VP Nuclear Island

Job Description

Overview

AtkinsRéalis is one of Canada's largest private sector nuclear engineering groups. We have been providing a wide range of services to the nuclear industry in Canada and around the world for more than 60 years. We are proud to be the steward of Canadian CANDU nuclear technology and to apply our extensive knowledge to service the BWR/PWR market.  Our expertise includes: Nuclear Steam Plant (NSP) engineering, Balance of Plant (BOP) engineering, Plant Life Management and Extension, Retube Tooling Systems, Inspection and Maintenance Services, Steam Generator Replacement, Plant Equipment Refurbishment and Retrofits.

Our Nuclear Canada business is experiencing significant growth driven in part by planned New Build projects underway internationally and domestically.

The VP, Nuclear Island is accountable for the delivery of the Nuclear Island scope within a large nuclear new‑build project, inclusive of Engineering, Procurement and Construction.

This role holds full responsibility for scope definition, schedule, budget, and risk for the assigned scope, initially for the plant design, early long lead supplier engagement and construction planning and estimating scope, and then transitioning to a site based role, responsible for execution of the Nuclear island build. They must ensure nuclear safety, quality, and regulatory compliance as well. The VP acts as the integrating delivery lead, coordinating engineering, procurement, construction, quality, safety and financial reporting/project controls across multiple business lines and organizations.

The role requires strong delivery leadership, disciplined project controls, and deep experience operating in a highly regulated, long-duration nuclear construction environment.

The Vice President is single‑point accountable for the Nuclear Island scope with respect to:

• Scope definition, change control, and configuration control.
• Schedule development, integration, and milestone achievement.
• Budget performance, forecasting, and cost control.
• Risk identification, mitigation, and contingency management.
• Nuclear safety, quality, and regulatory compliance within the scope.
• Worker health and safety.
• Engineering delivery.
• Procurement delivery.
• Construction delivery.
• Client relationship.

Your role

Safety, Nuclear Quality & Regulatory Compliance:

• Set and enforce a nuclear safety culture and “Zero Harm” mindset across Engineering partners and subcontractors.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., CSA N286, ASME, CWB, IEEE, NFPA, local building codes) and conformance to Nuclear QA requirements (e.g., graded approach, hold/witness points, document traceability).
• Oversee licensing interfaces and ensure design and meets regulatory commitments, including design change control, configuration management, and records retention.
• Serve as the senior accountable delivery leader for nuclear safety and quality within the assigned scope.
• Ensure all activities comply with CANDU safety philosophy, nuclear codes and standards, quality assurance programs, and CNSC licensing commitments.
• Reinforce a strong nuclear safety culture, emphasizing conservative decision‑making, procedural adherence, and early issue identification.
• Sponsor effective corrective action and continuous improvement programs to address quality issues and inspection findings.

Scope Ownership & Delivery:

• Own the design delivery of the Nuclear Island scope on a large nuclear new‑build project, with accountability extending from scope definition through production of release for construction engineering packages.
• Act as the key client interface point for Nuclear Island scope.
• Establish and maintain a clear, stable, and auditable scope baseline aligned with the approved licensing basis, design documentation, and execution strategy.
• Lead active management of design scope boundaries and interfaces across Nuclear Island sub‑scopes, Conventional Island, Balance of Plant, and Owner organizations to prevent scope gaps, duplication, or misalignment.
• Act as the executive escalation point for scope interpretation, boundary disputes, and change pressure, ensuring disciplined governance and timely resolution.
• Ensure procurement efforts are integrated with engineering during the design phase, and accountable for procurement scope in support of construction.
• Accountable for the preparation works for field construction, including establishing the right relationships with constructors, planning efforts for construction readiness, and actual field construction execution.

Schedule Leadership:

• Own the integrated, logic‑driven delivery schedule for the Nuclear Island design, procurement and construction.
• Ensure schedules adequately reflect the engineering relationship with long‑lead procurement, regulatory and inspection hold points, work sequencing constraints, and planned installation windows.
• Identify and manage critical path and near‑critical path risks through proactive planning, resequencing, and execution strategies.
• Lead development and execution of recovery plans for schedule deviations, clearly articulating cost, risk, and execution trade‑offs to executive leadership.

Budget & Cost Management:

• Own the approved budget and contingency for the assigned scope across the full duration of the project.
• Lead integrated cost management, forecasting, and variance analysis that reflect engineering progress, and risk exposure.
• Enforce rigorous change control to manage inevitable design evolution and refinement inherent in large nuclear new‑builds while protecting overall project affordability.
• Provide clear, defensible cost reporting and analysis to project executives and governance bodies.

