Overview

Reporting to the Vice President, Balance‑of‑Plant & Continuous Improvement (VP BOP/CI), the Director of Secondary Cycle & Balance‑of‑Plant Performance, Output & Cost Optimization is responsible for executing the strategy defined by the VP to increase power output and reduce operating costs.

This senior leader investigates, evaluates, and concretizes optimization initiatives across the secondary cycle and BOP systems, transforming performance opportunities into actionable projects. The Director develops robust business cases - supported by technical analysis, performance testing, and financial justification - to be presented to the VP BOP/CI for approval and prioritization.

The Director works collaboratively with Engineering, Quality, and Procurement as an integrated team to ensure that optimization initiatives are technically sound, compliant with quality standards, and supported by effective sourcing and supplier strategies.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of improving output at multiple nuclear power plants, including measurable MW‑recovery results, successful turbine‑cycle and BOP optimization initiatives, and demonstrated expertise with ASME PTC 6 and PTC 12 performance testing.

Your role

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development and execution of the station's secondary‑cycle and BOP performance strategy, aligned with corporate objectives and continuous improvement priorities.
• Establish KPIs for turbine cycle efficiency, condenser vacuum, MSR effectiveness, heat‑exchanger performance, cooling water system health, and cost of generation.
• Provide strategic recommendations to the VP BOP/CI on performance risks, opportunities, and investment priorities.

Investigation & Business Case Development:

• Identify, investigate, and validate performance optimization opportunities across secondary‑cycle and BOP systems.
• Conduct technical and economic analyses to concretize initiatives into actionable projects.
• Build comprehensive business cases - including MW‑recovery potential, cost‑benefit analysis, risk assessment, and implementation plans - to present to the VP BOP/CI.
• Ensure all proposals are grounded in credible data, ASME PTC test results, and industry best practices.

Secondary‑Cycle Optimization:

• Lead performance improvement initiatives across all secondary‑cycle systems, including:
  • Moisture Separator Reheaters (MSRs): steam moisture removal, reheater efficiency, drain cooling optimization.
  • Heat Exchangers & Feedwater Heaters: fouling mitigation, leak detection, TTD/DCA optimization, PTC 12.1 compliance.
  • Turbine Cycle: steam path upgrades, turbine efficiency recovery, gland steam optimization.
  • Condenser Systems: vacuum optimization, air in‑leakage reduction, fouling control.
  • Balance‑of‑Plant (BOP) Optimization.
• Provide strategic oversight of BOP systems that directly impact secondary‑cycle performance, including:
  • Circulating water systems.
  • Service water systems.
  • Cooling towers (if applicable).
  • Auxiliary heat exchangers.
• Drive initiatives to improve flow, reduce fouling, enhance heat‑transfer efficiency, and optimize pump energy consumption.

Cost Optimization:

• Develop and implement a BCR (benefit/cost ratio) for each initiative and cost‑optimization strategy for secondary‑cycle and BOP systems.
• Reduce cost of generation through improved performance, optimized supplier contracts, and efficient outage execution.
• Prioritize high‑ROI performance upgrades and manage lifecycle costs of turbines, MSRs, heat exchangers, condensers, and cooling water systems.

Strategy Execution & Cross‑Functional Alignment:

• Execute the power‑output and cost‑reduction strategy defined by the VP BOP/CI, ensuring alignment with corporate and station‑level objectives.
• Translate strategic goals into concrete optimization initiatives for secondary‑cycle and BOP systems.
• Work collaboratively with Engineering to validate technical feasibility and system impacts.
• Partner with Quality to ensure all initiatives meet nuclear safety, regulatory, and quality assurance standards.
• Collaborate with Procurement to develop sourcing strategies, negotiate supplier contracts, and ensure vendor performance supports MW‑output and cost‑reduction targets.
• Lead cross‑functional working groups to ensure coordinated execution and timely delivery of optimization projects.

Supplier & OEM Management and recommendation:

• Serve as the project owner of relationships with turbine OEMs, MSR and heat‑exchanger vendors, condenser service providers, cooling water system suppliers, and performance analytics firms.
• Participate to Negotiate contracts with performance guarantees tied to MW output and cost‑reduction targets.
• Lead supplier performance reviews and ensure accountability through KPIs and corrective actions.

Organizational Leadership:

• Lead and develop a high‑performing team of managers, engineers, analysts, and specialists.
• Foster a culture of performance excellence, accountability, and cost awareness.
• Ensure strong alignment with Operations, Maintenance, Chemistry, and Engineering.

About you

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Nuclear, Chemical, or related).
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation preferred.
• 12 - 15+ years of experience in nuclear power plant performance, engineering, or operations.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership or director‑level role.
• Direct experience executing, overseeing, or validating ASME PTC 6 and PTC 12 performance tests.
• Experience developing and presenting business cases for performance and cost‑optimization initiatives.
• Executive‑level experience leading engineering, performance, or operations teams.
• Proven track record of improving output at multiple nuclear power plants, with documented MW‑recovery results.
• Demonstrated success leading secondary‑cycle optimization (MSR, heat exchangers, feedwater heaters, turbine cycle).
• Demonstrated success leading BOP optimization (cooling water, circulating water, service water).
• Strong understanding of secondary‑side systems, BOP systems, turbine‑generator performance, and thermodynamic optimization.
• Strong business acumen, negotiation skills, and executive‑level communication abilities.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada.

Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs.

Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.

And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life.

Be rewarded.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

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