Director, Field Operations Oversight

Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. • Chalk River, ON

1d • CA$169,900 - CA$212,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

AECL operates on land and territories that have, since time immemorial, been the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Together with our contractor, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), AECL is committed to advancing reconciliation with First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities through a renewed relationship based on recognition of rights, mutual understanding and respect, and meaningful engagement, collaboration, and partnership.
Small Team. Big Impact.
At AECL, your expertise makes a visible difference. As a small and agile organization, individual contributions matter, and your work is closely connected to real‑world outcomes that deliver lasting public value and contribute to outcomes that matter to Canada.
Energizing Canada’s Nuclear Future.
Is AECL right for you?
As a federal Crown corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has a mandate to enable nuclear science and technology and manage the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste liabilities. Since 2015, AECL has been delivering its mandate through a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) business model, whereby a private-sector organization, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), is responsible for managing and operating AECL’s sites on its behalf. AECL’s objectives under the GoCo model include accelerating Environmental Remediation Management, managing the Federal Nuclear Science and Technology Work Plan, and building a world-class nuclear laboratory that fulfils government priorities and grows commercial revenues.
Who this role is great for:
This role is a good fit if you:
want your field, facility, or operational experience to inform executive-level decisions;
are motivated by connecting site realities, credible evidence, risk, and public value;
can provide constructive challenge while maintaining strong working relationships;
understand AECL’s role in a Government-owned, Contractor-operated model, including the distinction between owner-side oversight, contractor execution, and independent regulation; and
thrive in a small, collaborative environment where collaboration, judgement, and accountability go hand in hand.
What you will do:
In this role, you will contribute directly to work that supports AECL’s priorities and delivers outcomes that matter to Canada.
We're looking for a Director, Field Operations Oversight who is passionate about operational awareness, field-based oversight, and informed decision-making.
Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Integrated Mission Delivery, you will provide owner-side oversight of S&T and waste operations and associated facilities operations, including field activities, site observations, and activities that may involve AECL property and land-use considerations across multiple locations in Canada. You will lead a team responsible for generating site-based evidence and ensuring facility conditions, field observations, and operational realities are consistently reflected in AECL's oversight, governance, and decision-making processes.
Within AECL’s Government-owned, Contractor-operated model, AECL provides owner-side oversight while CNL manages and operates AECL’s sites on its behalf. In this role, you will support informed owner-side decision-making by helping develop and carry out documented oversight plans, observing and verifying field conditions, challenging where appropriate, escalating when needed, and ensuring evidence is clearly documented.
As AECL’s senior authority for field operations oversight of S&T and waste operations and, associated facilities within the GoCo model operations, you will ensure that field intelligence is gathered, assessed, documented, and integrated into programme and project oversight activities. Working across sites and portfolios, you will help ensure field oversight resources are deployed where they provide the greatest value, based on risk, geography, workload, and organizational priorities.
This is a dynamic opportunity to collaborate with executives, technical specialists, facility personnel, Indigenous communities, government representatives, and other vested parties. You will bring sound judgment, strategic thinking, and operational awareness to complex environments while helping ensure decisions are grounded in reliable field observations and a clear understanding of site conditions.
At AECL, we value strong relationships, transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and continuous improvement. If you're looking for a role where your expertise helps strengthen organizational oversight, improve situational awareness, and support effective programme delivery, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Environmental Management, or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in site operations, field-based oversight, or similarly complex regulated environments.
• Experience gathering, assessing, and interpreting field observations, facility conditions, and site-based information to support decision-making.
• Experience working across multiple sites or geographically dispersed operations.
• Experience operating within structured governance frameworks involving oversight, assurance, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Knowledge of site operations, facility management, field assurance, and oversight practices within complex operational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate operational observations, site intelligence, and risk information to executive and external audiences.
• Proven leadership, relationship management, risk assessment, and decision-making capabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Professional designation such as P.Eng. or equivalent is considered an asset.
• Certification related to inspection, audit, or field-based assurance practices is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide owner-side oversight of S&T and waste operations and associated facilities operations, including field activities, site observations, and activities that may involve AECL property and land-use considerations across multiple locations in Canada.
• Lead a team responsible for generating site-based evidence and ensuring facility conditions, field observations, and operational realities are consistently reflected in AECL's oversight, governance, and decision-making processes.
• Support informed owner-side decision-making by helping develop and carry out documented oversight plans, observing and verifying field conditions, challenging where appropriate, escalating when needed, and ensuring evidence is clearly documented.
• Ensure that field intelligence is gathered, assessed, documented, and integrated into programme and project oversight activities.
• Help ensure field oversight resources are deployed where they provide the greatest value, based on risk, geography, workload, and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with executives, technical specialists, facility personnel, Indigenous communities, government representatives, and other vested parties.
• Bring sound judgment, strategic thinking, and operational awareness to complex environments while helping ensure decisions are grounded in reliable field observations and a clear understanding of site conditions.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental benefits through the Government of Canada
• Participation in the Public Service Pension Plan
• Vacation, personal and floating days
• A confidential Employee & Family Assistance Program
• A flexible hybrid work model
• Paid time off during the year-end holiday period, from December 24 through January 1
• Performance-based incentives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director