Human Resources Business Partner - Chalk River

Are you looking for a role that will truly challenge you? Can you see yourself acting as a strategic partner and trusted advisor in a large, unionized, and highly complex organization? Does the idea of supporting leaders through the full employee life cycle and driving meaningful ...

Job description

Are you looking for a role that will truly challenge you? Can you see yourself acting as a strategic partner and trusted advisor in a large, unionized, and highly complex organization? Does the idea of supporting leaders through the full employee life cycle and driving meaningful organizational change energize you?

Do you enjoy building strong relationships, offering thoughtful guidance, and anticipating the needs of the business? Do you like to be in a role where you'll influence workforce planning, performance management, talent programs, succession planning, compensation cycles, and employee & labour relations? Do you want to work in an environment where your ability to navigate complexity and act as a change agent directly impacts organizational success?

If you answered yes, our team at CNL is looking for an HR Business Partner who can bring expertise, innovation, and strong advisory skills to support our business units.

Apply today

What will you be doing

Partnering With Leaders & Influencing the Business
Coaching, supporting, and challenging leaders to drive effective decision‑making.
Understanding the business strategy and bringing HR insights to align with organizational goals.
Adapting and executing HR best practices across the full employee life cycle.
Interpreting engagement insights and providing proactive advice on organizational and HR matters.
Supporting & Mentoring HR Team Members
Providing daily direction and mentorship to HR Generalists (where applicable).
Collaborating with HR Service Delivery to ensure employee inquiries are addressed effectively.
Training and supporting HR colleagues in interpreting policies and navigating HR systems (Oracle, ATOM, MyCNL, ServiceCNL, etc.).
Leading Workforce Planning, Recruitment & Selection
Partnering with business lines and the Talent team to define role requirements and approve job descriptions.
Advising on recruitment and selection strategies.
Interviewing alongside hiring managers as required.
Facilitating internal mobility based on operational needs.
Enabling Talent Management & Employee Development
Supporting managers and employees through performance management by offering ongoing counsel and feedback.
Facilitating training and guiding talent programs such as succession planning, development plans, performance reviews, and performance improvement plans.
Managing Labour & Employee Relations
Providing guidance on collective agreements, legislation, and company policies.
Supporting organizational changes—including promotions, transfers, relocations, retirements, and terminations—in a balanced and professional manner.
Acting as the first point of contact for conflict and situation management and coaching leaders through issue resolution.
Leading the first step of the grievance process.
Leveraging Data & HR Systems
Reviewing and analyzing HR dashboards to support data‑driven recommendations.
Participating in audits and ensuring ongoing data accuracy in HR systems.
Navigating HR systems to provide timely information and support for leaders, employees, and HR colleagues.
Building Strong Relationships Across CNL
Partnering and communicating frequently with leaders, employees, union representatives, and Legal Counsel.
Taking on additional responsibilities as assigned to support business needs.
Other duties as assigned by your manager.
What We Are Looking For

Education
A degree or diploma in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
CHRP or CHRL designation (or working toward one) is considered an asset.
Experience
7–10 years of progressive Human Resources experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Strong knowledge across multiple HR disciplines, including employee relations, talent management, performance management, organizational development, succession planning, total rewards, HR systems, and recruitment.

Experience working in fast‑paced, evolving environments with competing priorities.
Experience working in a unionized environment.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Proven ability to influence without authority and support leaders through effective coaching and guidance.
Strong business acumen with the ability to understand business strategies and align them with HR programs and initiatives.
Demonstrated skill in mediating and resolving conflicts with fairness, objectivity, and sound judgment.
Forward‑thinking mindset with the ability to anticipate needs and provide proactive, practical solutions.
Advanced relationship‑building skills and the ability to work confidently with individuals at all levels of the organization.
Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meet strict deadlines.
Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills, including strong facilitation capabilities.
Strong ability to prioritize, develop action plans, and follow through to successful completion.
Highly self‑motivated, collaborative, and comfortable operating with minimal oversight.
Strong advisory, organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities.
Solid knowledge of the Canada Labour Code and related regulatory legislation.
Experience working in unionized environments, including interpreting and applying collective agreements.
Strong understanding of HRMS transactions and how data flows across integrated systems.
Ability to develop a working knowledge of CNL's HR policies, procedures, collective agreements, and relevant legislation (e.g., Pay Equity).
Experience in planning and leading projects, including building project plans, implementing change management strategies, and coordinating resources.
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 hour work week.

Two (2) days will be onsite, and three (3) days will be working from home.

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 Package

We 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 for your future 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

Located 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 onsite presence at our Chalk River Laboratory, Ontario.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At 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. Click here to read all about it

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 . 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.