is in design operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Adoption of Standards: Gaining widespread adoption of new content design standards and best practices across diverse product teams can be challenging, requiring strong influence and enablement strategies.
Balancing Consistency with Agility: Ensuring consistency across a large enterprise while allowing product teams the agility to innovate and meet specific user needs requires careful process design and communication.
Managing Vendor Relationships: Effectively coordinating with external research vendors to ensure quality, timely delivery, and cost-effectiveness can present logistical and communication hurdles.
Evolving Best Practices: Keeping pace with rapid changes in UX content design, accessibility standards, and design operations methodologies requires continuous learning and adaptation.
Measuring Operational Impact: Quantifying the ROI of design operations initiatives and the adoption of standards can be complex, requiring robust metrics and reporting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Design Operations, UX Research Operations, and Content Strategy through hands-on experience and company-provided training.
Industry Best Practices: Exposure to and implementation of leading practices in enterprise design systems, content governance, and user research methodologies.
Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of product development lifecycles and business objectives by working closely with various departments.
Leadership Development: Potential to grow into leadership roles, managing operational programs, mentoring junior staff, or leading strategic initiatives within the design function.
Bilingualism Development: If not already fluent, the role offers immersion and potential for development in French language skills through daily work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the strategic and influencing aspects of the role, requiring not just technical skill but strong interpersonal and change management abilities. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to build a career in design operations or specialized UX content strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you developed and implemented content design standards. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and how did you measure success?" (Focus on governance, adoption, and impact.)
"How would you approach establishing a centralized repository for UX research insights to ensure it's accessible and useful for multiple product teams?" (Focus on knowledge management, accessibility, and collaboration.)
"Walk us through your process for coordinating user research activities with external vendors. What are the key considerations for ensuring quality and managing risks?" (Focus on vendor management, logistics, and quality control.)
"How do you balance the need for consistent brand voice and UX patterns with the need for product teams to iterate quickly?" (Focus on scalability, governance, and agile methodologies.)
"Imagine a product team is resistant to adopting new content guidelines. How would you influence them to embrace these standards?" (Focus on stakeholder management, communication, and enablement.) Company & Culture Questions:
"What do you know about EDC and its mission? How does your role as a Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations, contribute to that mission?" (Demonstrate research and strategic alignment.)
"Our team values collaboration and continuous learning. Can you provide an example of how you've contributed to a collaborative environment or a learning initiative within a previous role?" (Highlight teamwork and growth mindset.)
"How do you ensure your work aligns with principles of accessibility and inclusive design?" (Showcase commitment to these values.)
"Describe your ideal work environment. How do you see yourself fitting into a hybrid work model?" (Assess cultural fit and adaptability.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Thematic Approach: Organize your portfolio around key responsibilities: Content Standards & Governance, Research Operations, Design Operations Enablement, and Vendor Coordination.
Impact-Driven Stories: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and specific actions, the solutions implemented, and the tangible outcomes (e.g., improved consistency, efficiency gains, better user insights). Use metrics where possible.
Process Visualization: Use diagrams, screenshots, or flowcharts to visually explain your processes for developing standards, managing research, or enabling teams.
Tool Demonstrations: If relevant, be prepared to briefly demonstrate your proficiency in key tools like Figma or Miro, showcasing how you use them to achieve operational efficiency.
Concise and Focused: Be prepared to present your most impactful work within a given timeframe, focusing on how your operational expertise drives better design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to demonstrate not just your UX content design skills but your operational leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to drive adoption and improvement through well-defined processes and strong stakeholder management.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
Portfolio Customization: Curate a portfolio that prominently features your experience in developing and governing design/content standards, managing research operations, and enabling design practices. Include specific case studies demonstrating process improvements and measurable impact.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Design Operations," "Content Design Standards," "User Research Operations," "Governance," "WCAG," and "Design Systems." Quantify achievements and responsibilities wherever possible.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with strategy questions, particularly those related to process improvement, stakeholder influence, and operational efficiency. Prepare a compelling narrative for your portfolio presentation, focusing on your operational contributions.
Company Research: Thoroughly research Export Development Canada, understanding its mission, values, and the structure of its Customer Experience Centre of Excellence. Familiarize yourself with their digital presence and any publicly available information on their design or customer experience initiatives.

⚠️ 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.

Senior UX Content Designer, Design Operations - EN 762