Society Relations Coordinator

University of Waterloo; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 56,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Waterloo is seeking a Societies Officer to support the operation of student societies under the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association. This 18-month temporary role involves governance, events, and advocacy across campus, with a focus on compliance and engagement.

You will work with multiple departments to enhance student life, coordinate onboarding, and provide strategic planning support to societies, ensuring safe and inclusive programs and activities for undergraduates.

Qualifications

• University degree required in related field or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years in volunteer management or staff supervision in a student leadership role.
• Experience planning and executing events, ideally large ones.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support, advice, and direction to student societies and sub-societies.
• Ensure compliance with WUSA policies and Ontario regulations.
• Support onboarding, training, and strategic planning for student societies.
• Collaborate with campus partners to advocate for student life improvements.
• Manage communications and risk assessments for student-run events.

Skills

Volunteer management

Event planning

Risk assessment

Equity & inclusion

Budgeting

Communication

Education

University degree in related field

Combination of education/experience

Job description

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day. Learn more about our recruitment process.

Job Requisition ID: 2026-03010 Time Type: Full time Employee Group: Staff Job Category: Student and Campus Support Employment Type: Temporary Department: Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association - Community and Events Hiring Range: $56,494.16 - $70,617.70 Posting Information: This posting is for an existing vacancy. The internal posting deadline for this position is October 16, 2026 at 11:59PM. This position is being offered as a Secondment or contract opportunity. Term: 18 months

Job Description

Primary Purpose The Societies Officer will support the operation of the student societies at the University of Waterloo. The student societies are autonomous organizations that operate under the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association’s liability insurance, and consequently are responsible for adhering to certain processes and procedures.

Key Accountabilities

Student Group Management

• Provides day-to-day support, advice, and direction to the student societies and their sub-societies
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures related to club operations as outlined by WUSA, the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario, the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario, and the University of Waterloo
• Addresses and mediates any issues related to the student team dynamics, performance, and accountability
• Supports promotion and engagement of constituencies during elections processes
• Responsible for decision-making and problem-solving related to ~1000 student-run events annually
• Will understand and adhere to protocol set out by WUSA’s insurance provider pertaining to student-run events
• Ensure the student societies are adhering to the Societies Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
• Be familiar with the contents of the student society constitutions and ensure the students societies are adhering to their own constitutions
• Encourage and support facilitation of collaboration between student societies
• Create and deliver an onboarding and training plan for new student society executive/teams, including updating the Societies Resource Manual, updating service standards as needed
• Provide strategic planning support to societies as needed

Research and Advocacy

• Works collaboratively with staff from other departments across campus, including the student engagement staff in the faculties including satellite campuses, and student volunteers, with the purpose of representing and working for what undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo view as important and meaningful in their student life experience
• Identifies challenges or issues students face and works with other staff in WUSA and across campus to advocate for solutions
• Reviews research from campus partners and other post-secondary institutions regarding current trends and best practices in the larger student life experience, implementing these best practices with respect to student groups where possible and relevant
• Facilitates meetings of the Committee of Presidents, including but not limited to agenda and presentation creation, scheduling, and sourcing presenters
• Find and assess new opportunities and/or technologies that could benefit the societies

Logistics Management

• Responsible for clearly communicating with student groups and preparing them with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary for meeting expectations related to governance, accounting, elections, events, risk management, and space management
• Receives and processes all Society Event Forms, including but not limited to handling room bookings, ensuring contractual agreements are appropriate and in place, and doing a risk assessment
• Regularly monitors the information on WUSA’s Societies web page to ensure it is correct and relevant
• Facilitate society engagement within other areas of WUSA, including but not limited to: Advocacy, Accounting, Governance, IT, Orientation, Services, Clubs & Societies Days
• Monitors student societies accounts and websites for any gaps in communication
• Handle requests for room bookings, charter bus logistics, external venue rental contracts, other aspects of event planning, as needed
• Maintain and update a master contact list of societies and sub-societies executives

Required Qualifications

Education

• University degree required in related field (e.g., Recreation & Leisure, Higher Education and/or Student Services).
• A combination of education and/or experience will be considered.

Experience

• At least 2 years of volunteer management/previous staff supervision experience in a student leadership capacity
• Familiarity with student societies at the University of Waterloo is an asset
• 2 years experience planning and executing events, ideally with some large events
• An understanding of risk assessment and management in student activities
• Sound understanding of typical equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism matters in a university setting
• Experience with strategic planning in a student environment is an asset

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Competencies will include analytical thinking, volunteer management, budgeting, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills. Should have experience communicating to a diverse audience through various mediums and should have experience creating and facilitating information sessions. Should demonstrate excellent attention-to-detail, as the nature of the position includes managing and booking resources that are required for successful programming.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations. The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees.

The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada. The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources [e-mail] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.

At the University of Waterloo, we think differently, we act with purpose, and we work together. We advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship, nationally and internationally, in an environment of free expression and enquiry. We are a leading global research-intensive university, renowned for entrepreneurship and innovation, providing co-op and work-integrated learning at scale with impact. Learn more about Waterloo