User Research Consultant

Overview:

3-Month Consulting Contract:

• Start date: As soon as possible; applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
• Opportunity type: 3-month consulting contract, with the potential for conversion to a full-time permanent role.
• Remote work: The contract work is fully remote. However, to be considered for a permanent role, the candidate would need to be based in Toronto.
• Pay: Negotiable.
• Time commitment: Flexible. While we prioritize output over a specific schedule, team communication and collaboration should ideally take place within our core business hours (9:00 am - 5:30 pm ET).

About this Consulting Opportunity

Sandbox is looking for a User Research Consultant to design and execute user-centred research studies. Tasks would involve conducting research and prototyping solutions and using service design methodologies on specific projects. The User Research Consultant will work closely with the User Research & Service Design Lead, Sandbox team members and external partners as needed.

For a set of projects, the Consultant will:

Provide Research & Service Design Implementation:

• Support the conceptualization, planning and implementation of user and market research with a strong focus on informing user-centred digital products, marketing campaigns and broader client strategies to meet the needs of audiences.
• Identify, recommend and implement the best research methods (e.g. interviews, shadowing, surveys, usability testing), use user research tools like user journey mapping, value proposition, service blueprints and process mapping, while leveraging the best software based on project needs.
• Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand user needs, test concepts, and evaluate the impact of digital products and marketing campaigns.
• Conduct data collection, analysis, and synthesis, using data visualization tools to interpret and communicate findings internally.
• Contribute to clear, strategic, client-facing outputs, from research reports to client-facing presentations to outline findings or pitch new concepts or services.
• Translate insights into opportunities and structure design plans by prioritizing, benchmarking, leading workshops, testing concepts and building value propositions.
• Contribute expertise and insights to proposals, grants, and business development efforts.

Provide Project Management Support:

• Support the translation of research and service design strategies into well-scoped project plans and roadmaps.
• Proactively support project leads in maintaining project progress and success.
• Support junior researchers and other junior collaborators.

Implement AI Strategy:

• Monitor and integrate AI trends in research and design, especially those relevant to the public sector, education, and career guidance sectors.
• Leverage AI tools to support research and design work, in line with Sandbox’s AI policy. Contribute to generation and critical review and refinement of AI-generated outputs to improve quality and efficiency.

Background:

• 3-5 years in user or UX research, service or product design, or related sectors. We’re looking mainly for technical (research and design) work experience, but some project management or coordination experience is helpful.
• A university degree, college diploma, industry certification, or other formal training equipping you with skills outlined for the role.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership & Innovation: Leads core project components; proactively supports project leads in maintaining project progress; offers mentorship and innovatively incorporates AI.
• Accountability & Integrity: Takes accountability for project components and proactively supports success of the entire project; fosters responsibility.
• Communication & Collaboration: Communicates effectively across stakeholders; builds strong client and team relationships.
• Planning & Organization: Plans and prioritizes project work; proactively anticipates risks and supports managers in strategic problem prevention.

Core Creative and Technical Skills and Tools:

• Research and Service Design: Proven expertise with qualitative and quantitative research, and using service design tools such as journey mapping, prototyping and blueprints to uncover valuable insights. Strong capacity to translate research findings into actionable opportunities for diverse purposes, from informing product design to supporting marketing campaigns and formulating strategic institutional-level recommendations.
• Collaborating on Design: Experience working with cross-functional teams to inform and bring to life concepts, and collaborate throughout the digital product life cycle.
• Tools: Proficiency with relevant software, such as: Qualitative Research & Collaboration: Miro, Mural, or other qualitative research software like Figma, Dovetail, User Testing, Maze or similar; Google Analytics, Useberry, MS Excel for Survey Analysis, or other quantitative research and data analytics software like Qualtrics, Power Bi and/or languages like R, Python, SPSS, or SQL; Documentation & Visualization: Google Suite for documentation, Notion, Typeform, and Looker Studio for data visualization; A range of generative AI tools relevant to research.
• Content Development: Crafts clear, evidence-based, high-impact reports, and presentations - with strong attention to detail.

Bonus if You Have:

• Experience with design and implementation of marketing campaigns.
• An interest or experience in media production or technology development.
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish.