Manager, Material Forensics and Characterization

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Chalk River; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits from Day One

Tuition support

Pension plan

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories seeks a Materials Forensics and Characterization Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team delivering advanced materials characterization and forensic investigations for critical science initiatives at CNL.

The role guides program delivery, customer alignment, and market-driven growth while upholding safety and integrity across the branch and directorates, with focus on advancing Canada’s nuclear future.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Chemistry, Surface Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of scientific/technical project leadership experience.
• Minimum 2 years in a technical, project, or management leadership role.
• Experience in innovation and program/project management including people, processes, customers and finances.
• Experience with recruiting and strong business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Successfully executing projects and programs to meet customer requirements, including nuclear industry and Federal S&T priorities.
• Prioritizing and adjusting resources to support program delivery and business objectives.
• Contributing to the S&T vision and mission of CNL, the Directorate, and the Branch.
• Supporting technical work and deliverables while leveraging knowledge of customer needs, policy, and market trends.
• Identifying and pursuing research growth opportunities by anticipating client and industry needs.
• Defining, developing, and leading collaborations that expand programs and technical capabilities.
• Developing commercialization opportunities to drive program growth and increase CNL's impact.
• Providing aspirational leadership by fostering productive relationships across teams and directorates.
• Promoting a strong safety and security culture and ensuring safe, compliant operations.
• Attracting, developing, and retaining talented staff while supporting succession planning.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication

People management

Team collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD or Master’s in Chemistry/Surface Science/Materials Science

Job description

Are you a strategic leader passionate about advanced materials science, technical innovation, and solving complex engineering challenges? Do you enjoy leading multidisciplinary teams, managing cutting-edge analytical capabilities, and supporting investigations that help improve the safety, reliability, and performance of nuclear technologies? As the Materials Forensics and Characterization Manager, you will lead a highly specialized team delivering advanced materials characterization, forensic failure investigations, and analytical services that support critical science and technology initiatives across CNL. If you are ready to drive scientific excellence and make a meaningful impact on Canada's nuclear future, !

What you will be doing!

• Successfully executing projects and programs to meet customer requirements, including nuclear industry and Federal S&T priorities.
• Prioritizing and adjusting resources to support program delivery and business objectives.
• Contributing to the S&T vision and mission of CNL, the Directorate, and the Branch.
• Supporting technical work and deliverables while leveraging knowledge of customer needs, policy, and market trends.
• Identifying and pursuing research growth opportunities by anticipating client and industry needs.
• Defining, developing, and leading collaborations that expand programs and technical capabilities.
• Developing commercialization opportunities to drive program growth and increase CNL's impact.
• Providing aspirational leadership by fostering productive relationships across teams and directorates.
• Modelling integrity, transparency, and accountability while promoting a strong safety and security culture.
• Building and maintaining a climate of trust, respect, and fairness with staff and stakeholders.
• Promoting innovative thinking and encouraging new approaches to problem-solving.
• Ensuring safe, secure, and compliant branch operations by actively participating in safety initiatives.
• Providing clear expectations regarding worker safety tools, procedures, and protocols.
• Fostering a respectful workplace where employees can openly report safety concerns and management addresses them effectively.
• Attracting, developing, and retaining talented staff while supporting succession planning.
• Utilizing facilities and resources to support the successful delivery of programs.
• Developing, maintaining, and supporting the procurement of equipment and facilities to achieve mission objectives.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What We Are Looking For

• Education
  • A Degree from a University of recognized standing; a Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Surface Science, Materials Science, or a related field is required.
• Experience
  • 10 or more years of scientific/technical project leadership experience.
  • A minimum of two (2) years in a technical, project, or management leadership role.
  • A broad scientific/engineering background, acquired through formal education.
  • Experience in innovation and program/project management, which includes management of people, processes, customers and financial performance, is required.
  • Experience with recruiting and strong business acumen.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Passion for science, technology and discovery.
  • Strong interpersonal skills in working with management and staffand building a team approach.
  • Ability to foster a team environment by understanding and managing group dynamics.
  • Ability to solicit points of view, ideas, and opinions from team members to help form decisions or plans to achieve organizational unit objectives.
  • A proven record in demonstrating leadership of technical organizations dealing with a diverse group of internal and external customers
  • Excellent understanding of effective leadership concepts, skill sets, application and training.
  • Excellent and effective written and verbal communication skills with a variety of internal and external organizations and levels.
  • Ability to listen and quickly address human resources issues, motivate staff to achieve high levels of professionalism to ensure business alignment of business objectives at all levels of the operation.
  • A good understanding of the Canadian and global nuclear power landscape, R&D needs in the areas under purview, process/product qualification and technology/program/project management, which incorporates management objectives related to people, processes, customers and financial performance, is required.
• 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.
• Attention to alarms, signage, and notices is required.
• Visiting laboratories, nuclear facilities, customer sites, and accessing areas through stairs, ladders, and on foot is required.
• The duties may require extra hours.
• Remote working may be required periodically.
• Extended travel may be required periodically.
• Frequently called upon to provide information and make presentations on short notice, both to internal and external groups.

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!

Location: Onsite

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.

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

• 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.