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E. The Position Description

A position description consists of several items, including an overall summary of the position, a description of reporting lines of authority, and a statement of the position's essential functions. It also states the necessary skills, experience, and educational background required. This information provides a basis for determining a position's classification and is also used to understand each department's structure.

Position descriptions are not fixed university policy; they are guidelines and generally evolve throughout time. Occasionally, you may be expected to perform duties and handle responsibilities that are not listed in your position description. If new duties and responsibilities become a significant part of your job, its position description should be changed. To do so, you will need to complete a position information questionnaire (PIQ) as described in the preceding section of this manual. Supervisors and their direct reports should review the staff members’ job description during the annual performance review meeting. Changes to the job description should be submitted to the Human Resources department.