Project Manager, Construction

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day delivery of the Centre of Expertise Project across construction, commissioning, and facility handover, coordinating inputs across internal stakeholders and external construction, architectural, and design vendors.

• Maintain regular site presence and field oversight to validate progress, identify emerging risks, and drive timely issue resolution. Document observations/deficiencies and track issues to closure with the contractor and appropriate NWMO authorities.

• Hold design and construction vendors accountable by reviewing performance, validating deliverables against requirements, and escalating observations and concerns to NWMO project leadership.

• Manage site interfaces between contractor(s), design vendor(s), Owner’s Engineer/representative, and NWMO stakeholders to prevent conflicts and protect schedule and cost commitments.

• Develop and maintain the project cost baseline, forecasts, and cash flow; review contractor cost and schedule information and identify trends, variances, and required mitigations.

• Manage and maintain integrated reporting of scope, cost, schedule, risks, issues and changes; manage the project within its approved budget and schedule, implement corrective actions, and make clear and timely recommendations for resolving issues to NWMO senior leadership.

• Ensure construction activities meet NWMO standards for safety, quality, and community integration.

• Establish project communications (stakeholder mapping, meeting cadence, action tracking) and provide regular status reporting to NWMO leadership and other interested parties.

• Own the project’s risk and issues management process: identify and track risks/opportunities, define mitigation strategies, and bring recommendations to Senior Leadership for review and approval.

• Develop and implement project-specific governance documentation (e.g., Project Execution Plan, Scope of Work, Basis of Estimate) and ensure alignment with NWMO PMO standards and phase-gate processes.

• Lead change management activities (scope, cost, schedule), including identifying potential changes, assessing their credibility, managing documentation, analysis of impacts, recommendation of response options, and routing through change control processes.

• Stop and escalate work concerns (through the appropriate site and NWMO channels) when field observations indicate potential non-conformance, quality deficiencies, or other material risks that could impact project objectives.

• Participate in constructability reviews led by the lead design contractor and architect, applying field construction expertise to identify and resolve potential issues prior to construction.

• Coordinate with the Owner’s Engineer/Representative during commissioning, including acceptance testing and performance verification.

• Manage the transition to operational readiness, including the coordination of documentation completion, training/turnover requirements, and other handover processes to the NWMO.

 

Qualifications and Experience

• A post-secondary degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• Over 12 years’ experience in project management and construction, managing large Projects (project values $25 million - $100 million +). Requires specialist knowledge in design, construction, and project management, with a broad knowledge of various disciplines such as engineering and management systems.

• Advanced technical understanding of design, construction, codes, and project governance, as well as formal project management capability.

• Strong understanding of Canadian building codes, safety regulations, and environmental standards.
• Strong understanding of the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations.

• Proven ability to manage vendors, challenge design and construction recommendations, and maintain project discipline.

• Professional designations such as the Canadian Construction Association (CCA)’s Gold Seal Certification (GSC) or PMP are preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Combination of office and active construction site environments.

• Requires regular on‑site presence in Ignace, Ontario, with travel to Toronto as required.

• While health and safety accountabilities will be held by the vendor (“Constructor”), this role will be a regular site visitor to ensure construction activities are progressing as reported.

Other Requirements:

The incumbent will bring an optimal combination of the following qualifications: 

• Superior oral and written communication skills; superior interpersonal skills. 

• Excellent planning and organizational skills. 

• Excellent problem-solving skills 

• Excellent analytical and strategic skills, as well as good business judgment and problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to influence others at all levels of the organization. 

• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. 

• Experience with incorporating Reconciliation and Indigenous knowledge into work processes would be considered an asset. 

• Experience working with diverse teams in a social and technical environment 

• An understanding of, or the ability to learn both technical and social aspects of the APM program. 

• Ability to exercise patience, tact, diplomacy, and discretion.  

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a consultative team environment.  

• Demonstrated experience with configuration and change management processes.  

• Highly developed creativity and initiative to deal with unique and challenging design and construction issues. Budget management skills.   

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects within strict budget and timeline constraints.  

• Proven ability to respond to frequently changing priorities.   

• Minute-taking skills.   

• Knowledge of Health & Safety regulations and legislature, including OHSA, WHMIS. 

Other Information

Must be eligible to work in Canada and must be able to meet security clearance requirements.

 

**This is a Site Based role - located in Ignace, Ontario. 

 

We offer a competitive base salary and health care benefits.

 

The NWMO is committed to contributing to Reconciliation in all its work by co-creating a shared future built on rights, equity and well-being.  As an employment equity employer, NWMO actively seeks Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, and additional diverse identities for our workforce.  The NWMO will provide accommodation to applicants with disabilities.  If you require accommodation, please contact us. 

 

We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience to ensure full consideration.

 

The NWMO is committed to a fair, transparent, and efficient recruitment process. While we sincerely appreciate every expression of interest, only those candidates selected to continue in the recruitment process will be contacted directly.