Indigenous Engagement Officer

Do you like building meaningful relationships rooted in respect, collaboration, and trust?
Can you see yourself helping strengthen how CNL listens to, learns from, and works with First Nations and Indigenous communities?
As an Indigenous Engagement Officer, you’ll play an essential role in supporting strong, transparent, and culturally grounded relationships with Indigenous Nations, Governments, communities, and organizations. You’ll be the connector who brings people together—coordinating engagement activities, developing clear and thoughtful communications, and ensuring commitments and agreements are honoured with integrity.
If you thrive in roles that blend relationship‑building, cultural awareness, and organized follow‑through, this position offers the opportunity to make a lasting and positive impact on how major CNL projects reflect the voices, priorities, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples.
Ready to help create positive change and champion respectful, collaborative engagement across CNL?
What will you be doing!
Engaging with Indigenous Nations, Governments, Communities, and Organizations
Communicating project updates, disclosures, and information through email, phone, meetings, and events;
responding to inquiriesor escalating as needed to the Communications & Indigenous Engagement Manager.
Scheduling and coordinating engagement activities, including logistics and agenda preparation.
Creating engagement‑related communications content and collaborating with other CNL departments to gather required information.
Record Keeping & Tracking
Documenting meeting notes, actions, and follow‑up items;
monitoring progress with responsible parties.
Tracking and coordinating the disposition and fulfillment of CNL commitments arising from engagement, documenting reviews, or formal interventions.
Maintaining tracking of activities related to memoranda of understanding, relationship agreements, and community‑specific engagement or communications strategies.
Reporting on Indigenous Engagement
Ensuring all engagement interactions and related information are documented and filed in accordance with CNL corporate record requirements and regulatory licensing requirements.
Leading or contributing to the development of Indigenous engagement sections in regulatory and project reports and plans.
Coordinating verification of reported engagement activities by Indigenous Nations, Governments, communities, and organizations.
Support for the Corporate‑wide Indigenous Relations Program
Advising colleagues on integrating adequate time and planning considerations related to Indigenous commitments into project schedules and scopes.
Working collaboratively with CNL staff involved in Indigenous and public engagement to ensure alignment of strategies and advance reconciliation efforts.
Providing AECL with timely updates on planned engagements and outcomes, and elevating potential issues to the manager.
Other duties as assigned by your manager.
What We Are Looking For
Education
Post‑secondary degree or diploma in a relevant area of study (e.G. Indigenous studies and/or communications and/or environmental sciences or related field).
Experience
Three to five years of experience working in Indigenous relations and/ or communications or engagement.
Experience working in Indigenous communities is an asset.
Experience communicating in group forums with Indigenous Nations and organizations at the member/citizen and staff level is an asset.
Experience working on a multidisciplinary team is an asset.
Preference may be given to applicants who self‑identify as having Indigenous heritage (First Nations, Métis or Inuit.)
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Highly organized with the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Ability to connect and promote collaborative engagement with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organization representatives in a culturally appropriate way.
Understanding of traditional use studies and their meaningful consideration and integration in projects and operations.
Superior written and oral skills, including composition, grammar, terminology, writing style and approach in preparing effective, well‑written, high‑quality informative content and reports for a variety of technical and public audiences.
Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills, including the ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when addressing issues, conflicts, or negotiations.
Ability to communicate complex technical/scientific/environmental information to public audiences in clear, understandable language.
Ability to develop meaningful, community‑relevant communications materials for Indigenous Peoples and the public.
Strong priority management and project management skills, with superior ability to work with cross‑functional teams and manage multiple projects with diverse requirements and deadlines.
Knowledge of MS Office suite.
Valid driver’s licence.
Knowledge of issues affecting Indigenous Peoples, engagement best practices, and Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples
Security Clearance Eligibility Required
Reliability Status with Site Access Security Clearance (SASC), which has a minimum requirement of 3‑5 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's "Standard on Security Screening" and the "Policy on Government Security."
Working Conditions
Working schedule: Five (5) days per week, seven and a half (7.5) hours per day for a thirty‑seven and a half (37.5) hour work week.
Works sitting/standing in front of a computer screen for most/all of the workday.
Some travel will be required.
Project and community site visits are required, which include walking the land and natural spaces with varying typography including rough terrain, hills, during all seasons and weather.
Why CNL?Does the idea of working with a dynamic team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a
clean and secure world
excite you? At CNL, we’re reinventing ourselves to be industry leaders— pioneering solutions to the problems that matter most .
From building the next generation of
clean nuclear and hydrogen energy technologies, to developing
targeted cancer treatments, to continuing our global leadership in
environmental remediation —we are driven by impact, innovation, and purpose.
What We Offer: A Total Rewards PackageWe believe in taking care of our people. Here’s what you can expect as part of our team:
Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and floater days
Benefits effective Day One – no waiting period
Tuition support to help you keep learning and growing
A defined‑benefit pension plan or a defined‑contribution pension plan, depending on your employee group, to support your long‑term financial security
Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?
Delivering clean energy for today and tomorrow
Restoring and protecting the environment
Contributing to the health of Canadians
If so, you’ll feel right at home at CNL!Location: HybridLocated in the heart of the
Ottawa Valley,
our Chalk River site offers a beautiful natural setting with
forests, lakes, and wildlife
right at your doorstep. Surrounding communities such as
Deep River, Petawawa, and Pembroke
provide access to excellent recreation and a great quality of life.
Please note:This is a
hybrid position with a combination of remote work and on‑site presence at our Chalk River Laboratory in
Ontario.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & InclusionAt CNL, we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes
equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome employees, stakeholders, and partners of all backgrounds and identities.
We are proud to uphold a workplace culture grounded in our
Core Values :
Respect
Teamwork
Accountability
Safety
Integrity
Excellence
These values drive our employment practices and ensure meaningful
career development opportunities and accommodations
for all employees.
CNL is an
equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation during any phase of the hiring process, please let us know via View email address on ca.hrm.tc. All requests will be handled with confidentiality.
CNL operates on sites located on the traditional lands, waterways and ceded and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples. CNL recognizes and affirms all First Nations, Métis communities and Inuit in this land we now know as Canada. We acknowledge, respect and seek to better understand Indigenous history, rights and title on the lands where we work and develop projects. We honour and respect the importance of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their lands, waters and territories.
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