Risk & Opportunity Management:

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive risk profile proportionate to the scale, complexity, and regulatory rigor of a large CANDU new‑build project.
• Identify and actively manage risks related to CANDU design maturity, constructability, nuclear engineering quality and FOAK/FIAW elements.
• Ensure risk mitigation actions are integrated into the design to optimize execution planning, contracts, and schedules rather than treated solely as theoretical controls.
• Lead escalation and decision‑making where residual risk exceeds approved tolerances.
• Identify and deliver key program opportunities for the defined scope area.

Stakeholder & Contractor Management:

• Lead performance management of engineering, manufacturing and construction subcontractors and partners.
• Act as a principal interface with Owner representatives, project leadership, independent oversight organizations, and regulators as required.
• Provide transparent, timely, and data‑driven reporting on scope performance, risks, and emerging issues.
• Proactively manage and resolve execution, commercial, and interface issues to avoid disruption to project objectives.

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness:

• Build and lead a large, multidisciplinary engineering, procurement and construction organization capable of sustained, multi‑year execution in a nuclear‑grade environment.
• Establish clear roles, accountabilities, decision authorities, and escalation pathways across all functions within the assigned scope.
• Develop organizational capability, bench strength, and succession planning to address long project duration and workforce attrition risk.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and professionalism across diverse teams, contractors, and partners.

About you

• 15–20+ years of experience delivering major nuclear or highly regulated infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated, hands‑on experience with CANDU nuclear power plant designs and systems is required.
• Experience working within an EPCm or owner‑integrated delivery model.
• 1 – 5 years Experience with active construction field work in a leadership role responsible for health and safety and work performance preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of nuclear quality frameworks (e.g., CSA N286, NQA-1 or equivalent), and safety related equipment.
• Demonstrated success with claims avoidance/management, change control, and commercial administration under EPC contracts.
• Expertise in project controls (P6, earned value, cost forecasting), risk management (ARM or equivalent), and stage-gate governance.
• Engineering degree (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or related). Advanced degree or PEng is an asset.
• Experience in regulated environments and with regulatory/stakeholder engagement.
• Nuclear Experience: Experience in Nuclear Reactor new design and construction projects preferred.
• Team Building: Ability to build and inspire a team to work towards common goals.
• People Management: Experience managing direct reports within a project delivery functional support model.
• Leadership: Lead by example, setting high standards for Health & Safety and Nuclear Safety Culture.
• Leadership & Accountability: Sets direction, holds EPC partners accountable, escalates decisively.
• Systems Thinking: Manages interdependencies across NSSS/TI/BOP and grid/infrastructure.
• Commercial Acumen: Navigates EPC terms, incentives, LDs, performance guarantees, bonds, and insurance.
• Quality Assurance: Appreciation of the importance of Quality Assurance Programs and their significance to the nuclear industry.
• Communication Skills: Excellent organizational, communication, and customer relationship skills. Demonstrated oral and written communication abilities.
• Safety Knowledge: Working knowledge of industrial safety and nuclear safety culture.
• Nuclear Supply Chain: Understanding of nuclear supply chain and materials management principles.

 Necessary competencies:

• Demonstrates initiative, decisiveness, and perseverance.
• Plans and communicates effectively, with good instincts when to engage with stakeholders.
• Seeks and accepts responsibility and accountability.
• Possesses excellent judgment and can correctly apply skills and knowledge.
• Perform well under stress.
• Delegates effectively.
• Integrity and Trust, with a commitment to both safety and quality.
• Customer Focus.
• Team Player, Shares Knowledge.

Required interfaces:

• Customers, suppliers, Candu Partners.
• Senior executives, department functional managers.
• Trades personnel.

 Work location(s):

• The project team are located throughout the Greater Toronto Area. This role will require continuous flexibility to work between the Mississauga, Oshawa and Kincardine regions of southern Ontario. The role will be based out of the east side of Toronto.
• Various other work locations (suppliers, project interfaces) as required.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada.

Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs.

Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.

And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

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Appropriate accommodation will be provided upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process as required by Company policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Successful applicants will be notified about AtkinsRéalis’ accommodation policies at the time the employment offer is extended, and the information will be shared with new personnel during the onboarding process.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.