User Research Manager / Portfolio Manager

Ubisoft Entertainment; Montreal (administrative region); Hybrid; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming company in Montreal is seeking a User Research Manager to lead a team focused on analyzing player feedback to enhance game development. The successful candidate will translate strategic vision into actionable team objectives, oversee user research initiatives, and collaborate with production teams. Ideal applicants have extensive experience in team management and game design. This role offers a vibrant workplace culture and generous benefits, promoting creativity and career growth.

Benefits

Generous benefits

Collaborative environment

Career growth opportunities

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in team management with proven leadership abilities.
• Strong knowledge of game design and production cycles.
• Ability to conduct mixed-method research and generate actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Transform the strategic vision into concrete objectives.
• Lead and empower a multisite team of PX Insights managers.
• Use KPIs to monitor the health of resources assigned to the portfolio.

Skills

Team management

Game development knowledge

Communication skills

Mixed-method research

Results-oriented

Job description

At Pixel, we are more than just a user research lab. We are committed to helping Ubisoft create the best gaming experiences by placing players—their behaviors, motivations, and expectations—at the heart of the design process.

In partnership with production teams and using various methodologies at our disposal, we analyze player feedback to provide in-depth and relevant insights and support decision-making.

Within the Player Experience Insights (PX Insights) department, the User Research Manager is responsible for a team organized by portfolio and reports to the Associate Director.

This team is organized to support productions, possibly grouped by brands, through Insights Managers (Pixies) and dedicated user research analysts. Team members can be in Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Halifax for Canada, and Cary (NC) for the United States.

The PX Insights department includes several similar teams to cover all productions supported by Pixel in North America. In collaboration with other Portfolio User Research Managers and under the supervision of the Associate Director, the User Research Manager translates the department's strategic vision and direction into concrete objectives for their team, contributes to the continuous improvement of practices, and supervises the team's KPIs to ensure optimal resource utilization within Pixel.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Transform the strategic vision into concrete objectives for your portfolio, in collaboration with other portfolio managers and the Associate Director.
• Lead and empower a multisite team of Player Experience Insights (PXI) managers and a team leader responsible for user research, guiding them through management, leadership coaching, and relationships with various partners.
• Prioritize user research initiatives across projects in your portfolio, in partnership with a project manager.
• Use key performance indicators to monitor the health and performance of resources assigned to your portfolio.
• Build meaningful collaborations with strategic partners (VP Prod/HQ duo) and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders and production team members, developing cross-expertise collaborations.
• Create and strengthen relationships with Pixel's cross-functional teams (discipline leads, topic leads, project managers) to ensure the implementation of standards in the portfolio, in coherence with other portfolio managers.
• Support and advocate for Pixel's mission within the team and with various partners.
• Represent Pixel in external forums and global discussions, contributing to elevating the department's status.
• Strengthen relationships with key strategic partners to enhance the department's contribution to Ubisoft's success.
<>Act as an ambassador for the department and participate in global alignment discussions and external forums to elevate the department's position.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Has at least 3 years of experience in team management, demonstrating a proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop collaborators in a dynamic environment.
• Is results-oriented, capable of anticipating risks and adapting resources to priorities.
• Is motivated by the desire to drive change at all levels of an organization.
• Has extremely strong knowledge of game development, game design, and production cycles.
• Has solid experience and relevant achievements in conducting mixed-method research, generating actionable insights for production partners and stakeholders.
• Possesses strong communication skills, capable of managing a variety of stakeholders at different levels of the organization.
• Can guide and develop team members in managing multiple diverse stakeholders with varied priorities, perceptions, and interests.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Ubisoft’s teams include 19,000 people across more than 30 countries around the world, all united by a shared mission: to enrich players’ lives through original and memorable gaming experiences. Their energy and talent have brought to life many acclaimed franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Just Dance, Rainbow Six, and many more to come.

Ubisoft is an equal‑opportunity employer and believes that diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is essential to creating worlds where everyone can thrive and express themselves.

Working at Ubi MTL means enjoying a workplace that sparks creativity and fosters connection. We offer a collaborative environment focused on career growth, learning opportunities, and well‑being (our generous benefits speak for themselves).

At Ubisoft, you are welcome exactly as you are. We embrace diversity in all its forms and are committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment for everyone.