UX Inclusive Design Lead

Application deadline: March 13th, 2026 Join the EDC Team! At EDC, we support Canadian businesses to succeed globally. We provide the financial tools and expertise they need to explore new markets, reduce risks, all towards the goal of making Canada and the world better through trade. Position: UX Inclusive Design Lead Employment Type: Contract (12 months) Compensation Details • UX/UI Designer 18: Salaries typically range from $96,557 to $128,743 annually, based on qualifications and experiences. Location: • Export Development Canada operates in a hybrid work environment, currently requiring employees to work in the office 2 days per week. (subject to change) • This role can be performed from EDC’s headquarters in Ottawa or from one of our Community Hubs located in Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, Brossard, Laval, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, or Vancouver. About EDC At Export Development Canada (EDC), we empower Canadian businesses to succeed globally. As a financial Crown corporation, we offer innovative financial solutions and expert insights to help businesses explore new markets, mitigate risks, and achieve growth. Why Join EDC? • Comprehensive Benefits: EDC offers a competitive compensation & benefits package, work-life balance, & the opportunity to help make Canada and the world better through trade. • Work-Life Balance: EDC offers a competitive compensation package & work-life balance. We have hybrid work options, 3 to 4 weeks paid vacation, a corporate closure period, summer early Friday’s & no meeting Fridays. • Professional Development: Take advantage of our continuous learning opportunities, including training programs, workshops and language training. • Inclusive Culture: Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that champions employment equity & values diversity of ideas, strengths, & backgrounds to succeed. • Wellness Programs: Access to wellness initiatives, mental health support, and fitness programs to keep you healthy and happy. • Community Engagement: Participate in volunteer opportunities and give back to the community through our various social responsibility programs. Team Overview As part of the Customer Experience Centre of Excellence (CX COE), the UX Inclusive Design Lead will play a critical role in embedding accessibility and inclusive design practices across EDC’s digital ecosystem. Reporting to the Manager of Experience Design, and working directly within the UX DesignOps team, this role ensures that accessibility is more than a compliance requirement—it becomes a foundational element of how EDC designs, builds, and maintains digital experiences. This role is accountable for shaping and governing accessibility within the enterprise design system, modernizing UX/UI kits to embed inclusive design standards, and establishing best practices that elevate the quality and consistency of UX/UI design across teams. Beyond supporting design system stewardship, this role functions as capability-builder, coaching and mentoring UX designers, product teams, and cross-functional partners on inclusive and accessible design methods, tools, and techniques. Through advisory support, hands-on evaluation, and structured upskilling programs, the UX Inclusive Design Lead ensures that inclusive design becomes shared organizational competency. This position is essential to advancing EDC’s commitment to creating digital experiences that are inclusive, barrier-free, and usable for all people, empowering every user, including those with disabilities, to fully access and benefit from EDC’s services. What you will be doing:  As the UX Inclusive Design Lead, you will play a central role in developing EDC’s design maturity—building inclusive design practices, upskilling designers and product teams, and providing expert guidance to ensure digital experiences are accessible and inclusive for all users. Your Role Will Involve The Following Accessibility & inclusive design practice: • Champion accessibility and inclusive design practices across digital product and service workflows, including design operations. • Ensure UX/UI designs meet applicable accessibility legislation and standards, such as the Accessible Canada Act, CAN/ASC EN 301 549, and WCAG 2.2 AA or higher. • Translate accessibility standards into practical, actionable UX and UI guidance for designers and product teams. • Conduct accessibility-focused design reviews and provide clear, actionable recommendations to product, project, and delivery teams. • Embed accessibility considerations early in analysis, concepting, and prototyping, enabling a “shift-left” approach to inclusive delivery. • Develop and maintain scalable inclusive design guidance and patterns, ensuring integration through the design system and DesignOps practices. Design System And Design Operations Integration • Ensure design system components and patterns meet accessibility standards as part of the DesignOps team. • Embed clear accessibility criteria and usage guidance into design system documentation. • Contribute accessible patterns, templates, and examples that promote shared understanding and consistent application across teams. • Strengthen UX ways of working by integrating inclusive design practices into processes and workflows, with a goal of scaling quality across product and project teams. • Support design governance and uphold quality standards across digital initiatives. • Operationalize accessibility checkpoints within design, development, and delivery processes to ensure continuous compliance and improvement. Inclusive Research & Accessibility Testing • Support and scale inclusive UX research practices across teams and project streams. • Plan and conduct inclusive usability and accessibility studies, including tools such as Fable Engage in partnership with the UX Research Lead. • Partners with UX