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President and Chief Executive Officer, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited,
Appointment Opportunity
We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada’s diversity. The Government of Canada will use an appointment process that is transparent and merit-based, strives for gender parity, and ensures that Indigenous peoples and minority groups are properly represented in positions of leadership. We will continue to search for Canadians who reflect the values that we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. Together, we will build a government as diverse as Canada.
The overarching goal of the Minister of Natural Resources is to ensure that our resource sector remains a source of jobs, prosperity, and opportunity within the context of a world that increasingly values sustainable practices and low carbon processes.
The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following position:
President and Chief Executive Officer (full-time position)
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
The President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for providing strategic guidance, oversight and leadership to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and is accountable to a Board of Directors for the administration of a unique multi-year Government-Owned Contractor-Operated (GoCo) contractual arrangement, for complex, heavily regulated nuclear sites (multiple locations), including Canada’s largest research and development complex with multiple highly-specialized and unique laboratory facilities, testing equipment and a large nuclear research reactor. The President and Chief Executive Officer will use the highly-incentivized Government-owned, Contractor-operated contract to achieve the Government objectives of containing and reducing costs and risks for Canadian taxpayers, while leveraging the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ capabilities and resources to successfully deliver a federal nuclear science and technology program, commercial services, and a decommissioning and waste management program.
The President and CEO will be responsible for implementing AECL’s mandate to enable nuclear science and technology and fulfil Canada’s radioactive waste and decommissioning responsibilities. This work is undertaken at eight main sites across Canada, with headquarters in Chalk River, Ontario. The Chalk River site is AECL’s main laboratory campus and Canada’s largest research and development complex. These responsibilities stem from decades of nuclear research and development activities at the Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario, the Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba, as well as other sites in Ontario and Quebec. AECL is responsible for the proper and safe clean-up, remediation and long-term management of the radioactive waste at its sites. Finally, AECL remains responsible for addressing and resolving retained assets and liabilities related to its former CANDU Reactor Division.
Further details about the organization and its activities can be found on the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's website.
Review of applications will begin on September 29, 2017. Candidates must apply online via the Governor in Council Appointments website. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by this date. After this date, your application will be retained and may be considered up until an appointment to the position is made. Your cover letter should be addressed to the Deputy Director of Selection Processes, Senior Personnel Secretariat, Privy Council Office, and should be sent only through the online application.
Salary Range: Under Review
Position Location: Chalk River, Ontario
Official Languages and Diversity
The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing candidates for this position. You are therefore encouraged to include in your online profile your ability to speak and understand your second official language. Preference may be given to candidates who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.
To be considered for this position, please provide examples from your career that clearly demonstrate how you meet the following requirements in your application:
Education and Experience
- A degree from a recognized university or an acceptable combination of education, job-related training and/or experience
- A degree in business/commerce, economics, engineering, finance, public administration or law would be considered an asset
- Significant management experience at the senior executive-level in a private or public sector organization, including managing senior-level subject matter experts
- Experience developing, managing, or implementing highly incentivized, large, complex, multi-year, high-value contracts ($100 million or more per year), requiring the use of significant commercial/business judgment and negotiation skills to, among other things, secure value for money
- Experience in a highly regulated or high-hazard industry with a broad and complex set of stakeholders, including in particular, the Canadian or international nuclear sector
- Experience managing large / significant liabilities and executing on plans to reduce these liabilities (i.e., related to decommissioning)
- Experience building relationships, promoting partnerships and working with Indigenous groups and communities, or other stakeholder groups in Canada
- Experience, at the executive-level, at an enterprise focused on science, technology or complex infrastructure and
- Experience in any of the following would be considered an asset:
- Experience in the development, oversight, or implementation of Government-owned, Contractor-operated type arrangements or
- Experience working with or in government, Crown corporations and/or regulatory agencies.
If you are selected for an interview, the following criteria will be assessed:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of the mandate and activities of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the legislative framework within which it operates, along with the regulatory and business environments within which it operates
- Knowledge of the structure and operation of the Canadian nuclear industry
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of sound governance and business practices, including human resources and financial management
- Ability to manage a public institution with diverse responsibilities, and provide the intellectual leadership, vision, and strategic direction needed for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to carry out its mandate and achieve its objectives in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and other relevant law
- Ability to lead a highly specialized senior management team in making recommendations to a board of directors, to seek the input of members, draw lines of consensus where appropriate, identify risks and resolve points of debate, and ensure buy-in for final decisions
- Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and to work effectively with senior industry counterparts, different levels of government, as well as non-government and community officials
- Ability to negotiate skilfully and reach positive outcomes on complex financial matters, as well as highly technical issues and
- Ability to advance comprehensive and proactive communications strategies, including public outreach, media and networking activities.
Language Requirements
Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.
If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, we will contact your references to verify how you have demonstrated the Experience requirements and the following Personal Attributes in your current and recently held positions:
- High ethical standards, integrity and impartiality
- Sound judgment
- Superior interpersonal and communication skills
- Tact and diplomacy
- Leadership and collegiality
Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment
In your application, it will be important that you confirm you meet the following requirements:
- You reside in or must be willing to relocate to Chalk River, Ontario or to a location within reasonable commuting distance.
- You must devote the whole of your time to the performance of your duties, and shall not accept or hold any office inconsistent with your duties and functions.
If you are appointed to this position:
You must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders throughout your appointment, as a term and condition of employment. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments Web site, under Forms and reference material.
You will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must submit to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, within 60 days of appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities and outside activities. For more information, please visit the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website.
A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this position. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment.
A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.