Council Job Description

Updated: October, 2026

• DUTIES OF CSSS PRESIDENT-ELECT
• DUITES OF CSSS PRESIDENT
• DUTIES OF PAST PRESIDENT
• DUTIES OF CSSS SECRETARY
• DUTIES OF THE CSSS TREASURER
• DUTIES OF CSSS EASTERN COUNCILLOR
• DUTIES OF CSSS WESTERN COUNCILLOR
• DUTIES OF CSSS GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
• DUTIES OF CJSS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ON CSSS COUNCIL

1. A voting member of council elected by the members.
2. Normally serves a 1-year term beginning at closure of the first AGM following their election until closure of the subsequent AGM.
3. As a signing authority of the society, and on direction of council, may execute official documents of the society, and with a second signing authority may bind the society in any legal contracts.
4. A member of the budget and finance, structure and governance, and honours and awards committees.
5. Chairs the honours and awards committee.
6. Responsible for communications with members and relevant external stakeholders regarding any honours and awards of the society.
7. On behalf of the honours and awards committee and of the society, communicates officially with nominators, nominees, or recipients of society honours and awards.
8. As chair of the honours and awards committee co-signs with the president, any plaques, parchments, or other documents, for society honours and awards.
9. Is responsible for organizing and presiding over the formal annual honours and awards ceremony of the society, including preparing the ceremony program guide.
10. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
11. Normally progresses to serve a 1-year term as president.
12. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next president-elect.

1. A voting member of council elected by the members.
2. Normally the person who completed a 1 year term as president-elect of the society.
3. Normally serves a 1-year term beginning at closure of the second AGM following their election until closure of the subsequent AGM.
4. Functions as chief executive officer of the society, ensuring activities in the annual administrative calendar are implemented, and all orders and resolutions of the council and members are duly completed.
5. As primary signing authority of the society, and on direction of council, is responsible for executing official documents of the society, and with a second signing authority, may bind the society in any legal contracts.
6. Co-signs, with the honours and awards committee chair, any parchments, plaques, or other documents associated with honours and awards of the society.
7. Responsible for calling meetings and preparing agendas for council meetings and business meetings of the society.
8. Chairs council meetings, business meetings, and formal events of the society.
9. Functions as the primary public relations contact for the society.
10. Official council representative with members, external stakeholders, and the public.
11. Member of the budget and finance and structure and governance committees.
12. Chairs the structure and governance committee.
13. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
14. Normally progresses to serve a 1 year term as past-president, immediately following their term as president.
15. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next president.

1. A voting member of council elected by the members.
2. Normally the individual who just served a 1-year term as president of the society.
3. Normally serves a 1-year term beginning at closure of the third AGM following their election until closure of the next AGM.
4. Serves in capacity of vice-president of the society.
5. As a signing authority of the society, and on direction of council, may execute official documents of the society, and with a second signing authority may bind the society in any legal contracts.
6. Member of the budget and finance, structure and governance, and nominations and elections committees.
7. Chairs the nominations and elections committee.
8. Executes responsibilities and authority of the president, when delegated by the president, or when the president is unavailable or temporarily incapacitated.
9. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
10. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next past-president.

1. Appointed by council, on recommendation of nominations and elections committee.
2. A voting member of council.
3. Serves a 3-year term beginning at closure of the first AGM following their appointment until closure of the fourth AGM following their appointment.
4. May be re-appointed for a second 3-year term.
5. Responsible for monitoring the activities of council and the society for the annual administrative calendar.
6. Responsible for ensuring new councillors receive a copy of the councillor orientation package.
7. Working with the president and council, is responsible for scheduling and communicating notifications for council meetings, the AGM, any SBMs, and other meetings or activities to be defined by council.
8. Working with the president and council, is responsible for preparing the agenda, collating documents, including meeting minutes and written reports, and circulating this material, for meetings of council and the society.
9. Responsible for taking and preserving minutes and associated documents for meetings of council and the society.
10. Responsible for maintaining a chronological registry of all resolutions approved by members and council.
11. Provides support, as defined and approved by council, to committees, sub-committees, and task forces.
12. Responsible for coordinating general communications with members.
13. Responsible for receiving, processing, and redirecting general communications from entities external to the society.
14. Responsible for general communications with the secretariat of the International Union of Soil Sciences.
15. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
16. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next secretary.

1. Appointed by council, on recommendation of nominations and elections committee.
2. A voting member of council.
3. Serves a 3-year term beginning at closure of the first AGM following their appointment until closure of the fourth AGM following their appointment.
4. May be re-appointed for a second 3-year term.
5. Functions as the chief financial officer of the society.
6. As signing authority of the society, on direction of council, may execute official documents of the society, and with a second signing authority, may bind the society in any legal contracts.
7. A member of the budget and finance and honours and awards (non-voting capacity) committees.
8. Chairs the budget and finance committee.
9. Responsible for ensuring preparation and presentation of the annual budget.
10. Responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial transactions, general cash flow management, and ongoing investments management.
11. Responsible for identifying candidates, for approval by members, to serve as external reviewers of the annual financial report.
12. Responsible for accounting and financial reporting to council and members.
13. Responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate relationships and arrangements with relevant financial institutions, and updating signing authorities.
14. Responsible for assessing and advising on the status of funds associated with any honours and awards of the society.
15. Responsible for preparation and submission of relevant reporting to Canada Revenue Agency and Corporations Canada.
16. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
17. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next treasurer.

1. A voting member of council elected by the members.
2. Serves a 2-year term beginning at closure of the first AGM following their election, until closure of the third AGM following their election.
3. May be re-elected for a second 2-year term.
4. Represents and supports members from Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut.
5. Co-chair with the western councillor of the communications committee.
6. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated liaison of the society in relationships with relevant stakeholders in their region.
7. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated participant of the society at relevant meetings and events in their region.
8. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated liaison of council to the annual conference committee in years that annual conference is held in their region.
9. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
10. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next eastern councillor.

1. A voting member of council elected by the members.
2. Serves a 2-year term beginning at the closure of the first AGM following their election until closure of the third AGM following their election.
3. May be re-elected for a second 2-year term.
4. Represents and supports members from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
5. A member and co-chair of the communications committee.
6. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated liaison of the society in relationships with relevant stakeholders in their region.
7. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated participant of the society at relevant meetings and events in their region.
8. Unless otherwise determined by council, is the designated liaison of council to the annual conference committee in years that conference is held in their region.
9. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
10. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next western councillor.

1. A voting member of council elected by graduate student members.
2. Serves a 1-year term beginning at closure of the AGM following their election, until closure of the next AGM.
3. May be re-elected for a second 1-year term.
4. Representation shall normally alternate between eastern (Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut) and western (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories) Canada.
5. Responsible for representing graduate student members of the society.
6. Council liaison with graduate student members of the society.
7. A member of the communications committee and participates on the annual conference committee.
8. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
9. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next graduate student councillor.

1. Appointed by Canadian Science Publishing.
2. A voting member of council.
3. Official liaison between council and Canadian Science Publishing.
4. Member and chair of the CJSS editorial committee.
5. Performs other duties that may be assigned by council.
6. Ensures a smooth and effective transition to the next editor in chief CJSS.