UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Dayforce

Location: Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-05-13

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years implied)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Conduct comprehensive user research initiatives across key product areas within Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, including Workforce Management, Payroll, Talent, and Platform.

• Execute both generative and evaluative research methodologies, integrating market, competitive, and industry insights to inform product development.

• Design, plan, and execute research studies from participant recruitment to data analysis, ensuring robust and actionable findings.

• Translate complex research findings into clear, compelling insights that directly influence product definition, prioritization, and overall strategy.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams to support opportunity framing and requirements development for new and existing features.

• Act as a research mentor and guide for product designers, sharing best practices in research methods and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Product Development lifecycle, specifically focusing on the user experience of Dayforce's HCM platform. While not a direct Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, the insights generated by this UX Researcher are critical for informing the usability and adoption of tools that impact sales, customer success, and overall revenue enablement through enhanced user adoption and satisfaction. The emphasis on enterprise software and SaaS environments suggests a B2B context where understanding complex user workflows and business needs is paramount.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and execute user research studies, including defining research objectives, methodologies, and participant criteria for products like Workforce Management, Payroll, Tax & Payments, Talent, and the core Platform.

• Employ a variety of research techniques, such as user interviews, surveys, usability testing, contextual inquiries, and diary studies, to gather both qualitative and quantitative data.

• Analyze research data to identify user needs, pain points, behaviors, and motivations, synthesizing findings into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Develop comprehensive research plans, including study protocols, discussion guides, and stimuli, ensuring alignment with product goals and timelines.

• Present research findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively to cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and stakeholders, to drive informed decision-making.

• Contribute to the definition of product requirements and features by providing user-centric insights and advocating for user needs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Champion accessibility and inclusive design principles, ensuring that research and product outcomes cater to a diverse user base and adhere to relevant standards.

• Collaborate with senior researchers to continuously refine research methodologies, tools, and best practices within the UX research team.

• Identify and analyze market trends, competitive offerings, and industry best practices to inform research strategies and product innovation.

• Support product teams in opportunity framing sessions, helping to define user problems and potential solution spaces based on research insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle UX research role, emphasizing the translation of raw data into actionable product strategy. This requires a strong understanding of how user insights impact adoption, efficiency, and ultimately, the value proposition of an enterprise SaaS product, which indirectly supports revenue generation and customer retention. The need to "coach and guide product designers" suggests a mid-level to senior individual contributor role with some mentorship responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in UX research, with a proven track record of conducting research across the full product development lifecycle.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and executing both generative and evaluative research studies.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in a range of qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing, contextual inquiry).

• Strong ability to synthesize complex data from various sources into clear, actionable insights and compelling narratives.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present research findings effectively to diverse audiences.

• Proven experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Design, and Engineering.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design principles, and the ability to integrate them into research and product recommendations.

• Strong problem-solving skills and a user-centric mindset.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in SaaS or enterprise software environments, particularly in Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions.

• A strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end research impact on product decisions and business outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to influence product strategy through research insights and strategic recommendations.

• Experience conducting discovery research to identify unmet user needs and new product opportunities.

• Familiarity with market research, competitive analysis, and industry trend integration into research.

• Experience involving non-researchers in the research process and fostering a shared understanding of user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level is inferred from the balance between requiring experience across the design lifecycle and the ability to work with guidance from senior researchers, while also being able to influence product strategy. The emphasis on SaaS and enterprise software directly aligns with the B2B nature of Dayforce's offerings.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end research impact on product decisions and tangible business outcomes.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, methodology, findings, and the resulting product changes or strategic shifts.

• Evidence of how research insights were translated into actionable recommendations that informed product definition, prioritization, or strategy.

• Examples of research studies conducted across different phases of the product development lifecycle (discovery, design, validation).

Process Documentation:

• Ability to design and document user research study plans, including clear objectives, methodologies, participant criteria, and timelines.

• Skill in documenting research findings, including synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear reports, presentations, and user journey maps.

• Experience in creating process flows or user flows that visualize user interactions and identify areas for improvement.

• Documentation of how accessibility and inclusive design principles were incorporated into research processes and product recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a strong portfolio demonstrating "end-to-end research impact" and the ability to "influence product strategy" suggests that candidates should be prepared to showcase how their research directly contributed to product success metrics, which could include user adoption, efficiency gains, or customer satisfaction scores – all relevant to revenue enablement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive wellness initiatives to support employee health and well-being.

• Excellent time away from work programs, including vacation and personal time.

• Competitive pay structure, reflecting the value of employee contributions.

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth and development.

