Technical Program Director Jobs in Kitchener Waterloo, ON

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?  

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 sitebased Project Quality Leads, ensuring consistent, compliant, and riskinformed 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, jointventure 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 / N28612, 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 auditready, defensible, and consistently applied across projects and sites.

Graded Quality Approach & RiskInformed 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 overspecification or underapplication 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 sitebased 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 decisionmaking 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 projectspecific Quality Plans, Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), and surveillance strategies.
• Provide senior escalation support for:
• Significant nonconformances
• 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 followup.
• Interface with jointventure 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 seniorlevel experience implementing and governing CSA N286based Nuclear Quality Programs.
• Proven experience applying graded quality approaches across large, complex, multisite 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 qualityrelated decisionmaking.
• 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 highconsequence 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

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.