What should you include in a Job Description?

Remember that a job description is different to a job advert, but both need to be clear, as well as at least a little engaging.

Avoid too many pages, and tons of text.

Avoid being too specific. It should be clear enough so that people know what is expected of them, but doesn’t need to detail exactly how they do the job. That’s what procedures are for.

The basics to include are:

Job Title and Department:

Start with the employee's current title and department for clarity.

Job Summary:

Briefly remind the employee of the overall objective of their role and how it contributes to the company's success.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Core Responsibilities: List the essential duties and tasks expected of the employee in their role. Examples might include;

  • operation of x equipment, where trained to do so.

  • To oversee x projects in line with the company scheduling system.

• Desired Outcomes might also be included: Explain what successful completion of these tasks looks like. Be specific with metrics or goals where possible.

Accountabilities:

• This section goes beyond just tasks and focuses on the ownership the employee has for certain processes or results. What are they directly accountable for?

  This might include:

  • Ensure supervision and training of all direct reports in the x department.

  • Responsible for ensuring the maintenance of x equipment in line with company procedures.

Performance Expectations could also be included:

• Outline the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the employee's success in the role.

• Specify goals and expectations for these KPIs over a set timeframe (quarter, year).

  Examples might include:

  • Equipment maintenance must be completed prior to the due date.

  • All new employees under your supervision are expected to complete x within x months. Those not meeting expectations should be reported to x.

Growth and Development:

Outline any professional development opportunities available to help the employee further develop their skills and advance their career.

Company Values:

• Briefly refresh the employee's memory on the company's core values and how their role contributes to upholding them.

Communication and Feedback:

• Specify preferred communication channels for the employee to receive feedback and ask questions.

Additional Information:

• Include any relevant resources or company documents the employee may need to refer back to.

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You can find a free download in our store to give you a basic template for a job description.

If you would like any support for your small business across HR, H&S or general business management, please get in touch.