Section Manager, Mining and Repository Engineering

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.

Section Manager, Mining and Repository Engineering

(Employment Status: Fulltime)

Position Location: Toronto Head Office – 2 St. Clair Avenue East

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Mining and Repository Engineering the candidate will manage contracts for engineering and technical services related to the design and construction of deep geological repositories andsupervise staff.

The candidate will manage contracts for conceptual design, cost estimates, R&D, field investigations, independent reviewer and detailed design activities; manage design change; maintain contract budgets, schedules, estimates and review design and construction deliverables to ensure they meet the design intent and stay within the design basis built into the safety case.

In addition, the Section Manager, Mining and Repository Engineering will work with various internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies to present and support design activities; ensure employee health and safety bysupporting a strong safety culture and ensuring employee activities meet or exceed health, safety and environment requirements. The candidate will require demonstrated experience in both surface and underground construction and mining practices.

• Provide technical subject matter expertise and leadership on services and strategies related to repository design and construction activities.
• Provide subject matter expertise and technical review of engineering deliverables (requirements, drawings, calculations, reports) related to surface and underground repository design and construction.
• Participate and contribute to units’ plans and strategies to meet departmental objectives. Be responsible for the preparation and administration of the budget on assigned projects and contracts.
• Supervise staff and be responsible for their assigned work. Act as a coach to create and sustain a co-operative and supportive team environment, actively working with staff to provide training and empower them to attain optimal work performance with a high level of personal responsibility and self-management. Demonstrate openness and trust through the sharing of information, and by being visible and accessible to employees. Provide clear expectations and performance measures and regular meaningful feedback.
• Ensure employee health and safety, supporting a strong safety culture and ensuring employee activities meet or exceed the health, safety and environment requirements as outlined in NWMO policies, procedures and standards.
• Support the procurements of services and equipment process by assisting in the development of project expressions of interest (EOI) and requests for proposal (RFP) packages to meet the engineering, services, equipment and materials requirements of the project and participate in the evaluation and selection of contractors.
• Manage external contracts for conceptual design and cost estimating, detailed design and field design activities. Monitor performance against work plans and schedules. Maintain contract budgets, schedules, estimates and change. Provide technical guidance and ensure all deliverables meet NWMO requirements for quality, clarity and technical accuracy.
• Coordinate geomechanical investigation activities as they relate to design of underground repositories and surface facilities.
• Ensure design changes being recommended do not negatively impact health and safety of workers and the public and maintain the design basis and associated requirements.
• Interface with internal NWMO groups that have requirements for the design and reach consensus on needed changes prior to their implementation.
• Manage design changes within existing processes and make recommendations on processes to address field, procured equipment and commissioning change.
• Communicate clearly to senior management and external groups regarding the design and project progress. Provide, updates, and report to external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, on the design status, work activities and project status.
• Coordinate the review of deliverables by relevant stakeholders and ensure comments are dispositioned and addressed.
• Coordinate field and office engineering interfaces during construction – field change and field quality to design.
• Coordinate configuration management requirements, assess and approve field change requests and provide auditable change control from issued for construction (IFC) through to as-built stages.
• Provide commissioning support related to repository design and construction activities.
• Collaborate with industry experts to ensure adoption of best-practices related to repository design and construction activities.
• Provide subject matter expertise to support the regulatory processes.
• Provide subject matter expertise in responding to public information requests and regulatory inquiries.
• Present to government authorities, agencies, regulatory bodies and legislative hearings as a technical expert on repository design activities.
• Perform other duties as required.

• A four (4) University Degree in mining, geological, mineral or civil engineering
• Over 10 years of experience in mining and/or heavy construction industries.
• Experience in the areas of:
  • underground mining environment including experience with long term mine planning or;
  • design and construction of comparable major infrastructure projects (e.g., energy, transportation, etc.).
  • understanding of regulatory bodies with respect to the application of the Ontario Mining Regulations and/or Construction Regulations.
  • both underground and surface construction and mining practices including Drill and Blast.
• Experience in supervising (directly or indirectly) technical staff.
• Experience in project management, including plan development, resourcing, schedule tracking and risk management techniques.
• Experience managing large contracts related to underground and surface design and/or construction.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and interact with external contractors.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills to present information and respond to questions from public officials, contractors and the public.

• Experience with construction software (AutoDesk, Bentley, etc.) and/or mining design software (Deswik, Vulcan, VentSim, Datamine, etc.) would be highly regarded.
• Experience in understanding nuclear systems design to maintain the design basis and coordinate configuration management requirements through field change processes.
• Experience in underground services infrastructure design (ventilation, dewatering) would be highly regarded.
• Experience with shaft sinking projects would be highly regarded.
• Experience with technology innovation projects would be highly regarded.
• Licensed Professional Engineer preferred.
• PMP or other project management designation would be highly regarded.

Must be eligible to work in Canada and must be able to meet security clearance requirements.

We offer competitive salary, health care benefits package and pension plan.

The NWMO is committed to contributing to Reconciliation in all its work by co-creating a shared future built on rights, equity and well-being. As an employment equity employer, NWMO actively seeks Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, and additional diverse identities for our workforce. The NWMO will provide accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation, please c ontact us .