Cambridge, ON, CA
Position Title: EHS Manager
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 Nuclear is growing its New Nuclear Development (NND) portfolio across Canada, the United States, and emerging international markets. As the organization pursues First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) and follow-on new-build projects, there is a critical need for a dedicated EHS leader who can shape safety, environmental, and occupational health strategy from the earliest stages of project development — well before ground is broken.
The EHS Manager – New Nuclear Development will be embedded within the NND team during the development, bid, and pre-execution phases. As a key member of the NND team, the EHS Manager works closely with clients, engineering, quality, and project leadership. This role is responsible for building a scalable, compliant, and execution-ready EHS framework — including reusable playbooks, templates, and tools — that can be deployed efficiently across jurisdictions with varying regulatory landscapes. The successful candidate will bring deep knowledge of nuclear safety culture, multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments, and the ability to stand up an EHS program on a greenfield project from scratch.
New nuclear development is defined by complexity, regulatory scrutiny, and long project lifecycles. EHS decisions made during the definition and pre-execution phases have outsized impact on execution safety, regulatory standing, schedule, and cost. This role ensures that EHS is not an afterthought but a foundational pillar of every new-build project from the earliest point possible — across every jurisdiction Aecon enters.
What You'll Do Here:
1. EHS Strategy & Program Development (New Build Focus)
- Lead the development of project-specific EHS strategies for new nuclear projects during the definition, bid, and pre-execution phases.
- Build and maintain a New Build EHS Program Standup Playbook – a modular, repeatable toolkit of templates, procedures, plans, checklists, and training matrices that enables efficient mobilization of EHS programs on new nuclear projects across jurisdictions.
- Conduct jurisdictional regulatory research to identify and map applicable health, safety, and environmental legislation in each target market (provincial, state, national, and international).
- Embed Human Performance (HOP) principles and error-reduction tools into project safety strategy, work planning, and supervisory expectations from the earliest phases.
- Integrate Aecon’s Critical Risk Management (CRM / Fatal 8) program, APEX framework, and Redbook EHSMS into new project safety strategies.
- Ensure environmental management (spill prevention, emissions, species-at-risk, soil management) and occupational health (exposure monitoring, industrial hygiene) requirements are identified and planned for during the pre-execution phase.
- Develop scalable, compliant, and execution-ready EHS frameworks that align with FOAK delivery models and support repeatable deployment on follow-on builds.
- Incorporate operating experience (OPEX) and lessons learned from DNNP, refurbishment, and industry peers into all EHS program development.
2. Cross-Functional Integration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as the EHS subject matter expert within the NND project development team, integrating with Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Licensing, and Construction.
- Participate in design reviews and constructability assessments to embed safety-by-design and environmental-by-design principles, including Human Performance considerations.
- Collaborate with project partners, JV partners, alliance members, and client EHS teams under various delivery models (IPD, alliance, EPC, EPCM).
- Develop and own subcontractor EHS management frameworks for new markets, including prequalification criteria, safety training requirements, competency standards, and oversight protocols.
- Lead EHS input into bid submissions, proposals, and project execution plans.
- Engage with regulatory bodies (CNSC, OSHA, provincial regulators, and international equivalents) during the licensing and permitting process.
3. Regulatory Compliance, Governance, and Safety Culture
- Ensure all EHS program elements comply with applicable nuclear and conventional safety standards, including CSA N286, NQA-1, CNSC REGDOC requirements, and OSHA regulations.
- Conduct jurisdictional regulatory analysis to identify applicable health, safety, and environmental legislation in target markets and ensure project-specific requirements are developed accordingly.
- Research, interpret, and operationalize local regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including emerging nuclear markets (e.g., UK ONR, EU Directive 89/391, U.S. state-plan OSHA programs, provincial COR requirements).
- Ensure Human Performance (HOP) standards and error-reduction tools are embedded into compliance structures, work planning, and supervisory expectations.
- Establish EHS governance structures for contractors, suppliers, and subcontractors that align with both Aecon standards and local regulatory requirements.
- Integrate Aecon’s CRM / Fatal 8, APEX, and Redbook EHSMS programs into project compliance frameworks.
