Senior Design Researcher

Cella by Randstad Digital is currently recruiting on behalf of a industry-leading enterprise organization for a contract Senior Design Researcher. In this hybrid position based in Toronto, Ontario, you will join an advanced research group dedicated to studying complex user interactions, digital behaviors, and emerging technologies. Operating within a collaborative environment, you will play a central role in conducting high-impact research to evaluate unmet user needs, drive strategic innovation, and shape key business initiatives.

Advantages
Competitive Compensation: Earn a competitive rate reflecting your advanced academic background and specialized expertise.

Modern Research Environment: Work alongside a deeply knowledgeable, cross-disciplinary research team utilizing top-tier methodology toolkits and state-of-the-art labs.

High-Visibility Exposure: Present actionable strategic insights directly to executive leadership and senior project stakeholders.

Hybrid Flexibility: Balance in-office collaboration in downtown Toronto with standard, regular business hours.

Responsibilities
End-to-End Research Strategy: Lead comprehensive research plans, defining core questions, selecting appropriate qualitative/quantitative frameworks, and managing recruitment screeners and protocols.

Data Collection & Concepting: Drive hands-on research execution—including deep-dive user interviews, observational studies, usability testing, and concept validation—to inform future-state experiences.

Executive Presentation: Synthesize complex data into clear strategic narratives, experience maps, and reports, presenting key findings and actionable recommendations to executive audiences.

Strategic Roadmapping: Collaborate with cross-functional leadership, service design leads, and analytics teams to establish research roadmaps aligned with broader business objectives.

Peer Mentorship: Offer project guidance and methodological support to junior research team members and cross-functional partners.

Qualifications
Education: Master’s degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, or a closely related field.

Professional Background: Demonstrated track record of leading complex research initiatives in a large enterprise environment with 7+ years of experience and a primary focus on research strategy, qualitative interviewing, and initial concepting. Individuals coming from a start-up environment would not be a match for this project.

Communication & Influence: Exceptional visual, written, and verbal communication skills tailored for engaging and influencing executive leadership.

Methodological Depth: Rigorous grounding in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, with full lifecycle ownership from study setup to final synthesis.

Asset Skills: Prior exposure to market research strategies, consumer intelligence frameworks, or evaluating emerging technologies (such as AI applications).

Summary
If you are an accomplished design researcher looking to bring your methodological rigor and strategic perspective to a high-impact team, we encourage you to apply promptly. These client opportunities move quickly—please submit your resume along with a portfolio, case studies, or work samples that highlight your end-to-end research process and strategic outcomes.

Cella by Randstad Digital uses artificial intelligence to help our recruiters screen, assess and select qualified talent for this role and others within our database. Although Cella by Randstad Digital uses A.I. as a tool, candidate selection and hiring decisions are made by our employees.

Randstad Canada is committed to fostering a workforce reflective of all peoples of Canada. As a result, we are committed to developing and implementing strategies to increase the equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace by examining our internal policies, practices, and systems throughout the entire lifecycle of our workforce, including its recruitment, retention and advancement for all employees. In addition to our deep commitment to respecting human rights, we are dedicated to positive actions to affect change to ensure everyone has full participation in the workforce free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise, especially equity-seeking groups who are usually underrepresented in Canada's workforce, including those who identify as women or non-binary/gender non-conforming; Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples; persons with disabilities (visible or invisible) and; members of visible minorities, racialized groups and the LGBTQ2+ community.

Randstad Canada is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible workplace for all its candidates and employees by supporting their accessibility and accommodation needs throughout the employment lifecycle. We ask that all job applications please identify any accommodation requirements by sending an email to accessibility@randstad.ca to ensure their ability to fully participate in the interview process.