Digital Designer (UX Researcher)

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, socio-economic background or lived experience.

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In order to self-declare, please ensure to check off the appropriate box within the online application under the Employment Equity section. To learn more about self-declaring, we encourage you to consult the following website: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities/government/self-declaring-because-we-care.html

The Canada Energy Regulator works to keep energy moving safely across the country. We review energy development projects and share energy information, all while enforcing some of the strictest safety and environmental standards in the world. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta with regional offices in Montréal, Vancouver and Yellowknife, the CER has approximately 500 employees.

The CER is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in a national competition to determine which employers lead their industries in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees.

Duties

ABOUT YOU:

You are a User Experience Researcher who cares about putting people first. You believe that empathy, user understanding, and validation are critical contributors to good design. You ask “why?” and act on it. You have a keen eye for detail, appreciate diversity and genuinely want to create a good experience for people.

If you enjoy tackling complex tasks with design thinking and are looking to gain diverse experience, we are looking for you. You’ll be part of understanding the “why”, exploring human-centric solutions and collaborating closely with your team members to deliver useful and useable products that matter to public servants and to the Canadian public.

DUTIES:

This role brings understanding and empathy for people to digital product design and development at the CER. We create products for internal and external use, targeting a range of audiences from public servants to the broad Canadian public. Your role will help the CER’s product teams to create products that are useful, pleasant to use, and accessible. As a senior UX researcher, you will be responsible for planning and performing suitable design research activities to support design discovery (e.g. interview, workshops, task analysis) and design validation (e.g. usability testing, analytics assessment). You will analyze results and clearly communicate them to product teams and stakeholders and will support them during product development. You may be responsible for contributing to complete design concepts for some products and for performing other design-related tasks when needed. You will guide junior team members and will provide strategic advice and support to the organization in your area of expertise. Technical Specialists will provide guidance and your fellow team members will support you in your role.

Intent of the process

Qualified candidates may be used to staff other similar positions at an equivalent or lower level on a term, indeterminate or acting basis.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter ": Please provide concrete examples of tasks you have accomplished with significant details to explain the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW you acquired EACH experience and asset qualifications."

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in a foundational field of design-based innovation such as: computer science, human-computer interaction, service design, human factors engineering, information studies, psychology, anthropology, behavioural science, human behaviour.

The knowledge and skills are normally acquired through graduation from a recognized university in a field that applies the practice of user experience (UX) research for interaction design.

Degree equivalency

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

EXPERIENCE:

E1. Significant experience in planning and conducting various UX research activities such as interviews, surveys, task analysis, card sorting, field studies, participatory design, focus groups, usability testing, analytics assessment, or related activities.

E2. Significant experience generating, evaluating, and compiling research results and data. This could include creating personas, journey or experience mapping, building complex flows, and navigation.

E3. Experience working collaboratively with UX design teams by continuously incorporating research findings and feedback into design team concepts.

E4. Experience consulting with clients, stakeholders, coordinators, designers, software developers, or subject matter experts on the development of digital design products.

*** Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of the experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of substantively more progressive and complex responsibilities. This experience would typically be acquired over approximately 7 years.

ORGANIZATION-WIDE and BUSINESS COMPETENCIES:

OC1. Leadership & Teamwork (Level: Guide)

OC2. Accountability & Results Orientation (Level: Guide)

OC3. Initiative & Adaptability to Change (Level: Guide)

OC4. Process & Project Management ( Level: Guide)

OC5. Oral Communication (Level: Guide)

OC6. Written Communication (Level: Guide)
 
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
TC1. Understanding of and ability to apply human-centered design thinking to design problems.(Level: Guide)

TC2. Advanced knowledge of a wide range of UX research methodologies for discovery and validation, such as: interviews, surveys, task analysis, field studies, participatory design, focus groups, usability testing, analytics assessment, A/B testing, or related activities; and ethical considerations in their application. (Level: Guide)

TC3. Ability to plan and execute design research plans for a wide range of UX research methodologies. (Level: Guide)

TC4. Ability to analyze, document, and clearly communicate research results and design considerations to colleagues, including designers and software developers, and to stakeholders (Level: Guide)

Competency Level Definitions:
Guide is defined as thorough knowledge and capability of the competency. Able to influence and guide others in its application.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS:
AQ1. Proficiency with industry-standard tools for remote design research (such as Miro, FigJam, or online user testing platforms) and with design software tools such as Figma, the Adobe Creative Suite, or equivalent.

