Assistant to Councillors

**Requisition ID**:37766

**Company**

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities and is working towards being the greenest city in the world. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, decolonization, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

**Main Purpose and Function**

As a member of the Council Support team, the Assistant to Councillors plays a key role in providing confidential and complex administrative support to assigned Council members so that Councillors are able to focus on their duties and responsibilities as members of Council.

Reporting to the Director of Business and Election Services, the Assistant to Councillors regularly coordinates with Meeting Coordinators on council meeting information and liaises with Civic Agency Chairs and members, staff liaisons, and external agencies. This position will also work directly with City Clerk’s Office staff, the Mayor’s Office, elected officials, City staff from all Service Groups, Civic Agency members and members of the general public.

**Specific Duties and Responsibilities**

This position is responsible for providing a range of complex administrative services to their assigned members of Council including:

- Providing confidential and complex secretarial services;
- Preparing members’ motions for submission;
- Ensuring that Councillors have access to appropriate information;
- Preparing responses to incoming correspondences;
- Handling and resolving enquiries and complaints from the public and/or media for the Councillors;
- Conducting minor research;
- Managing multiple calendars;
- Arranging travel; and
- Tracking and reconciling Councillors' expenses.
- Performs other work as required.

Ability to manage time effectively and efficiently is crucial. The work requires the use of tact, discretion, confidentiality and considerable independence of judgment and action to be exercised within established policy and guidelines. Accuracy and attention to detail are also essential.

On a daily basis, this position successfully balances the individual and competing requests for support from multiple Councillors.

The Assistant will work closely with other Councillors' Assistants as a member of the Council Support team, and will maintain liaisons with all members of Council including the Mayor, staff in the Mayor's Office and the City Manager’s Office, both frontline and senior City staff, and external parties such as the media, the public, and other government organizations.

**Qualifications**
Education and Experience:

- Completion of Grade 12, supplemented by business/secretarial courses plus considerable related experience (e.g. executive assistant capacity) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Considerable knowledge of local government and the role of the Mayor and Council, the City's organizational structure, and function of the City's departments, pertinent by-laws and policies, and records management practices;
- Demonstrated ability to:

- effectively and efficiently work for multiple officials;
- build and maintain effective working relationships;
- manage the correspondence of a senior or elected official;
- handle a variety of complex situations, including enquiries and complaints received by phone, in person, or written correspondence from the public and media using tact and diplomacy with mínimal supervision;
- manage multiple electronic calendars, ensuring that all information is accurate and up to date, and reflects all relevant background information pertaining to the scheduled event;
- arrange and coordinate meetings of various sizes and complexity involving both internal and external parties;
- work effectively and respectfully as a team member;
- work calmly and effectively under pressure, while exercising tact, diplomacy, and excellent judgment; and
- research issues by locating, compiling, and summarizing relevant information;
- Ability to prioritize work efficiently;
- Excellent interpersonal skills;
- Ability to work in a team environment;
- Excellent written and verbal skills with a thorough knowledge of business English including sentence structure, grammar and punctuation;
- Accounting experience is preferred

The City’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination against COVID-19 is not required at this time. However, should circumstances change and the City deem it necessary to r