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: Chief Returning Officer (CRO)
Reports to: Elections Administrator
Supervises: Polling Officers & Poll Clerks
Employee status: Hourly Exempt, Term, Appointed
Length of term: September 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026
Hours per week:
September 1 – September 30:10 hours per week (AMS VP Student Life By-Election)
October 1 – December 31, 5 hours per week
January 1 – March 31, 25 hours per week (AMS Spring General Election)
Compensation: $19.50 per hour
Position Purpose
The Chief Returning Officer (CRO) is a key leader in the execution of AMS Elections and referenda, responsible for coordinating all in-person and online voting operations. As Vice-Chair of the AMS Elections Committee, the CRO provides strategic input on major decisions and helps uphold the integrity and independence of the elections process. The CRO directly manages the hiring, training, and supervision of Polling Officers and Poll Clerks, oversees the setup and operation of polling stations, and ensures all elections activities comply with the AMS Code of Procedure and Policy GV5: Elections Rules and Regulations. This is a dynamic, student-facing role that demands impartiality, professionalism, and attention to detail. The CRO works closely with the Elections Administrator to support the smooth, fair, and transparent administration of elections that serve over 60,000 students.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Hires, trains, and manages Polling Officers and Poll Clerks
- Organizes polling stations and ensures they are properly set up
- Approves campaign material and forms where needed
- Observes viewing and recording of results
- Ensures proper application of the AMS Code of Procedures and AMS Policy GV5: Elections Rules and Regulations
- Rule on electoral irregularities with the Elections Committee
- Assists the Elections Administrator in supporting Constituency Elections
- Supports the Elections Administrator in fulfilling the duties of the Elections Committee
- Other duties as required by the Elections Administrator
Skills and Qualifications
- Must be a currently registered student at UBC Vancouver or one of its affiliated colleges
- Cannot be currently in a position where there may be a conflict of interest*
- Ability to attend weekly meetings throughout the school year
- Ability to work well independently and as a team member
- Understanding of the importance of committing to impartiality and confidentiality
- Strong time management and organizational skills
- Ability to rapidly solve complex problems
- Experience supervising a team is an asset
- Cannot be a candidate in the elections for AMS Executives, Constituencies (undergraduate societies), the Board of Governors, the Senate, the Ubyssey and the Student Legal Fund Society. Cannot be a member of the AMS Council, AMS student government staff, an AMS Service Coordinator, or an executive of any Constituency. Additionally, cannot be holding any position to which they have been appointed by (or in which they report to) the AMS Council, an AMS Executive, the Managing Director, an AMS Senior Manager, or anyone in the preceding list. Cannot have held an AMS Executive office in the current academic year.
To Apply:
Please submit your resume and cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
Application deadline: 11:59pm July 31
At the AMS, we believe that a diverse workforce enriches our organization and we value individual life experiences, knowledge and self-expression that different people bring. We actively seek to create an environment where all employees, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristics, feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. We warmly welcome and encourage individuals from any underrepresented group to apply for this position. We are dedicated to maintaining fair and inclusive practices in our hiring, promotion, and professional development processes to create the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Due to the large volume of resumes we receive at the AMS, we are only able to contact those we are interested in interviewing and cannot reply to email/phone/walk-in inquiries regarding application status.
