Guide to Writing Position Descriptions

March 21, 2023
Arm reaching over desk of papers highlighting items. Mobile phone sitting on top of papers

Are you looking to recruit a new team member with the assistance of a CBF Development and Operations grant? Ensure you have detailed Position Descriptions available with your application. Below is everything your Position Description should include.

1. Heading information

Job title, pay grade or range, reporting relationship (by position, not individual), hours or
shifts and the likelihood of overtime or weekend work.

2. Summary of the job

General responsibilities and descriptions of key tasks. Detail the role’s purpose, relationships
with stakeholders e.g. customers or co‐workers, and the results expected.

3. Qualifications

Education, experience, training, and technical skills needed.

4. Special demands

Extraordinary conditions applying to the job e.g. heavy lifting, exposure to temperature
extremes, prolonged standing, or travel.

5. Job duties and responsibilities

Identifying the tasks that summarise the roles and duties to be done. List tasks in either the
order of the time consumed or priority. It’s more important to list what must be performed
and accomplished than how. Being too specific on how to accomplish a duty could lead to
discrimination issues.

Looking for an example? View the Position Description sample for inspiration.