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.