Returning Officer Recruitment

Returning Officer Role

The Returning Officer reports to the Chief Electoral Officer (Elections Alberta), an independent office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. A Returning Officer is appointed for each electoral division in Alberta.

Returning Officers are responsible for conducting provincial electoral events in their assigned electoral divisions, including general elections, by-elections, enumerations, senate elections, referendums, citizen initiative votes, and recall votes. They are supported by Elections Alberta, their Returning Officer Liaison, returning office staff, and the election officers in their electoral division.

All Returning Officers must be fair, non-partisan, and impartial in conducting these events in their electoral division.

During an electoral event, this position administers the event, ensuring they, their returning office staff, and election officers adhere to all provincial electoral legislation, including Election Act, Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, Citizen Initiative Act, Referendum Act, Alberta Senate Election Act, and Recall Act.

Key responsibilities include preparing for and conducting electoral events and contributing to the success of future events. This includes hiring returning office staff and election officers, conducting community outreach with Returning Officer Liaison, establishing a returning office and voting locations, conducting voter registration and enumeration, overseeing the unofficial and official counts, and conducting electoral events in their electoral division.

• RO Job Description
• RO Fee Schedule

Individuals with prior electoral processes management and administrative experience, electoral legislation and roles knowledge, leadership experience, project and event management experience, community involvement, strong communication and negotiation skills, good computer skills, and good mobility are encouraged to apply.

Time Commitment

This is a contract term to expire 4 months after Election Day for the next provincial general election. The hours are part-time leading up to the election period and post-election, and full-time during the election period and other electoral events.

Available Positions

Qualified applicants from an electoral division will be given preference for vacant positions within that electoral division over applicants from outside the electoral division.

There are currently Returning Officer positions available located in the following electoral divisions:

This list is updated regularly to reflect current vacancies. Please continue to check this job posting for up-to-date information.

Please note: the Electoral Boundaries Commission is in progress and will result in changes to electoral division boundaries. Assigned electoral divisions may change as a result.

How to Apply

All applicants must complete the two-step application process:

1. Complete the online application and upload a copy of your resume in our system. (A cover letter is not required.)
2. Complete the election-related knowledge assessment. You will be provided with a link to the assessment after you submit your application and resume.

All applications will be reviewed. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Still Unsure?

Are you interested in the position, but still curious about what is all involved?

• Learn more about the returning office team and the other roles in the returning office on our Positions page, or
• To learn more about our election officer hiring policy, visit our Hiring Policy page, or
• Ask us a specific question through email at jobs@elections.ab.ca.