- Champion nuclear safety culture traits across all development activities (aligned to INPO, WANO, IAEA and nuclear industry expectations) and support nuclear safety culture assessments and continuous improvement initiatives.
4. Risk Identification & Mitigation
- Lead early-phase EHS risk identification and assessment for new nuclear projects, including safety, environmental, and occupational health hazards.
- Develop risk registers and mitigation strategies tailored to new-build nuclear construction environments.
- Identify and address jurisdiction-specific EHS risks associated with entering new markets where Aecon has no established presence.
- Provide EHS input to project risk management processes, including HAZID, HAZOP, and constructability reviews.
- Assess environmental risks (contamination, spill potential, ecological impact) and occupational health risks (exposure pathways, noise, dust, radiation) during the pre-execution phase.
5. Execution Readiness & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure EHS systems, programs, and procedures are fully developed, documented, and ready for deployment prior to construction mobilization.
- Ensure readiness of the EHS organization structure and resource plans prior to construction mobilization.
- Maintain and continuously improve the New Build EHS Standup Playbook based on lessons learned, regulatory changes, and project feedback.
- Develop EHS training, orientation, and competency frameworks for new-build projects, scalable across jurisdictions.
- Leverage digital tools and data analytics (eg. PowerBI, SiteDocs, Cority, and emerging AI-enabled monitoring) to design, track, and continuously improve EHS performance from project inception.
- Establish KPI frameworks, reporting structures, and leading/lagging indicator dashboards for new-build EHS programs.
- Prepare EHS components for project readiness reviews, gate assessments, and regulatory audits.
- Ensure environmental management plans and occupational health programs are execution-ready.
6. Leadership & Advisory
- Act as a trusted EHS advisor to NND leadership, providing strategic counsel on safety, environmental, and regulatory matters.
- Champion nuclear safety culture and Human Performance principles across the NND team.
- Interpret and communicate international regulatory requirements to project teams operating in unfamiliar jurisdictions.
- Support the growth of the NND EHS function; this role is expected to evolve as the portfolio scales.
- Contribute to industry forums, working groups, and benchmarking activities related to new nuclear EHS best practices.
What You Bring to the Team:
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- Professional designation preferred: CRSP, CSP, NCSO, or CHSC (or equivalent).
- NEBOSH International General Certificate or IOSH membership considered an asset for international scope.
- Additional certifications in nuclear safety, radiation protection, or environmental management are assets.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive EHS experience, with at least 5 years in nuclear or heavy industrial construction.
- Direct experience in project development, bid support, and/or pre-execution EHS planning.
- Demonstrated experience standing up EHS programs on greenfield or new-build projects.
- Experience working across multiple jurisdictions with varying regulatory frameworks.
- Experience in JV, alliance, or IPD delivery environments.
- Experience with First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) nuclear or major capital project delivery is a strong asset.
- Deep knowledge of nuclear safety culture, standards (CSA N286, NQA-1, CNSC REGDOCs), and regulatory frameworks (CNSC, OSHA, provincial/state regulators).
- Ability to research, interpret, and operationalize local health and safety regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including emerging nuclear markets.
- Strong understanding of Human Performance (HOP) principles and error-reduction tools (BASIC, SAFER, peer checks, pre-job briefs).
- Knowledge of Aecon’s EHS programs (CRM / Fatal 8, APEX, Redbook EHSMS) or ability to rapidly integrate corporate programs into project-level strategies.
- Proficiency in EHS management systems, digital tools (PowerBI, SiteDocs, Cority), and data-driven safety analytics.
- Knowledge of environmental management in construction (spill prevention, emissions control, species-at-risk, waste management) and occupational health (industrial hygiene, exposure monitoring).
- Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work independently in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with evolving scope.
- Strong program development skills – able to create frameworks, templates, and playbooks from the ground up.
- Primarily office-based during development phases; travel to project sites, partner locations, and regulatory bodies as required.
- Travel across Canada, the United States, and potentially international locations (estimated 20–30%).
- Must be able to obtain appropriate security clearances for nuclear facility access.
Reason for vacancy: New
Pay Range: $120,000 - $140,000
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 belonging within and across our organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considering all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws.