DSU Chief Returning Officer

Dalhousie Student Union; Halifax; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

The Dalhousie Student Union is seeking a Chief Returning Officer to oversee the planning and execution of elections for the 2025-26 academic year. This role involves leading the Elections Committee, ensuring adherence to bylaws, and effectively managing the election process, while developing skills in governance and compliance. The successful candidate will work closely with student representatives to advance democratic engagement within the student body.

Qualifications

• Ability to delegate and lead in a team setting.
• Excellent English-language skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage people and delegate tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning and administering the DSU Elections.
• Serve as the Chair of the Elections Committee.
• Ensure elections comply with DSU bylaws and policies.
• Lead candidate meetings and support candidates throughout the election process.

Skills

Delegation

Communication (English)

Organizational Skills

Leadership

Detail Orientation

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Chief Returning Officer

SUPERVISOR: Policy & Governance Coordinator

TERM: August 2025 – April 2026

HOURS OF WORK: Hours of work vary throughout the year based on elections timing. Approximately 40-60 hours of work will be required for Fall By-Election and Winter General Election period, spread out over 5-8 weeks. The successful candidate will work with the Policy & Governance Coordinator to develop a work plan for the sustainable distribution of work hours.

REMUNERATION: $17.80hr

ABOUT

The Dalhousie Student Union (DSU) is an incorporated non-profit with the objectives of:

· acting as the official representative organization of Dalhousie students;

· serving as the medium of communication between Dalhousie students and the governing bodies of the University;

· encouraging Dalhousie students to have an awareness of their responsibilities in the local, provincial, national, and international community;

· providing services and programming that enhance student life in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible manner.

With over 20,000 members, the DSU is here to make sure students get the most out of their experience at Dalhousie. The DSU advocates for student rights, builds community on campus through events, supports over 250 societies, and provides discount services!

OVERVIEW

As Chief Returning Officer, you will oversee planning and administering the DSU Elections for 2025-26 academic year. Working with the Elections Committee, you will ensure that elections are fair and democratic.

The Chief Returning Officer will develop skills in communication, planning, bylaw and policy interpretation, and meeting facilitation through both training and direct experience. These abilities are directly applicable to work in other organizations and sectors with regulatory compliance and oversight, making this an exceptional opportunity for students interested in becoming public sector leaders, government and non-profit directors, policymakers, and public organizers.

JOB DUTIES

Supervisory Function

· Serve as the Chair of the Elections Committee.

· Facilitate regular meetings of the committee during each election period.

· Recruit, orient, and delegate responsibilities to committee members as needed.

· Collaborate regularly with committee members and Union staff to ensure efficient execution of election activities.

Planning & Compliance

· Develop comprehensive timelines and schedules for all elections.

· Draft additional rules and regulations specific to each election cycle in accordance with DSU elections policy.

· Coordinate logistics for nomination periods, campaign timelines, and voting days.

· Ensure elections adhere to all DSU bylaws and regulatory requirements.

Candidate Support

· Lead mandatory candidate meetings during both general and by-election periods to review rules, expectations, and procedures.

· Ensure all candidates receive relevant information and updates throughout the election period.

Oversight & Enforcement

· Review and investigate any charges of election policy violations.

· Issue warnings, fines, or other appropriate sanctions in line with established procedures.

· Maintain accurate documentation of all rulings and related correspondence.

Communications & Promotions

· Work with Union staff to coordinate the advertisement and visibility of elections.

· Help develop and implement communication strategies to engage student voters and promote awareness.

· Ensure all relevant materials (digital and print) are produced and distributed appropriately.

Reporting

· Submit a comprehensive final report following the completion of both the By-election and General Election periods.

· Include recommendations for policy amendments and candidate conduct.

CHARACTERISTICS

The successful applicant for this position will have:

• Demonstrated ability to delegate and lead in a team setting

• Excellent English-language speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills

• Ability to manage people and delegate tasks effectively

• Ability to maintain a neutral, unbiased, and independent stance

• Leadership skills with the ability to facilitate and chair meetings of the Elections Committee

• Interest in elections, democratic processes, or governance structures

• Orientation to detail; previous experience working with policy an asset

• Previous involvement with the DSU or knowledge of its structures an asset

• Previous experience administering or working on elections an asset

• Knowledge of anti-oppressive principles an asset

• Familiarity with bylaws and policies is helpful

• Responsible for maintaining an appropriate and positive image of the DSU

Deadline to apply: July 25, 2025 at 11:59 pm (this position will be open until a suitable candidate is found)

We thank all our applicants for taking the time to apply. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Dalhousie Student Union welcomes the contributions that individuals from traditionally marginalized communities, as outlined under the prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act, bring to our organization. These include racialized people; Indigenous people; women; lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer people; and people with disabilities. We encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are a member of a marginalized community.