• Volunteer days and support through Dayforce Cares, fostering community impact.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours for this role are approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $77,800 - $139,000 CAD is based on the input data. This range is considered competitive for a UX Researcher role in Canada, particularly for a mid-level position within a reputable tech company. The actual compensation may vary based on factors like specific location within Canada, candidate experience, and negotiation. The benefits package emphasizes employee well-being, professional development, and community engagement, which are attractive perks for operations and product professionals alike.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology - Human Capital Management (HCM) Software (SaaS)

Company Size: Large (Implied by global operations and potentially hundreds or thousands of employees)

Founded: Dayforce is a global company with a significant presence, suggesting a mature organization with established processes and a strong market position.

Team Structure:

• The UX Researcher will be part of a broader UX Research team, contributing to product development across various HCM modules.

• This role requires close collaboration with Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams, indicating a cross-functional, agile development environment.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on human-centered and user-centered design practices, ensuring products are intuitive and meet user needs.

• Data-driven decision-making, with research findings serving as a critical input for product strategy and prioritization.

• Agile development processes, where research is integrated iteratively throughout the product lifecycle, from discovery to validation.

• Commitment to continuous improvement in research methods and product usability.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Dayforce operates in the critical B2B SaaS space, focusing on HCM. This means the user experience directly impacts the efficiency and productivity of businesses, making UX Research integral to customer satisfaction, retention, and the overall perceived value of the platform. The company's global reach suggests a diverse user base and complex product requirements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level UX Researcher. This role involves executing research initiatives, contributing to product strategy, and mentoring junior designers, indicating a step beyond entry-level but likely reporting to a Senior UX Researcher or UX Manager.

Reporting Structure: The role will report into a UX Research lead or manager, with significant collaboration across Product Management, Design, and Engineering teams. This structure facilitates direct impact on product development.

Operations Impact: While not directly "operations" in the traditional sense (e.g., Sales Ops, Rev Ops), the UX Researcher's output has a profound impact on the user adoption and efficiency of Dayforce's platform. Enhanced usability and user satisfaction directly contribute to customer retention, reduced support costs, and can indirectly influence sales by improving the product's perceived value. The insights gathered are crucial for ensuring the platform effectively supports HR, payroll, and workforce management processes for millions of workers and their employers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced qualitative methods, large-scale quantitative analysis) or product domains (e.g., Talent Management, Payroll Compliance).

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior UX Researcher role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior staff, and leading research strategy for key product areas.

• Cross-functional Influence: Developing skills to influence product strategy at a higher level, becoming a key advisor to Product Management and leadership on user needs and market opportunities.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunities to learn about adjacent fields like product analytics, service design, or UX writing to broaden impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UX Researcher in a company like Dayforce typically involves deepening research expertise, taking on more strategic leadership, or potentially transitioning into product management or design leadership roles, depending on individual career aspirations. The emphasis on "full design lifecycle" and "influencing product strategy" suggests a clear path for increased responsibility and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role, suggesting a traditional office-based work environment with opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Canada. Specific city/region not specified, but Dayforce has major hubs in Toronto, Ontario, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with broader operations across North America. The role is confirmed to be in Canada.

Workspace Context:

• The on-site environment fosters direct, spontaneous collaboration with colleagues in Design, Product Management, and Engineering.

• Access to in-office resources, meeting rooms, and a dedicated workspace conducive to focused research activities.

• Opportunities for informal mentorship and knowledge sharing with other researchers and team members.

• The company culture emphasizes making "Work Life Better," suggesting a supportive and engaging office atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule (implied 40 hours/week) conducted on-site, with potential for some flexibility depending on team needs and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in Canada for a company with significant operations suggests a structured work environment. For a UX Researcher, this means opportunities for rich, in-person collaboration, which can be highly beneficial for brainstorming, co-creation, and rapid feedback loops essential for effective research and design.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your background, research experience, and understanding of the role's responsibilities.

• Skills-Based Interview/Workshop: This may involve a practical exercise or a deep dive into your portfolio, where you'll present case studies and discuss your research process, findings, and impact. Expect questions about how you've translated insights into actionable product decisions.

• Cross-functional Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Designers, and/or Engineers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate research into their workflows.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate the tangible impact of your research on product strategy, user experience, and business outcomes. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion rate").

• End-to-End Storytelling: Present a clear narrative for each project, covering the problem, your research approach, key findings, how you communicated them, and the subsequent actions taken.

• Methodological Diversity: Highlight your proficiency in various research methods, explaining why you chose specific techniques for different research questions.

• Collaboration Emphasis: Illustrate how you partnered with designers, product managers, and engineers, and how you influenced their decisions.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: If applicable, showcase projects where you specifically addressed accessibility or inclusive design considerations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential research exercise or a deep dive into your portfolio.

• Practice articulating your research process, findings, and impact concisely and persuasively.

• Anticipate questions about how you handle ambiguity, synthesize complex data, and advocate for user needs within a product team.

