Dsu Council Chair

About the Dalhousie Student Union (DSU): The DSU represents the collective voice of over 18,000 students in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The DSU advocates for student rights, builds community on campus through events, supports over 300 societies, and provides focused services to foster a supportive and positive student experience.

Overview As Council Chair, you will help facilitate the flow of Council, the thoughtful consideration of emerging ideas, and the democratic decision-making process. You’ll ensure that meetings are conducted respectfully and effectively by supporting members’ full participation and keeping discussions on track. The Council Chair plays an integral part in ensuring the Dalhousie Student Union meets its obligation to students through effective and sound governance.

The Council Chair will develop skills in governance, bylaw and policy interpretation, and meeting facilitation through both training and direct experience. This is an exceptional opportunity for students interested in becoming public sector leaders, government and non-profit directors, policymakers, and public organizers.

The Council Chair is appointed by Council and is directly supervised by the Policy and Governance Coordinator.

Characteristics

The successful applicant for this position will have:

- Demonstrated ability to guide respectful discussion and debate while remaining neutral
- Previous experience using Robert’s Rules of Order or other formal meeting procedures
- Excellent English-language speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills
- Interest in bylaws, policy, governance, and/or meeting facilitation
- Previous involvement with the DSU or knowledge of its structures an asset
- Experience chairing meetings an asset
- Knowledge of anti-oppressive principles and/or experience with anti-oppressive frameworks an asset

Duties

The Council Chair:

- Supports Council in acting in accordance with DSU by-laws, policies, and Act of Incorporation
- Encourages Councillors’ participation in Council discussions
- Prepares the agenda, circulates relevant documents, and tracks attendance for each meeting of Council
- Presides over Council and Annual General meetings in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order and the Union Rules and Procedures Policy
- Assists in planning orientation for incoming Councillors
- Acts as the point of contact for Council Committees, including:

- Receiving relevant minutes and reports to be brought to Council
- Assisting where appropriate with filling Committee seats
- Supporting Committee chairs in the coordination of meetings
- Keeps record of decisions taken at meetings of Council and communicates them to relevant staff and representatives

This opportunity runs from May 2023 to April 2024. The rate of pay is $16.55 per hour, and hours of work amount to approximately 20 hours per month in the Fall and Winter terms and approximately 10 hours per month in the Summer term. Hours may fluctuate based on the demands of Council and the DSU.

Deadline to apply: April 1st at 11:59pm