AQ2. Experience in UX design-adjacent areas such as service design, data visualization, video editing, graphic design, agile methodologies, or coding software prototypes.

AQ3. Experience researching or designing for the Microsoft Power Platform.

AQ4. Experience working on Agile teams.

AQ5. Training or experience in accessibility and accessible design.

AQ6. Experience consulting with clients, stakeholders, coordinators, software developers, product managers, or subject matter experts on the development of digital products.

AQ7. A Master’s degree in the areas outlined under ‘Education’ above.

AQ8. Experience creating and documenting complete design concepts for at least two (2) of the following: desktop user interfaces; mobile user interfaces; web sites; and/or other digital product interfaces.

AQ9. Master’s degree in a foundational field of design-based innovation such as: computer science, human-computer interaction, service design, human factors engineering, information studies, psychology, anthropology, behavioural science, human behaviour, or a combination of education and/or equivalent work experience. The knowledge and skills are normally acquired through graduation from a recognized university in a field that applies the practice of user experience (UX) research for interaction design, or an undergraduate degree from a recognized university together with significant experience applying UX research practices to interaction design.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

The CER is committed to building a diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. Preference may be given to qualified candidates who self-identify from the following Employment Equity Groups: *Aboriginal Persons, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities and/or Women. We encourage you to indicate if you belong to one or more of the designated groups by completing the EE section in your application.

Conditions of employment

1) Willingness to undergo, successfully pass and maintain a reliability status security clearance.
2) Compliance with the CER’s Code of Conduct is required.
Note: It is strongly recommended that potential applicants read and consider the CER’s Code of Conduct prior to applying. This document is available on the CER Website http://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/code-of-conduct.
3) Must be willing and able to travel and to work overtime when required.
4) Must be willing to move within and between business units and teams, based on operational requirements and/or as individual development needs are identified.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

1. The CER has a classification system that differs from the greater public service. This NEB-10 position is similar to an IS-06 in terms of salary range only. The benefits offered, including relocation assistance, may be significantly different than those offered in the greater public service. This position is subject to CER’s Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada Collective Agreement.

2. Salary: Effective 1 November 2021 NEB-10 $ 100,175 to $121,883

The CER has the following forms of additional compensation that are separate from base salary, the eligibility for which is determined, in accordance with the provisions in the collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment for the duration period specified:
• a Calgary Allowance in the amount of 4.95% of base salary may be paid on a bi-weekly payroll basis for employees who reside within the daily commuting distance of Calgary (150 km).
• annual performance pay which includes elements of individual performance (60% of payout) and corporate performance (40% of payout).

3. Application Requirements: Applicants must submit, by the closing date, a RESUME and a COVER LETTER clearly demonstrating how they meet the essential qualifications of education and experience. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how they also meet the asset qualifications. Asset qualification(s) may be used at any point in the selection process (screening and/or assessment). Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out.

Applicants must provide a valid e-mail address which is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. Our intention is to communicate with applicants by email for assessment purposes including sending invitations for written tests, interviews and issuing selection process results.

Candidates will need to provide proof of their education prior to appointment. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at https://www.cicic.ca.
NOTE: Equivalencies granted by the Canadian provincial authorities with respect to Applied (Bachelor's) Degrees by colleges and technical institutes (i.e. in Ontario, British-Columbia, Alberta & Manitoba) must always be accepted as equivalent to Bachelor Degrees granted by universities in the provinces concerned.

4. Head Office Location – Calgary, AB: 210, 517 10th Avenue SW

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.