2027 Winter Student Program - Project Leader Student

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Chalk River; Hybrid; CAD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid statutory holidays

Company floating holiday

4% of earnings on each pay

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories seeks a Project Leader Student at our Chalk River location to support planning, coordination and execution of new build projects. You will work with engineers, architects and managers to translate concepts into deliverables in a hands-on environment.

Responsibilities include developing schedules and budgets, preparing reports, coordinating with internal and external teams, conducting site visits, and contributing to risk management and documentation.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in a post-secondary program in engineering, construction management, architecture, or a related field.
• Familiarity with project management principles and tools (e.g., MS Project, Excel, or similar).
• Excellent written and verbal communication with a collaborative mindset.
• Proactive problem-solving attitude and willingness to learn from experienced professionals.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the planning and delivery of new build projects, from early design through to construction completion.
• Assisting in developing project schedules, budgets, progress reports and minutes of meetings using tools like Primavera P6, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Coordinating with internal teams, contractors, and consultants to ensure milestones are met and quality standards are upheld.
• Participating in site visits, inspections, and safety briefings to gain real-world construction management experience.
• Contributing to risk assessments, change management processes, and project documentation.
• Presenting updates to stakeholders, highlighting progress, challenges, and solutions.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

Skills

Organizational skills

PM tools

Communication skills

Proactive attitude

Education

Engineering/Construction Management/Architecture focus

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity to gain hands‑on project management experience while helping deliver complex, high‑impact construction projects? Can you see yourself helping turn project concepts into reality while working alongside experienced engineers, architects, and project managers? If you answered yes, this may be the opportunity for you. Our Chalk River location is looking for a Project Leader Student to support project planning, coordination, and execution activities within a dynamic project delivery environment.

All students applying for student positions at CNL must be returning to full‑time studies upon completion of their work term. Exceptions will be made for students who require a work term to graduate.

Department: 8082 & 8596 New Builds
Number of Positions: 2
Duration: 4 Months (January - April)
Field of Study: Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or any related fields
Year of study: 3rd year or higher

What you will be doing!

• Supporting the planning and delivery of new build projects, from early design through to construction completion.
• Assisting in developing project schedules, budgets, progress reports and minutes of meetings using tools like Primavera P6, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Coordinating with internal teams, contractors, and consultants to ensure milestones are met and quality standards are upheld.
• Participating in site visits, inspections, and safety briefings to gain real‑world construction management experience.
• Contributing to risk assessments, change management processes, and project documentation.
• Presenting updates to stakeholders, highlighting progress, challenges, and solutions.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Enrollment in a post-secondary program in engineering, construction management, architecture, or a related field.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
  • Familiarity with project management principles and tools (e.g., MS Project, Excel, or similar).
  • Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal—with a collaborative mindset.
  • Possesses a proactive, problem‑solving attitude and a willingness to learn from experienced professionals.
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required
  • Reliability Status with Site Access Security Clearance (SASC), which has a minimum requirement of 3-5 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's “Standard on Security Screening” and the “Policy on Government Security.”

Working Conditions:

• Working schedule: Five (5) days per week, eight (8) hours per day for a forty (40) hour work week.

Why CNL?

Does the idea of working with a dynamic team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world excite you? At CNL, we’re reinventing ourselves to be industry leaders—pioneering solutions to the problems that matter most.

From building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy technologies, to developing targeted cancer treatments, to continuing our global leadership in environmental remediation, we are driven by impact, innovation, and purpose.

What we offer Students:

• Paid Statutory Holidays (within the working term);
• 1 Company Floating Holiday;
• Instead of cumulative vacation time, students receive an additional 4% of earnings on each pay!

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?

• Delivering clean energy for today and tomorrow
• Restoring and protecting the environment

Located in the heart of the Ottawa Valley, our Chalk River site offers a beautiful natural setting with forests, lakes, and wildlife, right at your doorstep. Surrounded by welcoming communities such as Deep River, Petawawa, and Pembroke, you’ll have access to unparalleled outdoor adventures and a fantastic work‑life balance.

Please note: This is a fully on‑site position based at our Chalk River Laboratory in Ontario.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At CNL, we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome employees, stakeholders, and partners of all backgrounds and identities.

CNL is an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation during any phase of the hiring process, please let us know via [e-mail] . All requests will be handled with confidentiality.

We are proud to uphold a workplace culture grounded in our Core Values:

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Accountability
• Safety
• Integrity

These values drive our employment practices and ensure meaningful career development opportunities and accommodations for all employees.

CNL operates on sites located on the traditional lands, waterways and ceded and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples. CNL recognizes and affirms all First Nations, Métis communities and Inuit in this land we now know as Canada. We acknowledge, respect and seek to better understand Indigenous history, rights and title on the lands where we work and develop projects. We honour and respect the importance of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their lands, waters and territories.