Speaker of Council

at  Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver

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
Employee status: Term, Appointed
Length of Term: Until April 30, 2025
Hours per week: 10
Compensation: $20.00 per hour
Position Purpose
The Speaker of Council is a non-voting member of Council who facilitates AMS Council meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Chair Council meetings, including the acknowledgement of the land
• 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 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
• Educate councillors and committee chairs on the rules of order for Council and Committee meetings
• Chair the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee, and relay feedback from the committee to the Executives
• Work with the Human Resources Department to ensure regular evaluations of the executives’ performance are presented confidentially to the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee
• Work with the AMS mission statement and values to operate a successful department
• Remain impartial while facilitating AMS Council, and avoid the appearance of partiality in elections and business before council
• Other duties as required

Qualifications and Experience

• Knowledge and experience implementing Robert’s Rules of Order is required
• Good public speaking skills and an ability to be assertive in carrying through the rules and procedures of Council
• Objective and impartial
• Knowledge of the AMS governmental and services structure is required
• Must not hold any other elected position in the Society, including positions within constituencies

• Chair Council meetings, including the acknowledgement of the land
• 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 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
• Educate councillors and committee chairs on the rules of order for Council and Committee meetings
• Chair the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee, and relay feedback from the committee to the Executives
• Work with the Human Resources Department to ensure regular evaluations of the executives’ performance are presented confidentially to the Executive Performance and Accountability Committee
• Work with the AMS mission statement and values to operate a successful department
• Remain impartial while facilitating AMS Council, and avoid the appearance of partiality in elections and business before council
• Other duties as require