Director, Nuclear Operations Programs

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

2d • 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 results that deliver lasting public value for Canada.
Energizing Canada’s Nuclear Future.
Is AECL right for you?
As a federal Crown corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) enables nuclear science and technology and manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste liabilities. Since 2015, AECL has delivered its mandate through a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) model, where Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) manages and operates AECL sites on its behalf. In this model, AECL provides owner-side oversight and assurance to support environmental remediation, the Federal Nuclear Science and Technology Work Plan, and the development of a world-class nuclear laboratory that advances government priorities and grows commercial revenues.
Who this role is great for:
This role is a good fit if you:
want your expertise to be visible, valued, and directly connected to outcomes;
are motivated by work connected to real‑world outcomes and public value; and
thrive in a small, collaborative environment where flexibility and accountability go hand in hand.
What you will do:
In this role, you will help strengthen AECL’s informed-owner oversight of nuclear operations and the programs that support safe and effective mission delivery within applicable requirements.
We're looking for a Director, Nuclear Operations Programs who is motivated by operational excellence, nuclear safety, disciplined oversight, and the opportunity to ensure key programs deliver the outcomes AECL requires.
Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Integrated Mission Delivery, you will provide owner-side oversight of key programs and enabling functions delivered through AECL’s contractor-operated model, with a particular focus on excellence in nuclear operations and how nuclear standards are upheld. This includes engineering, site engineering, nuclear criticality safety, regulatory affairs, program performance and effectiveness, governance systems and controls, Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Quality (HSSE&Q), occupational safety and health (OSH), radiation protection (RP), subcontractor safety, and related licensing strategies. Your oversight will help ensure these programs are consistently implemented, integrated across missions, continuously improving, meeting their intended purpose, operating within applicable requirements, and delivering value to AECL’s mandate, including safe and secure work, strong nuclear safety culture, nuclear professionalism, effective technical decision-making, visible risks and accountabilities, and credible licensing and regulatory strategies.
You will also provide leadership for AECL’s security governance program and oversee CNL’s nuclear security and cybersecurity programs and their interfaces with AECL, helping ensure that security considerations align with AECL’s obligations, risk posture, and mission priorities.
As a senior leader within AECL’s Integrated Mission Delivery function, you will provide assurance to leadership and support informed decisions that protect safety, strengthen nuclear safety culture and nuclear professionalism, and advance mission outcomes.
This is a dynamic opportunity to work closely with leaders and technical experts, while engaging with regulators, government partners, CNL, and industry stakeholders. You will bring strategic thinking, technical judgment, and leadership to complex operational environments, helping AECL maintain its role as an informed owner focused on transparency, accountability, and long-term mission outcomes.
At AECL, we value strong relationships, sound governance, evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, and responsible stewardship. If you're looking for a role where your expertise helps strengthen operational excellence, nuclear safety outcomes, and mission 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 nuclear operations or similarly complex regulated technical environments.
• Experience leading, overseeing, or assessing large multidisciplinary programs or enabling functions in a nuclear, high-hazard, or complex regulated environment, including engineering, site engineering, nuclear criticality safety, regulatory affairs, program performance and effectiveness, governance systems and controls, HSSE&Q, occupational safety and health, radiation protection, safety, licensing, security governance, nuclear security, cybersecurity, or comparable mission-support functions.
• Experience assessing program performance, effectiveness, implementation against applicable requirements, continuous improvement, and value against safety standards and operational expectations.
• Knowledge of engineering, site engineering, nuclear criticality safety, regulatory affairs, program performance and effectiveness, governance systems and controls, nuclear safety, nuclear safety culture, nuclear professionalism, operational readiness, HSSE&Q, occupational safety and health, radiation protection, licensing considerations, security governance, nuclear security, and cybersecurity within nuclear or similarly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex operational, technical, regulatory, and security matters to executive and external audiences.
• Proven leadership, relationship management, risk management, and decision-making capabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Professional designation such as P.Eng., or certification in risk management, security, emergency management, or program management, is considered an asset.
• Experience within a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GoCo) model or comparable oversight environment is considered an asset.
• Experience working in or overseeing regulated environments, such as CNSC-regulated nuclear activities, occupational safety and health regulated environments, licensing strategies, implementation against applicable requirements, or regulatory oversight, is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide owner-side oversight of key programs and enabling functions delivered through AECL’s contractor-operated model, with a particular focus on excellence in nuclear operations and how nuclear standards are upheld.
• Ensure programs are consistently implemented, integrated across missions, continuously improving, meeting their intended purpose, operating within applicable requirements, and delivering value to AECL’s mandate.
• Provide leadership for AECL’s security governance program.
• Oversee CNL’s nuclear security and cybersecurity programs and their interfaces with AECL.
• Provide assurance to leadership and support informed decisions that protect safety, strengthen nuclear safety culture and nuclear professionalism, and advance mission outcomes.
• Bring strategic thinking, technical judgment, and leadership to complex operational environments.

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
• 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: Executive