Section Leader

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

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits effective Day One

Tuition support

Pension plan

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Ontario is seeking a senior leader to oversee projects within Construction & Project Delivery at the Chalk River facilities. You will provide day-to-day leadership, oversee safety, budgeting, and scheduling, and mentor a diverse team of engineers, planners, and contractors.

The role emphasizes governance, regulatory knowledge, and strong stakeholder communication to ensure compliant, on-time project execution in a nuclear safety-critical environment.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience with 8+ years.
• Strong ability to lead a diverse group and maintain team focus.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and day-to-day oversight to deliver results.
• Oversee new activities, projects, and facilities ensuring safe, on-time, on-budget execution.
• Lead a team of field engineers, technologists, planners, supervisors, and contractors.
• Ensure facilities operate to protect health, safety, security and environment.
• Interface with stakeholders to implement project strategies.
• Review project documentation per Integrated Work Control Process.
• Ensure projects are conducted safely and compliantly.
• Monitor progress and perform safety inspections.
• Ensure plans and permits are followed; manage cost efficiencies.
• Mentor staff to meet Capital Project Program requirements.
• Prepare justification for capital equipment purchases.
• Support preparation of training, operating instructions, and maintenance procedures.
• Report to Facility Authority on Capital Project Program effectiveness.
• Ensure activities are planned, assessed for hazards, and authorized.
• Monitor facility operations to meet safety, reliability, and efficiency standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Change management

Education

Advanced technology degree

Job description

Are you looking for a role that will challenge you? Can you see yourself being responsible for overseeing projects, providing project oversight, and contributing to the Integrated Work Control process to develop work packages for the safe execution of work in the field? Does the idea of providing leadership and direction for direct reports, including setting their goals and implementing development plans, appeal to you? If you answered yes, then this may be the job for you!

What will you be doing!

• Providing leadership and day-to-day oversight to deliver results in line with the department’s goals.
• Providing oversight for new activities, projects, and facilities planned for the Section, with a focus on excellence, new technology, knowledge transfer, and staff training, to ensure these activities/projects/facilities are executed safely, delivered on time, and remain on budget.
• Leading and coordinating a team of field engineers, technologists, planners, supervisors, and design/construction contractors supporting all projects within Construction & Project Delivery.
• Ensuring that the Facilities are operated to protect Health, Safety, Security, and the Environment.
• Interfacing with CNL stakeholders and staff to develop and implement strategies for the best possible project implementation.
• Reviewing and supporting the development of project documentation based on the Integrated Work Control Process.
• Ensuring that the projects conducted within the facilities under Construction & Project Delivery are conducted in a safe and compliant manner.
• Monitoring project progress, work activities and key resources on a frequent basis, and performing safety inspections as required.
• Ensuring adherence to work plans and permits, including hold points and sign-offs prior to advancement.
• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained cost-effectively to preserve physical integrity and support a safe, sustainable state.
• Reporting and investigation of incidents and unplanned events, and management of the emergency response function within the facilities.
• Managing the inventory of assets and procured tools, equipment, and materials needed to execute planned work within their responsibility.
• Mentoring the Construction & Project Delivery staff on meeting Capital Project Program requirements.
• Preparing justification documents for capital equipment purchases.
• Supporting the preparation of documents (including training, operating instructions, and maintenance procedures).
• Monitoring and reporting to the Facility Authority (FA) and Facility Managers (FM) on the effectiveness of the implementation of the Capital Project Program within their respective facilities.
• Ensuring that all activities (including those by internal CNL groups and external contractors) carried out in the facilities are planned, assessed for potential hazards, and authorized.
• Monitor and direct facility operations and program activities to ensure work is performed to standards of operational safety, reliability, and efficiency, and in accordance with the site license, the Construction & Project Delivery program, technical specifications, applicable standards, and other internal and external regulatory requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Graduation from a recognized institute of advanced technology, or equivalent formal education.
• Experience
  • Significant related experience in a field of specialization, including eight (8) years of demonstrated experience in a leadership position.
  • Experience in leading a team, maintaining a clear focus on team goals, and establishing good rapport with groups and individuals of many diverse professions is required.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong technical background in commissioning techniques to guide project teams in developing sound decisions when preparing project documentation and construction strategies.
  • Ability to assume responsibility for activities that (i) carry legal liabilities, and (ii) have the potential for major and adverse impacts on health, safety, and the environment.
  • Project management skills to ensure that critical activities are identified and planned for success.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform under stress when confronted with emergency, unusual or hazardous conditions and to lead others in such conditions.
  • Initiative to resolve problems and expedite resources, work plans or other appropriate actions.
  • Have a good base knowledge of the Canada Labour Code, WHMIS, CNSC regulations, and other codes pertaining to life safety, such as Ontario Regulations dealing with hazardous products, including asbestos-containing materials.
  • Ability to perform a variety of duties and change tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
  • Strong understanding of change management concepts and experience leading change initiatives.
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills; the ability to disseminate information to other team members and clients and strong team problem-solving skills are essential.
  • Ability to work smoothly and effectively with customers, technical staff, colleagues and management.
  • General knowledge of waste management concepts, including awareness of requirements for working in waste facilities.
  • Knowledge of design, construction, operations and maintenance is considered an asset.
  • Strong knowledge of facility management, maintenance, or construction practices would be 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, eight (8) hours per day for a forty (40) 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. Click here to read all about it!

CNL is an equal opportunity employer

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.