Director, Nuclear Quality

What is the Opportunity?

Aecon’s extensive nuclear experience and technical knowledge spans five decades and includes a full range of nuclear services for refurbishment, new build, decommissioning, modularization and fabrication. Aecon plays an important role as the constructor on North America’s three largest nuclear refurbishment projects and is proud to bring multidisciplinary expertise to deliver North America’s first grid-scale SMR while supporting future deployment of new nuclear technology globally. Guided by its Safety Always culture, Aecon is focused on execution excellence with strong cost, schedule and quality performance.

The Director, Nuclear Quality is accountable for the development, implementation, and governance of Aecon’s Nuclear Quality Program across all nuclear projects and sites in Canada. This role provides functional leadership and oversight to all site‑based Project Quality Leads, ensuring consistent, compliant, and risk‑informed application of nuclear quality requirements using a graded approach commensurate with safety significance, regulatory requirements, and project phase, including oversight of internal audits, management assessments, and supplier/source assurance activities.

The Director acts as Aecon’s senior quality authority for nuclear work, interfacing with clients, regulators, joint‑venture partners, and senior internal leadership to ensure that quality programs protect nuclear safety while enabling efficient and effective project delivery.

What You’ll Do Here:

Nuclear Quality Program Leadership

• Own and maintain Aecon’s certified Nuclear Quality Program, ensuring alignment with CSA N286 / N286‑12, applicable regulatory requirements, and client contractual obligations.
• Establish clear governance for graded application of quality requirements, ensuring requirements are applied rigorously but proportionately based on:
• Safety classification of SSCs
• Consequence of failure
• Regulatory and contractual expectations
• Project phase (development, construction, commissioning)
• Ensure program documentation, procedures, and controls are audit‑ready, defensible, and consistently applied across projects and sites.

Graded Quality Approach & Risk‑Informed Application

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of graded quality frameworks, including decision logic for quality program selection and control intensity.
• Ensure Project Quality Leads are appropriately applying grading principles to:
• Inspection and surveillance levels
• Hold points and witness points
• Documentation and records retention
• Supplier and subcontractor oversight
• Challenge over‑specification or under‑application of quality controls to optimize cost, schedule, and risk without compromising nuclear safety.

Functional Leadership of Project Quality Leads

• Provide functional leadership, direction, and performance management for all site‑based Project Quality Leads.
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of the Nuclear Quality Program across sites, joint ventures, and project phases.
• Set expectations for quality leadership behaviours, escalation thresholds, and decision‑making authority.
• Support workforce planning, capability development, and succession planning for nuclear quality roles.

Project Execution & Site Oversight

• Oversee and support business development and estimating activities for Quality requirements for prospective new projects.
• Oversee quality readiness and mobilization for new nuclear projects and project phases.
• Review and approve project‑specific Quality Plans, Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), and surveillance strategies.
• Provide senior escalation support for:
• Significant non‑conformances
• Condition adverse to quality (CAQs)
• Regulatory or client findings
• Ensure timely and effective corrective actions, lessons learned, and continuous improvement.

Regulatory, Client & External Interface

• Act as a senior point of contact for regulators, owners, and clients on nuclear quality matters.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and assessments, including preparation, execution, and follow‑up.
• Interface with joint‑venture partners to ensure alignment on quality expectations, roles, and accountability.

Governance, Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish quality performance metrics and reporting for senior leadership.
• Lead independent reviews, management assessments, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Drive standardization and lessons learned across projects to improve future execution and readiness.
• Work with US counterpart to drive best practices and harmonization with NQA-1 program requirements.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in quality, engineering, or construction within nuclear or highly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated senior‑level experience implementing and governing CSA N286‑based Nuclear Quality Programs.
• Proven experience applying graded quality approaches across large, complex, multi‑site projects.
• Experience interfacing directly with regulators, owners, and auditors.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline (required).
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation strongly preferred.
• Quality management systems training.
• Lead Auditor certification or equivalent nuclear quality credentials considered an asset.
• Deep understanding of nuclear safety culture and quality‑related decision‑making.
• Strong judgment and ability to balance compliance, risk, and delivery considerations.
• Credibility with regulators, clients, and senior project leadership.
• Clear, calm, and authoritative communicator in high‑consequence environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead dispersed functional teams across multiple sites.
• Deep understanding of CNSC reg docs and CSA standards applicable to Nuclear construction and Fabrication activities.

Reason for vacancy: Replacement