Community relations officer

Position description – general

Key activity

Provide information and assistance to members of their target group on where, when and ways to register and vote.

Tasks

• Maintain contact between the returning officer (RO) office and electors within the target groups through interaction with organizations representing or serving them
• Keep the RO informed of activities/trends in target groups
• Raise awareness about where, when and ways to register and vote through kiosks, information sessions and distribution of information materials (in-person or virtual).
• Assist SAs with the implementation of the targeted revision program to explain the benefits of being registered at the right address before polling day.
• If requested, help the RO with the search for suitable polling places or help make the necessary arrangements for their set-up and opening.

Job qualifications

Experience

• Building community relations
• Volunteering or working for an organization providing services to the target group
• Interacting with the target group within the ED
• Providing outreach and community services

Knowledge of

• Target group's customs, culture, sensitivities, languages, issues and concerns
• Key contacts and organizations in the community
• Local organizations providing services to the target group

Abilities and skills

• Communication
• Strong interpersonal relations
• Active listening and observation
• Analytical reasoning
• Effective time management
• Proactive problem-solving

Personal suitability

• Professional
• Team player
• Prepared to travel within the ED
• Punctual and reliable
• Conscientious, respectful and outgoing

Assets

• Knowledge of the electoral process
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of election officers
• Bilingualism (English and French)
• Knowledge of the principles set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Knowledge of the language(s) of the target group
• Access to internet and MS Office suite

Community relations officer – Indigenous

Specific tasks

• At the RO's request, assist the training officer and the recruitment officer in selecting, appointing and training Indigenous poll workers.
• Provide translation, interpretation and literacy services as necessary
• Support the Indigeneous Elder and Youth Program in particular, by helping the RO recruit and train program participants (this program is for First Nations only)

Community relations officer – Accessibility

Specific tasks

• Disseminate information on assistive voting tools and information available in alternate formats
• Verify accessibility of polling locations, as directed by the returning officer (RO), one week before and on polling day(s) and complete appropriate documentation to ensure the sites meet accessibility standards
• Act as resource to the central poll supervisor (CPS) to resolve accessibility issues on polling day(s)
• Assist RO with initial fact finding on issues reported on accessibility feedback forms during advance polling days and advise RO of findings

Community relations officer – Official Languages/Ethnocultural

Specific tasks

• Liaise with ethnocultural community including minority language groups by interacting with organizations representing or serving that community
• Provide translation, interpretation and literacy services as needed

Community relations officer – Homeless

Specific tasks

• Make presentations to the administrators and occupants of the shelters and organizations offering services to the homeless to raise awareness about where, when and ways to register and vote
• Identify special requirements in offering outreach for electors who are homeless and advise the returning officer (RO)

Community relations officer – Seniors

Specific tasks

• Maintain contact between the returning officer (RO) office and senior electors through interaction with administrators of long-term care facilities
• Inform electors who live in long-term care facilities of where, when and ways to vote
• Keep the RO advised of activities related to seniors voting

Community relations officer – Youth

The External Service Point (ESP) program involves opening Additional Assistant Returning Officer (AARO) offices at select post-secondary institutions across Canada for a specific period during the electoral calendar.

The CRO-Youth serving an ESP is appointed to work in a post-secondary institution that is part of the ESP program and will conduct outreach activities exclusively for this location leading up to and during the ESP voting days.

Specific tasks

• Raise awareness of the electoral process through kiosks, presentations and information distribution *
• Liaise with administrators of post-secondary institutions within the electoral district (ED) to facilitate registration and voting
• Attend events and distribute Elections Canada (EC) informational material *
• Keep the returning officer (RO)/AARO advised of activities related to voting and youth *
• As directed by the RO, refer young electors to the recruitment officer to work as poll workers
• Assist Service Agents (SAs) with targeted revision as it relates to the youth population, if required
• Propose new ways to make the electoral process more accessible *
• Consult and coordinate activities with Community relations officer (CROs) or other RO office staff from neighbouring electoral districts *

* These specific duties apply to both CRO-Youth and CRO-ESPs.