Speaker of Council

The Alma Mater Society (AMS) is the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) student society, and works to improve the academic, social and personal lives of the 56,000 UBC students at its Vancouver campus. The AMS also runs nine food and beverage outlets, a catering and conference operation, and the AMS Student Nest, providing on-campus employment opportunities and generating revenue that goes directly back into supporting the students at UBC.
**Position title**: Speaker of Council
**Reports to**: Human Resources Committee (on behalf of AMS Council)
**Employee status**: Hourly Exempt, Appointed
**Length of term**: September 3, 2025 - April 30, 2026
**Hours per week**: 7 hours per week
**Compensation**: $21.00 per hour
Position Purpose
The Speaker of Council is responsible for facilitating AMS Council meetings and ensuring that all proceedings adhere to the AMS governing documents, including the AMS Constitution, Bylaws, Code of Procedure, and Policies, as well as Robert’s Rules of Order. The Speaker plays a central role in maintaining order, impartiality, and accessibility within Council, while fostering an environment of constructive dialogue and democratic decision-making. The Speaker supports Councillors in understanding their responsibilities and parliamentary procedure. The Speaker works with the AMS Executives and the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee to promote transparent and effective student governance.
The Speaker chairs both the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee and the Elections Appeals Committee, guiding these bodies in providing oversight, accountability, and due process in alignment with the duties described in Code.
The position requires strong facilitation, procedural knowledge, and impartiality. The Speaker must be trusted by all members of Council to enforce rules fairly, act without bias, and ensure that meetings run efficiently, inclusively, and in alignment with the AMS mission and values.

**Responsibilities**:

- Chair regularly scheduled meetings of Council monthly (summer term) or bi-weekly (winter term) and any special or emergency meetings on an as needed basis.
- Deliver a land acknowledgement at the beginning of each Council meeting, in recognition of the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory on which the AMS operates. Ensure, to the best of their ability, that Council Chambers and the contents therein are secure immediately before and after Council meetings.
- Work with the Executive Committee to maintain reliable means for members of Council to attend and vote in meetings remotely.
- Assist with the coordination and arrangement of any considerations and accommodations required by participants who are otherwise facing barriers to participating in Council meetings.
- Be available outside Council meetings for occasional discussion of Council issues/items.
- Chair the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee and relay feedback from the committee to the Executives.
- Chair the Election Appeals Committee, as needed.
- Ensure AMS Council meetings run in a timely manner.
- Ensure that the proceedings of AMS Council meetings follow Robert’s Rules of Order, AMS Code of Procedures, AMS Policies, AMS Bylaws, and the AMS Constitution.
- Make procedural rulings on declared or suspected conflicts of interest during Council meetings, in accordance with the AMS Bylaws, Code, and applicable policies, and ensure appropriate recusal or disclosure measures are followed.
- Educate councillors and committee chairs on the rules of order for Council and Committee meetings.
- Work with the Human Resources Department to ensure regular evaluations of the executives' performance are presented confidentially to the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee.
- Uphold the AMS’s mission, values, constitution, and Strategic Plan.
- Remain impartial while facilitating AMS Council and avoid the appearance of partiality in elections and business before Council.
- Contribute to institutional memory by preparing a year-end report summarizing meeting trends, procedural issues, and recommendations for future Speakers and Council governance
- Other duties as outlined in AMS Code and Bylaws, and as assigned by Council from time to time.

Qualifications and Experience
- Knowledge and experience implementing Robert’s Rules of Order is required
- Experience chairing meetings of a board, council, or committee, especially using Robert’s Rules or other formal parliamentary procedures.
- Good public speaking skills and the ability to assertively and fairly enforce the rules and procedures of Council.
- Strong understanding of governance best practices, including transparency, accountability, procedural fairness, and conflict of interest management.
- Demonstrated objectivity and impartiality in decision-making and facilitation.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain professionalism, impartiality, and discretion in high-pressure or politically sensitive environments.
- Know