Qualitative Research Specialist (ASL/Deaf Community Research) in Canada Creek, Nova Scotia at Jobgether
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Job Description
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Qualitative Research Specialist (ASL/Deaf Community Research) based in Canada.
This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of AI-powered communication and accessibility products through meaningful, community-centered research.
You will lead qualitative research initiatives focused on understanding Deaf users, language access needs, and real-world communication experiences.
The position combines research excellence, cultural fluency, and human-centered thinking to influence product decisions and improve accessibility outcomes.
You will collaborate with researchers, product teams, linguists, and community stakeholders to transform insights into actionable strategies.
The role requires deep respect for Deaf culture, strong ASL communication skills, and expertise in ethical qualitative research practices.
By building trusted relationships and rigorous research frameworks, you will help ensure user voices directly influence innovation and product development.
The Qualitative Research Specialist will lead high-quality qualitative research programs focused on Deaf communities and communication accessibility, ensuring research practices are respectful, inclusive, and directly connected to product improvement.
- Design and conduct ASL-first qualitative research studies with Deaf users and broader communication stakeholders, including interpreters, accessibility leaders, hearing participants, and organizational partners.
- Lead discovery research, usability studies, concept evaluations, and longitudinal research initiatives to understand user needs, behaviors, and experiences.
- Develop culturally and linguistically appropriate research methodologies that reflect Deaf community values, communication preferences, and accessibility requirements.
- Moderate research sessions, manage participant interactions, and create trusted environments that encourage meaningful feedback.
- Improve video-based research practices, including consent processes, privacy standards, accessibility considerations, data handling, and participant rights.
- Partner with researchers, linguists, product teams, AI specialists, and data teams to connect qualitative insights with broader product and measurement strategies.
- Build and maintain strong participant engagement practices, including user panels, community relationships, and research communication standards.
- Collaborate with interpreter communities, Deaf interpreters, subject matter experts, and accessibility professionals to establish effective research approaches.
- Analyze qualitative findings and translate complex user feedback into clear themes, recommendations, and product decisions.
- Support evidence-based decision-making by identifying emerging needs, opportunities, risks, and areas requiring additional validation.
- Maintain ethical, transparent, and participant-centered research practices throughout the research lifecycle.
The ideal candidate brings strong qualitative research expertise, ASL fluency, and experience working with culturally specific or accessibility-focused communities.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in Psychology, Anthropology, Journalism, Human Factors, or another research-focused discipline.
- 6+ years of qualitative research experience, including experience in product, technology, accessibility, healthcare, education, or community-focused environments.
- Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) with demonstrated ability to conduct research directly with Deaf participants.
- Strong understanding of Deaf culture, communication access, and community-centered research practices.
- Experience designing and executing qualitative studies, including discovery research, concept testing, usability research, evaluative research, and longitudinal methods.
- Proven ability to conduct video-based research and manage ethical considerations related to recordings, privacy, consent, and accessibility.
- Strong synthesis and storytelling skills with the ability to turn qualitative insights into actionable recommendations.
- Experience collaborating with product, engineering, AI, go-to-market, and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to work effectively with Deaf users, hearing participants, interpreters, Deaf interpreters, linguists, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Strong judgment in evaluating research findings and determining when additional validation is required.
- Comfort working in ambiguous environments and creating research practices where established frameworks may not exist.
- Curiosity and enthusiasm for AI, language technology, accessibility solutions, and responsible innovation.
- Experience with sign language interpretation, captioning, assistive communication tools, ASL/video data analysis, or community advisory programs is a strong advantage.
- Fully remote work opportunity within Canada.
- Opportunity to contribute to impactful accessibility and AI-driven communication solutions.
- Collaborative environment working with research, product, technology, and community-focused teams.
- Flexible work structure supporting a healthy work-life balance.
- Professional growth opportunities through exposure to emerging AI and accessibility technologies.
- Opportunity to build innovative research practices that influence real-world products.
- Inclusive workplace culture focused on respect, accessibility, and meaningful user impact.
- Potential travel opportunities with limited travel requirements (less than 25%).