Licensing Officer

Founded in 2002, the
Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)
is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada's intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

The
NWMO
has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders who are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. In 2024, the
NWMO
selected Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace as the hosts for the site for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.

This decision means our office and staff will, in the future, be relocating to Ignace, Ont., and
the deep geological repository will be situated in the area of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace.
Infrastructure planning and development are underway to support this transition and ensure that both the community and our employees are well served and supported, now and in the future.

Licensing Officer - Engineer/Scientist

(Employment Status: Fulltime)

Position Location:
Toronto Head Office – 22 St. Clair Avenue East

Job Summary:

As part of the Regulatory Approvals, Impact Assessment & Licensing team, the Licensing Officer- Engineer/Scientist, will contribute to the execution of the NWMO's Regulatory Decision-Making (RDM) Project, a critical work program supporting the licensing of Canada's deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel. Reporting to the Manager, Regulatory Studies, the Licensing Officer- Engineer/Scientist will help advance regulatory readiness and compliance by leading, with the Senior Advisor of Licensing, the development, submission, and management of nuclear license applications and supporting documentation to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and other relevant authorities. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Canada's first-of-its-kind deep geological repository project, a nationally significant infrastructure initiative that is aligned with international best practices in nuclear safety and environmental protection. As a Licensing Officer- Engineer/Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in shaping a robust, transparent, and defensible regulatory case, essential to securing regulatory approvals.

Responsibilities:

• As the lead interface with the Integrated Project Delivery team, the successful candidate will execute components of the work program to ensure the NWMO obtains all required federal and provincial permissions and approvals, including the completion of Impact Assessments and licensing submissions to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
• Contribute to the development and implementation of licensing strategies and documentation that demonstrate safety, regulatory alignment, and compliance with the Impact Assessment Act and Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
• Coordinate internal reviews of draft licensing and regulatory documents to support timely submissions to the CNSC and other regulatory agencies.
• Participate in regulatory interface activities by organizing meetings, maintaining records, and supporting responses to information requests.
• Present key licensing deliverables to regulatory bodies to support licensing applications.
• Lead scheduling, tracking, and document management processes related to the regulatory process.
• Work collaboratively across NWMO departments and the Integrated Project Delivery team to integrate engineering, environmental, and safety evidence into a coherent licensing submission.
• Help enhance regulatory certainty and efficiency by supporting process improvements and alignment across regulatory submissions.
• Develop comprehensive information reports, prepare meeting minutes, documents or briefings related to licensing and deliverables.
• Manage records for RDM project to ensure compliance and conformance to corporate policies and regulatory standards.
• Provide regulatory assistance and guidance to the NWMO by triaging and/or compiling technical information requests and responses from internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare responses to information requests from Indigenous nations and communities, the public, partners, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Perform standard document template compliance reviews on licensing documents submitted by department leads.
• Support supervisor with reviewing reports and documents related to the RDM Project.
• Research and collaborate with internal subject matter experts and members of the project team to coordinate the production of regulatory submissions and external facing products.
• Prepare quality outgoing regulatory correspondence for regulators.
• Support the preparation of the NWMO's presentations and responses at public commission hearings with the CNSC or other regulatory bodies.
• Review work completed by external contractors to ensure it is consistent and accurate, meets relevant regulatory requirements, and that it is produced in accordance with NWMO deadlines and quality standards.
• Review and summarize trends in international regulatory developments and policy directions.
• Support the establishment of plans, scopes, schedules and contractors to meet organizational and departmental objectives.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience; however, those with lesser experience should not hesitate to apply.

• University degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related technical field is required. Additional credentials (e.g., P.Eng., PMP, or postgraduate degrees in environmental/nuclear studies) are considered strong assets.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of direct experience leading and managing complex regulatory submissions. This includes overseeing all phases of environmental and technical documentation development, ensuring completeness, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
• Advanced understanding of Ontario's environmental regulatory framework, including the Environmental Assessment Act, Impact Assessment Act (IAA), and familiarity with provincial and federal coordination processes.
• In-depth knowledge of nuclear regulatory requirements, particularly those set by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), and experience managing licensing processes for nuclear facilities or major nuclear-related infrastructure.
• Proven ability to collaborate with engineers, designers, construction managers, and environmental/social consultants to integrate diverse technical inputs into unified regulatory deliverables.
• Demonstrated expert-level skill in interpreting complex regulations, advising on compliance strategies, and developing submission approaches tailored to project-specific challenges.
• An understanding of Management Systems as they apply to nuclear, or other similar industries (e.g., aviation, oil and gas)
• Strong analytical and deductive skills.
• Sound decision-making skills.
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

The following skills and experience are considered assets:

• Bilingualism (French and English, both spoken and written) is an asset.

Other Information:

We offer a competitive base salary, health care benefits and a defined benefit pension plan.

Candidates residing in the Greater Toronto Area: Office Location – 22 St. Clair Avenue East until their role is required to relocate.

This role will require travel to Oakville, ON

NWMO currently operates in a
hybrid work model of 3 days in the office
(Tuesdays being universal) and 2 days working from home.

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
contact us
.

We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience to ensure full consideration.

The NWMO is committed to a fair, transparent, and efficient recruitment process. While we sincerely appreciate every expression of interest, only those candidates selected to continue in the recruitment process will be contacted directly.