ABOUT UPWORDS:

We are endlessly curious about people. What they think. What they do. Why the two do not always match.

At Upwords, we turn that curiosity into Insights that Inspire.

We are an award-winning Canadian strategic market research consultancy helping organizations better understand people and make confident, human-centered decisions.

Our work focuses on four key areas: Strategy, Innovation, Communications and Experience.

We work across everything from consumer brands and tourism to transportation, energy and the public sector. Using qualitative and mixed-method research, we get to dig into why people do what they do, then figure out what our clients should do about it.

We are a small team that takes the work seriously, but not ourselves.

We are creative, collaborative, and always learning.

We actively teach and learn from one another. Two members of our team teach the CRIC Moderator Essentials course, bringing that expertise to how we support researchers developing their moderation skills.

We invest in storytelling, share our thinking and feedback openly, experiment with new tools and methods, and learn from every project.

We care deeply about the craft of research.

We ask a lot of questions, notice the details and genuinely enjoy figuring things out together.

And while we are a small, virtual-by-design team, our work has been recognized internationally and in Canada, including an ESOMAR qualitative research award, a CRIC Award for Public or Social Service Impact and a QRCA Qually Award, among others.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are looking for a Qualitative Researcher to join our Insights team while one of our team members is on maternity leave.

This is a fixed-term maternity leave contract through December 24, 2027, with a flexible start date in September 2026. And while it starts as a contract, we would love to find someone who could have a longer-term future with Upwords, if it is a outstanding fit on both sides and business needs support it.

We care more about finding the right person than the right title.

You might have a few years of research experience and be ready to stretch or be a more experienced qualitative researcher looking for interesting, varied work with a highly collaborative team.

At a minimum, you will bring 2+ years of direct research experience, strong qualitative instincts and a real appetite to learn.

You might be a great fit if...

- You are a learning sponge. You are curious about people, businesses and the world around you,



and comfortable talking to almost anyone about almost anything.
- You like asking questions and digging beneath the obvious answer. You enjoy taking a lot of messy information and figuring out what it means. You care about the big picture, and you also notice the details.
- You genuinely enjoy collaboration, sharing ideas and learning from feedback. At the same time, you are comfortable putting your head down, diving deeply into a piece of work and figuring things out independently.

Most importantly, you want to keep getting better at the craft of research.

What you will do:

You will work alongside experienced researchers across the research process, helping us understand complex business questions, design the right research to explore them, and turn what we learn into insights that inspire action.

The scope and level of responsibility will flex based on your experience and capabilities, but could include:

- Meeting with clients to understand their business challenges and research needs
- Helping translate business questions into thoughtful research approaches and contributing to proposals
- Designing qualitative research activities using a range of approaches
- Developing screeners, discussion guides and other research materials
- Overseeing recruitment and fieldwork to ensure we are getting the quality we need
- Programming and managing online discussion boards
- Moderating qualitative research using synchronous and asynchronous approaches, virtually and in person
- Analyzing and synthesizing qualitative research to uncover patterns, tensions and insights
- Finding the story in the research and developing clear, engaging, story-led reports and presentations
- Contributing qualitative thinking and insight to mixed-method research engagements
- Presenting findings and participating in client discussions and working sessions
- Managing projects and collaborating with clients, colleagues, recruiters and other research partners
- Contributing to internal initiatives and helping us continue to strengthen how we work

If you are earlier in your career, you will have opportunities to learn alongside experienced researchers and progressively take on greater ownership.





If you bring more experience, we will look for opportunities to use it, including greater ownership of research design, client relationships, project leadership and mentoring.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who brings:

- 2+ years of direct, relevant research experience
- Experience with qualitative research, whether through moderating, supporting qualitative projects or working closely with qualitative data
- Excellent English writing, communication and presentation skills
- Intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in understanding people and what drives them
- Strong interpersonal instincts and the ability to build rapport with a wide range of people
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills, including the ability to move from details to patterns, insights and a larger story
- Exceptional attention to detail
- The ability to learn quickly and manage multiple projects and priorities at the same time
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Comfort with technology and learning new research platforms and tools
- The ability to collaborate closely with a team while also diving deeply into work independently
- The legal right to work in Canada

Previous moderation experience is an asset, but it is not essential. We would consider someone with the right research foundation, instincts and interpersonal skills who is ready to develop into a strong moderator.

A few practical details:

This is a virtual role, and you can live anywhere in Canada, provided you are legally entitled to work in Canada and have a stable high-speed internet connection.

Our work is primarily conducted during regular business hours, but qualitative research sometimes happens when participants are available. You will need to be comfortable with occasional evening or weekend work, with advance notice, as well as occasional travel for in-person research, client meetings or other engagements.

Upwords employees receive

- Health and dental benefits
- Office closure between December 25 and January 1 in addition to your annual vacation allowance
- $500 per year toward professional development
- QRCA membership
- Ongoing formal and informal learning, coaching and professional development

Sound like you?

We would love to hear from you.

And if you are wondering whether you are quite experienced enough, or perhaps too experienced for the role, do not let that stop you. We really are looking for the right person!

📌 Qualitative Researcher | Insights (Canada)
🏢 Upwords
📍 Canada