Project Leader

Are you interested in a new and challenging opportunity? Do you have experience designing and/or constructing new builds? If you answered yes, we are looking for a Project Leader to deliver projects for CNL, ranging from small modifications and improvements to facilities and infrastructure at Chalk River Laboratories to large, complex new-build construction of buildings, laboratories, waste management facilities, facility decommissioning, and environmental restoration activities.

What you will be doing!

• Supporting the Project Manager and project team for the delivery of large-scale projects of critical significance to the ongoing success of CNL, characterized as multi-year in duration, often involving substantial safety and licensing requirements with many internal and external regulatory interactions, contracts requiring substantial negotiations of terms and conditions, having many work packages, resources and interfaces to manage, and involving a significant financial commitment.
• Using general knowledge of business and management principles, being involved in project planning, budgeting, and resource allocation through discussions with internal clients to define the project scope, deliverables, and timing.
• Approving project scope of work and determining project priorities and division of responsibilities.
• Reviewing the project with the Project Team and meeting regularly for updates on deliverables against plan, while motivating team members to meet quality, scope, and cost constraints.
• Securing seconded resources through resource/functional managers to execute the project.
• Establishing and controlling project scope and managing risks, including managing deliverables within the estimated timeframe and notifying management of issues that could impact project cost and timing.
• Establishing and administering project budgets and schedules and approving changes to scope of work within project management guidelines.
• Managing and reporting on project performance to clients, management and other stakeholders.
• Authorizing project expenditures (e.g., purchase orders, invoices, and expense claims) within delegated authority limits.
• Building and leading competent multi-disciplinary project team(s) to deliver the project objectives.
• In conjunction with the Project Manager and in coordination with Functional Managers, participating in the process of hiring project staff for the project(s).
• Managing project performance by setting project-related performance objectives and providing regular feedback and guidance to project staff, including a small team of internal, seconded, contract and consulting resources assigned to the project.
• Motivating project participants to deliver quality results on time and on budget.
• Participating in interviews, recruiting and making staff selection recommendations.
• Providing performance feedback to project staff and recommending performance ratings.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

What We Are Looking For

• Education: A Bachelor (honours) in Engineering or Science from a university of recognized standing, or an alternative qualification is a certificate from the Project Management Institute “Project Management Professional” (PMP). AACE Certification (or within 6 months of achieving certification) is considered an asset.
• Experience: 7-8 years of progressive, responsible project experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience related to plant or facility operations, engineering or large construction projects. Experience and resulting knowledge of applying 9 project management knowledge areas (Scope, Cost, Time, QA, Communications, Human Resources, Risk, Procurement, Integration) to smaller, low-risk projects. Experience in the design and/or construction of new builds.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge gained through experience in one or more of the typical phases of a project lifecycle (e.g., Project Definition, Concept Development, Detailed Design, Construction, Commissioning, and Decommissioning phases) is required. Within each phase, knowledge and experience in applying the processes for initiation, planning, executing, controlling, and closing is necessary. Understanding of the nuclear industry's project safety/design/risk review and approval processes in relation to their application on lower-risk projects. Knowledge of formal quality management programs and the ability to apply them to the formulation and implementation of project plans, and awareness of federal licensing requirements, nuclear codes and standards, and environmental regulations and standards, and their application to the lower-risk projects they lead.
• 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.

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.
• This position is part of the CRPEG Union and is governed by the terms and conditions outlined in the CRPEG Collective Agreement.

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.

If so, you’ll feel right at home at CNL!

Location: Fully Onsite. This role is a fully onsite role that requires the employee to primarily work at CNL’s Chalk River Laboratory site, with only occasional opportunities to work remotely, if desired by the employee. 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 jobs@cnl.ca. 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.