Design Researcher/Banking

BeachHead Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 160,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

BeachHead Inc. is seeking a Design Researcher for Banking to lead and execute user research informing innovative digital banking experiences. The role involves running studies that shape next-generation financial interfaces and collaborating with a talented team across UX, product, and engineering.

You will engage with top clients, develop research roadmaps, mentor junior researchers, and advocate for research-driven decisions within a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading research projects independently or within small teams.
• Extensive knowledge of all research process steps: preparation, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and visual presentation.

Responsibilities

• Design and plan research activities, identifying opportunities and defining research questions.
• Develop detailed research protocols, recruit participants and create screening materials.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, ethnography, diary studies, usability tests, and experiments.
• Analyze data to extract actionable insights and communicate findings through reports, personas, and experience maps.
• Collaborate with product owners, designers, developers, and stakeholders to align research with project goals.
• Mentor interns and junior researchers and contribute to strategic planning for future initiatives.
• Promote awareness of research methods across teams and expand the research knowledge base.

Skills

Research leadership

Communication skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Quantitative/Qualitative methods

Education

Psychology / HCI / Anthropology degree

Tools

R

SAS

SPSS

Job description

Are you passionate about advancing user experience through rigorous research?

Working with one of our top financial clients, this role calls for a Design Researcher/Banking. The position involves leading and executing comprehensive user research initiatives to inform innovative design solutions, contributing to the development of next-generation digital experiences. This opportunity offers exposure to cutting‑edge UX research facilities and a chance to collaborate with a highly knowledgeable team dedicated to design research excellence.

Pay rate range (CAD): $76.70/hr – $92.04/hr

Responsibilities

• Design and plan research activities, identifying opportunities and defining research questions
• Develop detailed research protocols, recruit participants through internal or external channels, and create screening materials
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research methods including interviews, ethnography, diary studies, usability tests, and experiments
• Analyze collected data to extract actionable insights, utilizing appropriate analytical approaches
• Communicate findings effectively through reports, personas, experience maps, and usability reports
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including product owners, designers, developers, and stakeholder groups, to understand research needs and support project goals
• Maintain and nurture relationships with internal and external partners
• Develop research roadmaps aligned with team and stakeholder priorities
• Oversee/manage research vendors conducting studies on behalf of the team
• Mentor and support interns and junior researchers, fostering a culture of learning and development
• Contribute to strategic planning for future research initiatives and innovative practices
• Promote awareness of research methods across teams and stakeholders, sharing expertise to expand the research knowledge base

Desired Skill-Set

• Deep expertise in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Anthropology, or a related field
• Proven experience leading research projects independently or within small teams
• Extensive knowledge of all research process steps: preparation, data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Strong ability to derive meaningful insights from data relevant to project goals
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and visual presentation
• Effective project management skills, capable of balancing multiple studies
• Familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g., R, SAS, SPSS) is an asset
• Ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships
• Demonstrated dedication to research-focused roles, particularly within large organizational settings

Nice to Have

• Experience leading research projects independently at a senior level
• Knowledge of finance or financial institutions
• Keen interest and familiarity with AI technologies
• Experience advocating for research and creating research champions within organizations
• Background in roles combining research strategy and design activities
• Understanding of the broader design process

BeachHead is an equal opportunity agency and employer. We advocate for our candidates and welcome applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or physical or mental disability. BeachHead or our clients may use technology-enabled tools, including automation and artificial intelligence (AI), to support parts of the recruitment process such as resume screening, application management, and candidate matching. These tools assist our recruiters and our clients, and do not replace human decision-making. This job posting represents a current or anticipated vacancy. The position may be filled at any time, and the posting may be removed without notice once the role has been filled.

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