• Research Dayforce's products and their target users to demonstrate your understanding of the HCM landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "end-to-end research impact" and "influencing product strategy," candidates should prepare to present case studies that go beyond just outlining research findings. They need to demonstrate how their work directly shaped product direction, user adoption, or business metrics, highlighting the strategic value of UX Research in a B2B SaaS context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Experience with various research tools for surveys, interviews, and usability testing is expected. Specific tools might include Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, UserTesting.com, Lookback, or similar.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication and project management.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools used by designers such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to review designs and prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Synthesis Tools: Ability to use spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets) and potentially data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to analyze and present quantitative research data.

• Note-taking & Analysis Software: Tools like Dovetail, NVivo, or similar for organizing and analyzing qualitative research data.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM, understanding how HCM platforms (like Dayforce) integrate with or serve as part of a broader enterprise system is beneficial. Familiarity with enterprise software environments is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool requirements aren't explicitly listed, the nature of UX research in a SaaS company implies familiarity with common industry-standard tools for data collection, analysis, collaboration, and design review. The ability to synthesize data from various sources is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value driving all product development, ensuring that user needs and experiences are at the forefront of decision-making.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Design, Engineering) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilizing research findings and data to inform strategy, validate hypotheses, and measure impact.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to refining research methodologies, enhancing product usability, and fostering professional growth.

• Making Work Life Better: A company-wide promise that reflects a dedication to employee well-being and creating positive experiences for users of Dayforce products.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working closely with Product Managers to understand business goals and user needs, and with Designers to translate insights into effective solutions.

• Advocacy: Championing user needs and research-backed recommendations within product teams and to stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in discussions, sharing research findings, and educating team members on user insights and research best practices.

• Iterative Feedback: Engaging in a continuous feedback loop with product teams throughout the research and design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated promise, "Makes Work Life Better™," strongly suggests a culture that values employee well-being, customer satisfaction, and creating positive, efficient work experiences. For a UX Researcher, this translates to a role where advocating for the user experience directly aligns with the company's core mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Needs with Product Timelines: Effectively managing research scope and timelines to deliver timely insights within agile development cycles.

• Synthesizing Diverse Data: Integrating findings from various research methods and sources into a cohesive and actionable narrative.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading diverse teams and stakeholders to adopt research-backed recommendations, especially when they conflict with existing assumptions or priorities.

• Researching Complex Enterprise Software: Understanding the intricate workflows and needs of users in the HCM space, which can involve compliance, diverse roles, and critical business processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunities to learn and apply more sophisticated research techniques, such as advanced quantitative analysis, causal inference, or specific qualitative methods.

• Domain Expertise: Deepening knowledge in specific HCM areas like Payroll, Workforce Management, or Talent Acquisition to become a subject matter expert.

• Product Strategy Influence: Developing skills to contribute more strategically to product roadmaps and long-term product vision.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Gaining experience in mentoring junior researchers or designers, enhancing leadership and communication skills.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to industry events and training programs to stay abreast of the latest UX research trends and best practices in SaaS.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the strategic nature of the role, requiring not just research execution but also strong communication, influence, and problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are aligned with advancing within the UX research field or leveraging research expertise for broader product leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used research to significantly influence a product strategy or roadmap. What was the outcome?" (Focus on impact, strategic thinking, and measurable results.)

• "How do you approach opportunity framing for new product features or improvements?" (Demonstrate understanding of identifying user needs and translating them into actionable product concepts.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Dayforce and the Human Capital Management industry?" (Show research into the company, its mission, and the relevance of HCM.)

• "How do you ensure your research is inclusive and considers diverse user groups?" (Address your understanding of accessibility and inclusive design principles.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the research methods used, key findings, your recommendations, and the impact of those recommendations. Use visuals where appropriate.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Tell a Story: Engage your audience by framing your research as a narrative of discovery, problem-solving, and positive change.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making process, and how you handled challenges within each project.

• Connect to Dayforce: If possible, subtly tie your experiences and insights to the challenges and opportunities within the HCM space and Dayforce's offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to a UX Researcher role, emphasizing the need to showcase impact, strategic influence, and collaboration skills. For candidates transitioning from or complementing operations roles, highlighting how user experience research can indirectly support revenue enablement through improved product adoption and customer satisfaction will be a strong angle.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the Dayforce careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in UX research, human-centered design, relevant methodologies (generative, evaluative, usability testing), and experience within SaaS or enterprise software environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate end-to-end research impact, clear communication of findings, and influence on product decisions. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., PDF, personal website).

• Prepare for interview questions: Practice articulating your research process, insights, and impact, especially how your work has influenced product strategy and outcomes. Review common UX research interview questions and Dayforce's product offerings.

• Research Dayforce: Understand their mission ("Makes Work Life Better"), their HCM platform, and the competitive landscape. Consider how user experience research contributes to their success and the adoption of their products.

⚠️ 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.