Manager, Waste Program Oversight

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd.; Pinawa; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits effective Day One

Tuition support

Defined-benefit/defined-contributionP"

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is seeking a Manager, Waste Program Oversight to guide cross‑functional teams in waste characterization, sampling, and data reporting. You will ensure regulatory compliance, govern QA practices, and drive continuous improvement across environmental remediation, decommissioning, and long‑term waste management programs.

You will oversee planning, risk monitoring, and performance of characterization activities, supporting safe operations at our Whiteshell site in

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership and people management in regulated environments.
• Strong organizational and resource management for multiple programs.
• Knowledge of governance, QA, records management and performance monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead Waste Characterization and Sample Management operations and set priorities.
• Develop and maintain capabilities for waste characterization, gamma assay, laboratory coordination and sample management.
• Coach multidisciplinary teams and resolve resource challenges to drive high performance.
• Oversee planning and execution of characterization activities across waste management projects.
• Ensure characterization, sampling, reporting, and reviews meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Monitor program performance, risk, and data quality to deliver defensible products.
• Manage Sample Management Office operations, including chain-of-custody and reporting.
• Coordinate sampling needs, labs, schedules, and data delivery for projects.
• Evaluate service levels and lab performance to support timely waste management.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Quality assurance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics or related discipline

Job description

Are you looking for a role where your leadership can directly influence the safe and effective management of complex waste programs? Can you see yourself guiding multidisciplinary teams, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring critical waste characterization activities support environmental remediation, decommissioning, and long-term waste management objectives? If so, the Manager, Waste Program Oversight role at CNL is key to enabling regulatory compliance and supporting important waste disposition decisions across CNL's operations. If this sounds like the opportunity you've been looking for,

What you will be doing!

• Leading the Waste Characterization and Sample Management functions by setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Developing and maintaining the people, processes, equipment, and technical capabilities required to deliver waste characterization, gamma assay, laboratory coordination, and sample management services.
• Coaching and supporting multidisciplinary teams by providing leadership, resolving resource challenges, removing barriers, and driving high performance.
• Overseeing the planning and execution of waste characterization activities that support waste processing, environmental remediation, decommissioning, transportation, storage, and disposal initiatives.
• Ensuring characterization, sampling, reporting, and technical review processes are implemented consistently and meet quality, regulatory, and operational requirements.
• Monitoring program performance, technical quality, workload demands, and emerging risks to deliver accurate, defensible characterization products.
• Managing Sample Management Office operations, including sample tracking, chain-of-custody processes, laboratory coordination, analytical reporting, and records management.
• Coordinating sampling requirements, laboratory services, analytical schedules, and data delivery to support project and operational needs.
• Evaluating service levels, laboratory performance, and operational effectiveness to ensure timely and reliable support to waste management activities.
• Maintaining compliance with regulatory, quality assurance, and technical standards while implementing effective oversight and performance monitoring practices.
• Leading corrective actions, audits, assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen operational efficiency, data quality, customer service, and long-term program sustainability.
• Supporting organizational priorities, special projects, and emerging operational needs while promoting a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline from a recognized university.
• Experience
  • Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in waste management, radioactive waste characterization, environmental characterization, nuclear operations, decommissioning, remediation, laboratory services, or related technical fields.
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams within a regulated industrial or nuclear environment.
  • Demonstrated experience managing technical programs, projects, or operational services with multiple stakeholders.
  • Experience supporting regulatory compliance, quality assurance programs, and technical governance.
  • Experience overseeing characterization activities, laboratory services, analytical data interpretation, or waste disposition programs.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, including the ability to set clear expectations, reinforce standards, coach leaders and employees, manage performance, and support the development of a high-performing technical organization.
  • Strong organizational and resource management skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands, balance workloads, allocate resources effectively, and support successful delivery of multiple programs and projects simultaneously.
  • Strong understanding of management systems, technical governance, quality assurance, records management, and performance monitoring within a regulated operating environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify organizational risks, monitor functional health, remove execution barriers, and implement corrective actions to improve performance and compliance.
  • Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate technical, operational, and organizational information and make sound decisions.
  • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with technical staff, managers, project teams, clients, regulators, and external service providers.
  • Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships, influence outcomes, resolve conflicts, and achieve results through collaboration across multiple organizations.
  • Strong planning, coordination, and forecasting skills, including workforce planning, capability development, succession planning, and workload management.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives and foster a culture of accountability, learning, and operational excellence.
  • Ability to work effectively in an environment characterized by changing priorities, complex technical challenges, regulatory requirements, and multiple stakeholders.
  • Thorough knowledge of radioactive waste management principles and practices, including waste planning, waste characterization, waste classification, waste acceptance, storage, transportation, processing, and disposition.
  • Strong knowledge of waste characterization methodologies, characterization planning, sampling programs, verification strategies, and characterization reporting.
  • Knowledge of Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs), Characterization Reports, Data Quality Objectives (DQOs), statistical evaluation of characterization data, and uncertainty management.
  • Knowledge of radiological fingerprint development, scaling factor methodologies, radionuclide inventory development, and characterization verification techniques.
  • Knowledge of gamma spectroscopy, gamma assay systems, radiation detection instrumentation, analytical measurement techniques, and associated limitations and uncertainties.
  • Knowledge of sample management processes including sample collection, preservation, chain-of- custody, laboratory coordination, analytical services management, sample tracking, and records management.
  • Knowledge of laboratory analytical methods, laboratory quality systems, and interpretation of radiological, chemical, and hazardous constituent analytical data.
  • Knowledge of Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC), waste receiver requirements, waste disposition pathways, and regulatory decision-making processes.
  • Knowledge of Radiation Protection principles, contamination control, radiological work practices, and industrial safety requirements.
  • Knowledge of Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) requirements and considerations for waste shipments.
  • Knowledge of Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulations, CSA N292 standards, IAEA guidance, environmental legislation, hazardous waste regulations, and industry best practices applicable to characterization and waste management activities.
  • Knowledge of organizational processes related to quality assurance, corrective action programs, audits, records management, and continuous improvement within a nuclear operating environment.
• 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:

• We have a compressed work week: Four (4) days per week, ten (10) hours per day for a forty (40) hour work week, starting at 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Periodic field visits, facility walkdowns, observations of characterization activities, oversight of gamma assay operations, and engagement with field personnel are required.
• Activities may require the use of personal protective equipment and occasional travel throughout the site.

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

Location: Onsite

Located near Pinawa, Manitoba, our Whiteshell site is surrounded by pristine lakes, rivers, and forests — a true haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers a peaceful, close‑k­nit community atmosphere, ideal for those who enjoy nature, recreation, and a balanced lifestyle.

Please note: This is a fully onsite position based at our Whiteshell site, Manitoba.

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!

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.

Whiteshell Laboratories is situated on the traditional lands of Treaties 1 and 3, and near Treaty 5. This land is the home of the Anicinabe, Ojibway Anishinaabe and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. We recognize that many other Indigenous Peoples across the region and Canada also consider this area their home.

At Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), we recognize the unique history, spiritual beliefs, cultural practices, and languages of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and we appreciate the responsibility they have as stewards of the environment. We remain firmly committed to being an active participant in Canada’s journey towards healing and reconciliation.

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