Certification Officer
at Thales Canada Inc., Defence and Security

Job Description

Location: Victoria - 905 Ellery, Canada

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Certification Officer

Victoria, B.C., (CAN.), Hybrid

Position Summary

We have a current vacancy for a Certification Officer to join our Certification team supporting Royal Canadian Navy programs.

The Certification Officer will be responsible to manage the certification activities associated with the Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), Joint Support Ship (JSS) class vessels managed by Thales under the AOPS & JSS In-Service Support (AJISS) contract, and Minor Warships and Auxiliary Vessels managed by Thales under the MWAV contract.

In this position, you will be the main point of contact for the Classification Society surveyor and support the Service Delivery team with planning and executing the activities associated with Classification Society scheduled surveys and inspections. You will also advise the Service Delivery and Engineering teams on matters relating to certification requirements for corrective maintenance, planned maintenance, and engineering changes, and act as the point of contact for all certification-related inquiries associated with the contract, ensuring efficient communication between DND departments (Naval Materiel Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Formation Technical Authority (FTA), Maritime Equipment Program Management (MEPM)), the approved Classification Society, and Thales departments (Engineering, Supportability, Service Delivery, Procurement).

Regulatory Compliance Requirement

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software or technical information controlled under the Canadian Export Control List and/or the US the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be eligible or able to obtain authorization for such access.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The Certification Officer will report to the Certification Manager within TCDS and support the management and coordination of certification activities across AOPS, JSS, and MWAV fleets. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Identifying all re-certification activities (including Classification Society scheduled surveys and material re-certification) and ensuring they are captured within the Class maintenance program planning tool, while developing and improving certificate renewal processes.
• Supporting Thales Service Delivery with certification-related activities, including Classification Society periodic and annual surveys and inspections, and coordinating schedules with Class, Ship Staff, and internal teams.
• Liaising with Classification Society personnel during surveys and inspections, technical issues, and engineering changes impacting Class compliance.
•  Assessing the impact of new ship defects and engineering changes on certification, including participation in Technical Risk assessments and management of Conditions of Class mitigation and resolution.
• Maintaining certification tracking tools, including issue trackers and deliverable lists for AOPV, JSS, and MWAV vessels, and providing oversight for vessels under the MWAV contract.
• Reviewing the Captain's Ship Book to ensure certificates remain up to date and aligned with the Technical Data Package, while serving as the point of contact with DND on certification-related matters.

Minimum Qualifications

The candidate must meet each of the following criteria:

• Demonstrated understanding and experience with Classification Society rules and regulations (Lloyd's Register, ABS, DNV) for the Classification of Ships, Naval Ship Classification Rules, and Commercial Ship Rules.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code).
• Language: English (essential).

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Marine Surveyor with a Classification Society.
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in surveying or maintenance of vessels to commercial or military standards.
• Familiarity with Navy certification requirements (e.g., ANEP 77 Naval Ship Code).
• Transport Canada Marine Engineer certificate, or military equivalent.
• University degree in a related marine engineering field from a recognized program.
• Registered as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) within the province of practice.

Special Position Requirements

• Schedule: 40 hours per week.
• Physical Environment: Hybrid position requiring a mix of work from home and onsite at the Thales Malahat facility and Dockyard (approximately 60% onsite / 40% remote). Work includes inspections onboard naval vessels, including machinery spaces, with activities such as bending, twisting, working at heights, and in confined spaces (training provided).
• Travel: Occasional domestic or international travel may be required in support of ships or the AJISS Enterprise.
• Work Location: Mix of office-based work and site visits in dockyards and onboard naval ships as required.
• Transportation: Personal transportation is required to travel between home, office, warehouse, and dockyard locations.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between Total Target Cash 85,000.00 - 105,000 – 120,000 CDN Annual.

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee's career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company's annual salary budget, the customer's program requirements, and the company's internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant's status protected by local, state, or federal law.

AI

We use artificial intelligence–enabled tools as part of our recruitment process to support activities such as candidate discovery, résumé matching, and interview scheduling. These tools may help screen and assess applications and recommend potential matches based on the requirements within the job description.  All hiring decisions, including candidate evaluation, selection, and disposition, are made by human recruiters. Artificial intelligence does not make hiring decisions on our behalf.

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Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 24 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following: 

• Company paid Extended Health, Dental, HSA, Life, AD&D, Short-term Disability, Cancer Care Program, travel insurance, Employee Assistance Plan and Well-Being program.

• Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP, DCPP, TFSA) with a company contribution and a match to a DCPP, with no vesting period.

• Company paid holidays, vacation days, and paid sick leave. 

• Voluntary Life, AD&D, Critical Illness, Long-Term Disability.

• Employee Discounts on home, auto, and gym membership.

Thales is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software or technical information controlled under the Canadian Export Control List, the Canadian Controlled Goods Program, the Canadian Industrial Security Program, the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be eligible or able to obtain authorization for such access including eligibility to the Canadian Controlled Goods Program and able to obtain a Canadian NATO Secret clearance.