DSU Council Chair

Job Posting: 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 right, 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 nonprofit directors, policymakers, and public organizers.

The Council Chair is appointed by Council and is directly supervised by the Policy and Governance Coordinator while collaborating with the Council and Executive Team to uphold governance standards. It involves meeting coordination, regulatory compliance monitoring, and a comprehensive understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Your role is pivotal in ensuring adherence to regulatory and constitutional requirements, fostering a collaborative approach between the Council, its Committees, and the Executive Team, and maintaining the highest standards of governance in line with our Mission Statement.

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 is an asset
• Knowledge of EDIA principles and/or experience with EDIA frameworks an asset
  
  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Council Chair:

• Supports Council in acting in accordance with DSU bylaws, 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
• Keeps record of decisions taken at meetings of Council and communicates them to relevant staff and representatives.

Council Coordination:

• Coordinate Council and committee meetings, including reviewing documents and managing electronic meeting platforms.
• Chair Council meetings, Annual General Meeting, any Special meeting and support subcommittees, tracking action items, attendance for each meeting of Council and addressing inquiries.

• Assist Policy and Governance Coordinator in scheduling and facilitating orientation/training sessions for Council members and stakeholder presentations.
• Follow the annual Governance Calendar and oversee its activities.
• 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 Policy and Governance Coordinator.
  
  

Documentation Management:

• Review and consolidate informative materials and presentations for Council training and meetings.
• Assist the Policy and Governance Coordinator in drafting and preparing orientation materials for new Council members.
• Distribute relevant correspondence, such as meeting materials and policies, to DSU Council.
  
  

Support Functions:

• Advise the Executive Committee on Council reports, motions, and Roberts Rules of Order.
• Aid the Executive Committee in managing internal and external governance records.
• Assist the Policy and Governance Coordinator in orienting the incoming Council Chair.
• Serve as a point of contact for DSU Members regarding access and interpretation of DSU Council manners.
  
  

This opportunity runs from November 2026 to April 2027. The rate of pay is $19.10 per hour, and hours of work amount to approximately 20 hours per month in the Fall and Winter term. Hours may fluctuate based on the demands of Council and the DSU.

Please indicate in your application any previous experience you have had with chairing meetings and the size and format of those meetings.

Deadline to apply: October 28, 2026, at 11:59pm

We thank all of our applicants for taking the time to apply. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Dalhousie Student Union welcomes the contributions that individuals from traditionally marginalized communities, as outlined under the prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act, bring to our organization. These include racialized people; Indigenous people; women; lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer people; and people with disabilities. We encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are a member of a marginalized community.