Head Of Design Research (AI)

TL;DR

Head of Design Research (AI): Leading and scaling the design research function to inform product vision and long-term strategy with an accent on integrating AI-assisted methodologies. Focus on building research capability, driving evaluative and generative research streams, and empowering product teams through self-serve frameworks.

Location: Hybrid/Remote (Australia). The company has campuses in Sydney and Melbourne, with co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide; employees have flexibility in choosing their work balance.

Company

Canva is a global visual communication platform that empowers everyone to design anything and publish anywhere.

What you will do

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Design Research team while fostering psychological safety and excellence.
• Craft and execute a design research strategy that aligns with product vision and long-term AI-era opportunities.
• Drive evaluative research to identify and fix user issues across product surfaces.
• Enable product teams to conduct their own research through training, templates, and shared frameworks.
• Evolve research methodologies by integrating AI-assisted techniques to improve speed and scale.
• Define research success metrics and manage the research tool ecosystem.

Requirements

• Seasoned leader with deep expertise across generative, evaluative, and mixed-methods research.
• Proven experience in shaping product strategy and elevating research craft.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills to partner with senior leaders across Product, Design, Engineering, and Data.
• Experience as a force multiplier, enabling cross-functional teams to conduct research independently.
• Deep interest and practical experience in integrating emerging AI capabilities into research practice.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to share in company success.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options to support personal recharge and work-life balance.
• Collaborative and fun environment focused on achieving ambitious goals.