Program Manager

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Chalk River; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits from Day One

Tuition support

Pension plan

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is seeking a Program Manager to lead the Directorate’s portfolio, including the Federal Nuclear Science & Technology (FNST) and Laboratory Directed Science & Technology (LDST) programs, as well as commercial projects.

You will be the main point of contact for internal and external stakeholders and will drive program success by coordinating scope, cost, schedule, and resources.

Qualifications

• 12 years of progressively responsible experience in program and project management within a complex technical or regulated environment.
• Experience managing multi-project portfolios, including forecasting, budgeting, and performance management against funding constraints.
• Proven ability to interact effectively with all levels of internal and external personnel; building trust and resolving conflicts.
• Experience working with Canadian Government programs.
• Strong knowledge of portfolio financial management practices, including EAC and funding alignment.

Responsibilities

• Serving as the Program Manager for the Directorate’s portfolio, including the FNST and LDST programs and commercial projects.
• Representing CNL with government sponsors, commercial clients, and partner organizations.
• Collaborating to develop proposals, work plans, and funding strategies.
• Integrating scope, funding, and resources into cohesive program plans and budgets.
• Leading negotiations on scope, schedule, and budget to support program delivery.

Job description

Are you looking for a role that will challenge you? Can you see yourself leading a diverse portfolio of scientific and technical programs, coordinating scope, cost, schedule, and resources to deliver results that support Canada’s nuclear science and technology priorities? If you do, we are looking for a Program Manager role that offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with technical experts, project teams, government sponsors, and business partners while driving program success, managing risk, and ensuring customer requirements are met. If you answered yes, then this may be the job for you!

What will you be doing!

• Serving as the Program Manager for the Directorate’s portfolio, including the Federal Nuclear Science & Technology (FNST) Program, Laboratory Directed Science & Technology (LDST) Program, and commercial projects, while acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Representing CNL and the Directorate in interactions with government sponsors, commercial clients, and partner organizations, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and customer expectations.
• Collaborating with line management, technical teams, and Business Development to develop proposals, work plans, and funding strategies that support program and sponsor priorities.
• Integrating organizational goals, technical scope, funding, and resource requirements into cohesive program plans, including supporting the Annual Program of Work and Budget (APWB).
• Leading negotiations with sponsors and internal execution teams on scope, schedule, budget, and performance requirements to support successful program delivery.
• Overseeing the execution of funded program activities, ensuring deliverables meet customer requirements, reporting obligations are fulfilled, and performance expectations are achieved.
• Partnering with Technical Managers, Project Leads, and Project Controls to monitor portfolio performance, manage risks, develop mitigation strategies, and implement recovery plans when required.
• Maintaining an integrated view of scope, cost, schedule, and resources across the portfolio, ensuring alignment between technical objectives and approved funding levels.
• Monitoring, validating, and managing portfolio financial performance, including forecasting, Estimate at Completion (EAC) oversight, variance analysis, and implementing corrective actions.
• Tracking and reporting APWB commitments, supporting reforecasting activities, and ensuring staffing, facility, supply chain, and support service requirements are identified and maintained to enable program success.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Science, Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  • An advanced degree is considered an asset.
• Experience
  • 12 years of progressively responsible experience in program and project management, portfolio financial management, or business operations within a complex technical or regulated environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience managing multi-project portfolios, including forecasting, budgeting, and performance management against funding constraints, is required.
  • Demonstrated experience interacting effectively with all levels of internal and/or external personnel; building trust, gaining consensus, and resolving conflicts.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and nurturing effective internal and/or external customer relationships.
  • Demonstrated experience working with Canadian Government programs.
  • Demonstrated experience in leading the execution of R&D Projects, resource planning and allocation, risk management, EVMS performance, cost and schedule management, and strategic planning.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Business and Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of portfolio management, financial forecasting, budgeting, and performance management within a project-based environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully manage a program and provide direction to a project team without direct line management.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with and be knowledgeable of CNL and the Canadian Federal stakeholders with an interest in innovative nuclear technologies.
  • Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
  • Excellent negotiating skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate technical, financial, and scheduling considerations to support decision-making and ensure delivery within funding constraints.
  • General knowledge of the Federal Nuclear S&T Program and the Laboratory Directed S&T Program.
  • General knowledge of commercial nuclear technologies.
  • Knowledge of portfolio financial management practices, including Estimate at Completion (EAC) and funding alignment, is considered an asset.
• 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, seven and a half (7.5) hours per day for a thirty-seven and a half (37.5) 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: 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 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.