Operations Manager

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Laurentian Hills; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nuclear research facility in Canada is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee safe and efficient operations. This role requires extensive leadership experience in a highly regulated environment, with a commitment to compliance and teamwork. The Operations Manager will be responsible for managing day-to-day activities and ensuring rigorous adherence to nuclear safety protocols while developing a skilled team.

Benefits

Paid time off

Benefits effective day one

Tuition support

Pension plan

Qualifications

• Must have eight years of experience in the operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities.
• At minimum, 10 years of experience in a leadership role within an operations environment.

Responsibilities

• Managing day-to-day operations of nuclear facility systems.
• Leading and developing a technically skilled team.
• Ensuring adherence to nuclear safety protocols and regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Proactive problem-solving

Operational management

Organizational skills

Safety commitment

Education

Relevant university degree or technical college diploma

Job description

Are you ready to lead operations at one of Canada’s premier nuclear research facilities? Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is seeking an Operations Manager, Unity 2 at our Chalk River site to help shape the future of safe, efficient, and innovative nuclear operations. If you’re passionate about excellence, compliance, and teamwork in a highly regulated environment — apply today and make an impact!

What will you be doing!

• Managing day‑to‑day operations of nuclear facility systems to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant performance.
• Overseeing the execution of operational procedures in alignment with industry regulations, site license conditions, and internal standards.
• Maintaining rigorous adherence to nuclear safety protocols, environmental regulations, and quality assurance programs.
• Interfacing with regulatory bodies (e.g., CNSC, NRC, IAEA) during audits, inspections, and reporting activities.
• Leading, supervising, and developing a technically skilled team, promoting a strong nuclear safety culture and operational excellence.
• Providing coaching, training, and performance management to ensure personnel qualifications, readiness, and succession planning.
• Developing and managing operational budgets, including forecasting, cost tracking, and optimization of labour and material resources.
• Ensuring the efficient deployment of human and technical resources in support of outage planning, maintenance, and project work.
• Leading initiatives to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks using tools such as Human Performance (HuP), Root Cause Analysis, and Corrective Action Programs (CAP).
• Driving continuous improvement through performance monitoring, lessons learned, and industry benchmarking.
• Collaborating with engineering, maintenance, radiation protection, training, and other support departments to coordinate operational priorities.
• Communicating effectively with internal teams, senior leadership, and external stakeholders regarding operational status, issues, and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Relevant university degree or a technical college diploma, OR must have a minimum of eight years of experience in the operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities.
• Experience
  • At minimum, 10 years of experience in a leadership role within an operations environment, or equivalent combination of skills, training and experience.
  • Experience in, and understanding of, facility operations, ideally in the nuclear industry and administration and/or leadership experience in operating facilities.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Proven leadership with strong interpersonal skills, essential for managing a diverse and dynamic operations team within a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with clients, end users, support functions, and senior management.
  • Demonstrated proactive problem‑solving abilities by anticipating issues, securing necessary resources, adapting work plans, and driving timely resolution to meet operational goals.
  • In‑depth knowledge of facility and operational management practices, including compliance, maintenance, logistics, and efficiency improvements.
  • Skilled in being highly organized, with strong planning and analytical capabilities to manage complex operational workflows, evaluate performance metrics, and implement process improvements.
  • Skilled in multitasking and managing competing priorities effectively.
  • Ability to delegate responsibilities appropriately to ensure timely and high‑quality execution of tasks and projects.
  • Demonstrated commitment to safety, and an understanding of how risk management principles should be applied to operational decisions.
  • Understanding of operations in the regulatory environment and the applicability of license programs.
  • Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and have a sound working knowledge of mechanical systems, process systems and basic operations instrumentation.
  • Working knowledge of the hazards associated with radioactive materials.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) principles, including hazardous work assessments and radiological work planning within an operating environment involving nuclear materials.
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required
  • Level 2 Secret with 5 year SASC 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:

• Mix of desk‑based activities, and field presence as determined by need and schedule that will include walking, and stair climbing within the facility.
• Work is in a radiological environment and can involve exposure to low‑level radiation levels or contamination. This may require a respirator to be worn, and the ability to pass a respirator fit test is expected. Other Radiation Protective Equipment may be assigned (Tyvek Coveralls, cloth coveralls, booties, gloves, etc.)
• The facility uses some industrial chemicals. Hazard controls may include personal protective equipment such as face shields, gloves, coveralls, respirators or others specified by Industrial Hygiene.
• Work can be noisy when equipment is operating, so wearing hearing protection will be required.

Why CNL?

Does working with a team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world speak to you? We're reinventing ourselves to be the pacesetters so we can lead the charge in solving the problems that matter, like building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy solutions, developing new and better‑targeted cancer treatments, and continuing to lead the world in environmental remediation.

We offer a complete total rewards package:

• Paid time off (vacation, sick, floater & personal)
• Benefits effective day one, that’s right, no waiting period
• Tuition support
• and a pension!

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?

• Clean energy for today and tomorrow.
• Restore and protect the Environment.
• Contribute to the health of Canadians.

Location:

CNL’s Chalk River laboratory is nestled in the Ottawa Valley and affords our employees an area that is environmentally pristine with extensive forests, hills and numerous small lakes, all of which support a variety of wildlife typical to the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. Many surrounding towns, such as Pembroke, Petawawa and Deep River, provide unparalleled outdoor adventures at your doorstep!

CNL is committed to providing an atmosphere free from barriers that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in achieving our mission. CNL welcomes and celebrates employees, stakeholders and partners of all racial, cultural, and ethnic identities. Read here further on our DE&I Commitment.

CNL also supports a workplace environment and a corporate culture that is built on our Core Values: Respect, Teamwork, Accountability, Safety, Integrity and Excellence which encourage equitable employment practices and career prospects inclusive of accommodations for all employees.

CNL is committed to being an equal‑opportunity employer. If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please indicate via our ATS when applying. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.

The Chalk River Laboratories site is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. As an organization, CNL recognizes and appreciates their historic connection to this place. CNL also recognizes the contributions that First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and this province and country as a whole.