researchers and designers to recruit and engage participants with disabilities, ensuring diverse representation in research activities. • Contribute to the development of inclusive research protocols and modern research practices that reflect evolving accessibility standards. • Integrate accessibility validation early in concept and prototype testing, supporting a “shift-left” approach to inclusive delivery. • Synthesize research and testing insights into clear, actionable design and product recommendations. • Contribute to inclusive research standards and repeatable testing frameworks that strengthen organizational research maturity. Designer Enablement & Practice Development • Coach and mentor designers in accessibility and inclusive design methods, building confidence and capability across the practice. • Deliver workshops, training sessions, and hands-on guidance to strengthen inclusive design skills across UX and product teams. • Create and maintain playbooks, toolkits, and templates that support consistent and scalable inclusive design execution. • Advance UX capability in inclusive and agentic design practices, ensuring agentic UX patterns (e.g., automation or AI assisted actions) remain transparent, accessible, and equally usable for people with diverse abilities. • Promote continuous improvement in accessibility maturity across the UX/UI design practice through guidance, coaching, and ongoing support. UX Design Support & Delivery Enablement • Provide hands-on UX/UI support to product and project teams as needed, contributing design capacity during periods of high demand, tight timelines, or shifting priorities. • Assist with concepting, interaction design, and prototyping to help teams accelerate delivery while maintaining accessibility and inclusive design standards. • Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure design work is consistent, user-centered, and aligned with enterprise patterns and accessibility requirements. • Support design delivery across a range of digital initiatives, flexing between advisory and hands-on design execution based on team needs. • Help maintain quality and continuity of UX design outputs when additional coverage is required across product lines or project portfolios. What we are looking for:  • Minimum 7 years of experience in UX digital design and research, with a minimum of 4 years in inclusive design. • Completed undergraduate degree in a relevant field. • Proficiency in Figma (required), and user research platforms (such as Dovetail). • Advanced level understanding of disability-related issues in digital accessibility, and of accessibility standards including WCAG 2.1/2.2, CAN/ASC EN 301 549, and proper use of ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications). • Demonstrated experience in guiding enterprise teams to plan, build, and deliver accessible solutions that reflect inclusive design principles across web and across responsive web experiences. • Understanding of accessibility requirements across different types of disabilities and assistive technologies. • Experience supporting teams in designing and implementing accessibility requirements as well as resolutions to existing issues. • Experience working with accessibility research platforms such as Fable Engage. • Effective relationship-building, communication and influencing skills with the ability to drive consensus among diverse stakeholders with diverse perspectives. • Ability to effectively convey complex digital inclusivity concepts to both technical and non-technical cross-functional audiences. • Solid critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills. • Comfortable managing shifting priorities, and tight deadlines. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Adapt professionally to change and support others through transitions. What Will Make You Stand Out • Experience in accessibility testing, supporting QA teams, is considered an asset. • Experience writing HTML, CSS and Javascript would be considered an asset. • Experience working in agile methodologies and with agile planning tools such as Azure DevOps or Jira would be considered an asset. Eligibility • Eligibility: EDC is committed to Fair Employment Practices and preference will be given to a candidate who is able to work legally in Canada at the time of application (Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents). Candidates must meet the requisite government security screening requirements. The position is open to those who meet all of the essential requirements stated above and whose applications are received by the closing date. This position is open to individuals who meet all the essential criteria outlined above and submit their applications by the closing date. Ready to make a difference? This is your chance to join a dynamic, growing team and leave your mark on our organization, development finance, and the world. Apply today! Want to learn more about EDC? Check our website here https://www.edc.ca EDC's Commitment to Employment Equity Export Development Canada (EDC) is dedicated to fostering employment equity and building a diverse workforce. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that respects people from all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. At EDC, we nurture a culture of inclusion and belonging where everyone has equal opportunity to grow, develop, succeed, and be their truest selves. We actively encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all the requirements. We thank all applicants' interest in a career at EDC; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that qualified candidates may be considered for similar roles at this level within EDC. Should you require any accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected]. Posting Date Feb 27, 2026, 9:42:44 AM Primary Location: Ontario-Ottawa Job Type Contract Schedule Full-time