Senior User Experience (UX) Specialist/Content Designer

Enterprise Applications Branch (EAB) is responsible for providing leadership in the planning, development and support of enterprise business solutions and services. EAB provides application development expertise for implementing new business applications and major enhancements that focus on collaboration, enterprise information management and enterprise level services.

We are seeking people who can deliver quick, creative digital solutions to complex, interesting problems. You will use your skills to collaboratively deliver elegant, accessible and user-focused digital products and services.

Note: This position is located at 33 King Street West Oshawa or 222 Jarvis Street, Toronto; however, alternate work arrangements including flexible hours, hybrid remote work, and compressed work week may be available.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

As a Senior User Experience Specialist/Content Designer, you will:

• provide expertise to project and operations teams in developing and executing online user experience/content strategy as part of the agile development software life cycle
• provide advice and guidance on all aspects of user experience/content design strategy, assessing user characteristics, needs, goals, and opportunities
• develop processes to define and test usability requirements and metrics
• lead and negotiate the development of user experience/content standards and performance measures, and produce design concepts/content strategy for digital services
• design broader online information and services
• conduct stakeholder and subject matter expert consultations to determine and assess business needs
• design and lead multiple concurrent projects
• lead and direct the development of website content, structures and features
• develop, design and maintain wireframes, mockups, and specifications
• communicate designs, interaction models, and end-to-end experiences with team members and stakeholders
• communicate design prototypes and concepts to developers
• make technology recommendations related to patterns, components, and design systems

How do I qualify?

Design Expertise

• You have human-centred design experience and expertise in developing and executing strategies that improve the overall user interactions with digital products and services, resulting in measurable improvements and positive user feedback.
• You have led the design of complex digital services from concept to production and you can draw on your expertise to develop and maintain a high bar for user experience standards and performance measures.
• You prioritize generative user research and promote continuous user validation as early and as frequent as possible.

Technical Knowledge

• You have expertise in web and web accessibility standards (W3C -WCAG, WAI-ARIA, AODA, IASR) and experience in testing and providing technical remediation guidance; providing direction to development and QA teams in incorporating accessibility into designs, standards, patterns, and testing.
• You have a strong understanding and experience in Lean UX methodologies, producing appropriate documentation, specifications, low and high fidelity wireframes, graphic mockups; collaborating with designers, analysts, and developers to satisfy complex and competing requirements.
• You have experience designing and building user interfaces for dynamic web applications using markup languages (HTML5) and modern front-end frameworks, component libraries and design systems.
• You have deep knowledge of user experience, content design and related strategies, methodologies and techniques.
• You have experience with standard UX software such as Sketch, InVision, Balsamiq, Figma, etc.

Communications and Interpersonal Skills

• You have effective communications, collaboration and negotiation skills to participate in team discussions, make solution recommendations and document/explain work.
• You thrive on feedback and are comfortable transforming ideas generated through user research and analysis to create a better user experience.
• You have a strong commitment to customer service excellence, teamwork and collaboration.
• You are a team player who can navigate complex environments and situations, balance a variety of viewpoints and mobilize multiple actors to achieve consensus, generate support and produce meaningful outcomes.
• You communicate with structure and clarity.
• You are responsive to change and the needs of clients, team members and partners.

Analyzing and Problem-Solving Skills

• You have experience in researching industry best practices to support the development of strategy and standards, and to apply them your work (e.g. security and accessibility by design).
• You can work with management or colleagues to anticipate and resolve project issues.
• You can evaluate evidence-based tools such as web analytics, visitor feedback, and performance metrics.
• You can identify emerging trends and design research projects.

Project Management Skills

• You have experience in undertaking and leading parts of complex projects of different sizes, ensuring alignment to project plans and best practice, and incorporating user centered design processes and methodologies.
• You are versed in Agile Project Management Delivery methods and tools

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, September 16, 2022 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.