Junior Operations Manager Jobs in Kitchener, ON (NOW HIRING)

Come Build Your Career at Aecon!

Aecon delivers some of the most complex and impactful infrastructure projects - from transformative transportation networks to critical energy, industrial and nuclear programs. The projects we build connect communities and power future generations. With deep roots in North America and a strong footprint internationally, Aecon brings global expertise and proudly serves public and private sector clients through its Construction and Concessions segment.

Safety Always is not only our #1 core value - it is the standard that anchors our culture. We believe the most ambitious projects deserve the most committed people. At Aecon, you won't just build your career - you'll help build what matters to enable future generations to thrive.

At Aecon, you can count on:

• Safety Always. Our number one core value. The safety of our people, projects, partners, and stakeholders is our priority focus - today and always.
• Integrity. We lead by example, with humility and courage.
• Accountability. We're passionate about delivering on our commitments.
• Inclusion. We provide opportunities where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.

We deliver infrastructure with purpose, and our people are at the heart of everything we do. Aecon employees are incredibly proud to build some of the most impactful infrastructure of this generation - we call it Aecon Proud.

At Aecon we:

• Ensure you and your family receive the services and benefits needed to support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Are intentional when it comes to investing in your development. We help you build your career and advance your skills through our Aecon University, tuition reimbursement, and Leadership Programs.
• Are committed to creating work environments focused on mutual respect, teamwork, collaboration, and new ideas, through meaningful initiatives, training, partnerships with Veteran groups, our Aecon Women in Trades and diversity programs, as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), to ensure we are building with top talent and harnessing our collective strengths within every aspect of our culture.
• Operate responsibly by managing risk, safety, and environmental considerations across all our projects and surrounding communities.

Our success is built on the passion, expertise, and dedication of our people. Together, we embrace strong execution, innovation, and continuous improvement - values that come to life through the unique talents and collaborative spirit of every team member. If you're inspired to make a difference through future-building projects, join our best-in-class team.

What Is The Opportunity? 

Reporting to the Project Manager, Continuous Improvement, the Junior Product Manager supports the delivery and ownership of purpose-built software solutions, platforms, and workflow tools used by project teams and business functions across the Nuclear Continuous Improvement portfolio. These solutions exist to strengthen how Aecon delivers engineering, procurement, and construction work, translating field and operational insight into capabilities that improve safety, predictability, and productivity on our projects. 

The role is responsible for managing product initiatives from intake through release, with ownership of defined product areas including backlog management, prioritization, and delivery outcomes. The Junior Product Manager ensures alignment between business needs, user requirements, and technical execution while coordinating cross-functional teams to drive delivery. This position plays a key role in converting project and operational needs into practical tools that crews, engineers, and project leaders rely on, supporting decision-making and ensuring outcomes are measured by their impact on project performance. The role requires strong ownership, structured thinking, and the ability to manage competing priorities within a controlled and regulated environment.

What You'll Do Here:

• Own assigned tools and solutions from intake through release, ensuring they directly support how project teams plan, execute, and close out work
• Engage project teams, site leadership, and business functions to understand execution pain points and translate them into prioritized product improvements
• Define and maintain product priorities, roadmaps, and delivery plans anchored to project milestones and operational readiness needs
• Translate business needs into structured product requirements, including user stories and acceptance criteria
• Manage and prioritize product backlogs to ensure clarity, sequencing, and alignment with program objectives
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, including project delivery, business, IS, and vendors, to drive execution and maintain alignment
• Facilitate intake, backlog refinement, and working sessions with project and operational stakeholders
• Develop and maintain delivery plans, schedules, and milestones to support structured execution
• Monitor delivery progress against plan, including timelines, risks, issues, and dependencies that could affect rollout to active projects
• Escalate risks, issues, and decisions with clear context and recommended actions, including impact to project users and adoption timing
• Track and report on delivery status to ensure transparency and stakeholder alignment
• Measure success by adoption and execution outcomes, usage by project teams, reduction in manual effort, quality of data captured, and contribution to safer, more predictable delivery
• Drive product decisions based on user needs in the field and office, project execution value, business value, and operational constraints
• Support rollout and implementation into live project environments, including change management, training, and post-go-live stabilization
• Identify opportunities for product and process improvement through analysis of user workflows and system gaps
• Ensure product outputs align with governance, compliance, and security requirements where applicable
• Maintain clear and structured documentation to support both product delivery and project execution
• Manage day-to-day system administration, including user account creation, access management, and onboarding of new users
• Perform minor system configuration without reliance on IS (e.g. field updates, dropdown value additions, light workflow adjustments)
• Support data management activities, including import/export of data across systems
• Provide ongoing user support to project and business users, including troubleshooting, training, and responding to enhancement requests
• Translate existing operational and project execution processes into system design, including defining fields, forms, and workflow structure
• Work hands-on within the platform to maintain and evolve the solution post-deployment, rather than relying solely on development teams

What You Bring To The Team:

• Strong understanding of product management, product ownership, and project delivery principles
• Familiarity with project execution environments (engineering, construction, project controls) considered a strong asset
• Demonstrated experience managing backlogs, defining requirements, and supporting structured delivery
• Proven ability to manage workstreams, track progress, and drive outcomes with limited oversight
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability, including managing trade-offs
• Ability to balance business needs, user experience, technical constraints, and delivery considerations
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills
• Working knowledge of Lessons Learned workflows, NCRs, CARs
• Familiarity with lessons learned tools, knowledge management platforms, or continuous improvement workflows
• Familiarity with platforms such as ACERs, Portal, Cority would be considered an asset
• Practical experience operating within or supporting configured enterprise tools
• Ability to independently assess and define workflow content (fields, logic, process steps) based on business process knowledge
• Strong understanding of how business processes translate into system configuration and data structures
• Strong organizational and time management capability across multiple priorities
• Ability to work independently with accountability and ownership
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Post-secondary education in Business, Engineering, Technology, or a related field
• 2-5 years of relevant experience in product management, project management, or related roles
• Experience in continuous improvement, digital product environments, or regulated industries considered an asset

Reason for vacancy: New

The expected pay range for this role is $90,000 - $110,000 per year

Individual pay is determined based on several factors, including work location, education, experience, unique skills and job conditions. Other considerations may include certifications, specialized training, and the complexity or scope of the role.  

Aecon fosters diversity, inclusion and belonging within and across our organization. We welcome all to apply including, women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

We are committed to adhering to the objectives and requirements outlined in the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), and to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Through the implementation of the requirements of the ACA and its applicable regulations, appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request throughout the interview and hiring process.

As part of our commitment to fair and transparent hiring practices, Aecon may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and reviewing candidates. These tools are applied responsibly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Aecon's AI Usage Policy. All final decisions are made by qualified Aecon team members.