Director, Fire & Emergency Management

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd.; Chalk River; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits from Day One

Tuition support

Pension plan options

Job summary

Join CNL as Director, Fire & Emergency Management in Chalk River. Lead a strategic fire protection and EM program, directing a team of SMEs and aligning plans with safety, regulatory and environmental objectives.

Drive policy, risk management and performance measures across multiple sites to protect people and the environment. The role requires a university degree or equivalent, 10+ years of leadership in fire protection and strong knowledge of national codes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of leadership in fire protection or emergency response in a complex, multi-site, industrial setting.
• Experience guiding cultural change and stakeholder negotiations.
• Experience aligning projects with business objectives within scope, schedule, budget, risks.
• Background in fire engineering and protection systems is an asset.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and codes relevant to fire protection and safety leadership.

Responsibilities

• Developing mandate, strategy, annual and long-term plans and budgets for Fire & Emergency Management at CNL.
• Leading SMEs to deliver the corporate mandate to sites’ Fire & Emergency Management teams.
• Providing strategic direction to department staff to maximize effectiveness and goal achievement.
• Demonstrating leadership in fire and emergency response and risk-informed planning.
• Developing or refining policies to meet current regulations and best practices.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Fire protection expertise

Policy development

Education

University degree in Fire Engineering or related discipline

Diploma in fire protection or emergency management

Job description

Are you the kind of leader who believes that safety isn’t just a requirement but a responsibility to people, community, and environment? Do you thrive in highly regulated environments where precision, planning, and accountability are critical to success? Are you driven to build programs that not only meet compliance expectations but also set the benchmark for industry best practices? Our Chalk River location is looking for a Director, Fire & Emergency Management, to lead stewardship of a comprehensive fire protection and emergency management program that prevents and mitigates fire‑related risks, ensuring our licensed activities never pose an unreasonable risk to people or the environment. If you answered yes, then this may be the job for you!

What will you be doing!

• Developing the mandate, overarching strategy, annual and long‑term business plans and budgets to improve the delivery of Fire & Emergency Management (EM) at CNL.
• Leading a highly specialized team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to deliver the corporate mandate to various sites’ Fire and Emergency Management teams.
• Providing strategic direction, leadership and support to department staff within Fire and EM, which enables them to maximize their effectiveness in developing goals and objectives focused on providing services and/or products for customers/stakeholders.
• Demonstrating leadership in fire and emergency response and taking responsibility for incorporating safety considerations and risk management into plans and programs.
• Ensuring the development of new and/or refining existing policies in accordance with current and changing regulations, procedures and best practices relevant to fire and emergency response in the diversified CNL work environment.
• Establishing performance measures with a view to improving fire and emergency response.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.
  

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • A relevant university degree (e.g., Fire Engineering) or equivalent experience in a related discipline, and/or a diploma in fire protection systems, fire protection technology, emergency management and response, or a related field.
• Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of demonstrated leadership experience in a fire protection and/or emergency response role within a complex, multi‑site, industrial environment.
  • Experience managing cultural change: teamwork (employees, clients, unions), negotiation, marketing (of ideas/benefits), presentation and coaching.
  • Experience providing strategic leadership for projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives while managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder expectations.
  • Experience leading investigations, root cause analyses, and continuous improvement initiatives, with a demonstrated ability to translate findings into effective corrective actions that strengthen safety, operational excellence, and organizational performance.
  • Background in fire engineering and fire protection systems, with expertise in fire safety program development, code compliance, system performance evaluation, and integration of fire protection principles into complex industrial, laboratory, nuclear, or high‑hazard facilities is an asset.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to provide strategic oversight, influence and negotiate effectively and develop tactical plans.
  • Sound knowledge of legal and other requirements and the regulatory framework as they pertain to fire protection and emergency preparedness, e.g., Nuclear Safety and Control Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Canada Labour Code, National Fire Code of Canada.
  • Familiarity with fire protection and all aspects of the National Building Code, National Fire Code and relevant provincial fire protection legislation for both the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario.
  • Ability to understand and effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, sensitive information to executive management in the organization and to senior and middle management in other organizations.
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required
  • Level 2 Secret requires a minimum of 7 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, seven and a half (7.5) hours per day for a thirty‑seven and a half (37.5) hour work week.
• Regular travel is required, at times on limited notice.
• Must be prepared to be on call and available to respond to crisis events at any time.

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: A Total Rewards Package

We believe in taking care of our people. Here’s what you can expect as part of our team:

• Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and floater days
• Benefits effective Day One – no waiting period
• Tuition support to help you keep learning and growing
• A defined-benefit pension plan or a defined-contribution pension plan, depending on your employee group, to support your long‑term financial security

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?

• Delivering clean energy for today and tomorrow
• Restoring and protecting the environment
• Contributing to the health of Canadians

If so, you’ll feel right at home at CNL!

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. Click here to read all about it!

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Accountability
• Safety
• Integrity
• Excellence

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

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.

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.