How to Write a Job Description for an Opening At Your Company

Use This Easy Job Description Template for Your Company

Image by Theresa Chiechi © The Balance 2019

Writing a job description is tricky–it's a challenge to both capture the spirit and energy of your company or business while summarizing the duties of the position you're hoping to fill. A template can be a useful guide to ensure you don't let any important details slip through the cracks and to use it as a basis for formatting.

Title of Job

The job title describes the rank of the position and implies the responsibilities expected of the person who holds it. Potential candidates sometimes simply search for jobs based on what kind of work they're looking for, so put some thought into it.

Position Description

Write a one-sentence description of what the position does within your organization.

Example: The Human Resources Manager guides and manages the overall provision of Human Resources services, policies, and programs for a company. The HR Director within a small to mid-sized company supplies the same or a portion of the Human Resources function within a large company. 

Major Areas of Responsibility

Use bullet points to list the major areas covered by your job. This doesn't have to detail every minute responsibility or be completely comprehensive, but rather, should provide a deeper context for the position, building off of the description that precedes it.

Example: The major areas the Human Resources Manager manages can include:

  • Developing the Human Resources department
  • Advising managers about issues relating to managing people
  • Employee orientation, management development, and training
  • Performance management and improvement systems
  • Organization development and change management
  • Employment and compliance to regulatory and governmental concerns
  • Policy development and documentation

Primary Objectives

Beyond what the person in the position actually does, list the primary goals and objectives of the position for its overall contribution to the organization.

Example: A Human Resources Manager might list items such as these:

Specific Responsibilities of the Job

Take each of the items listed in the Major Areas of Responsibility and flesh out the details. Start by using the listed major area of responsibility and add the details necessary to make job expectations and products clear in each major area of responsibility. For example, an HR manager might detail a responsibility, Development of the Human Resources Department, like this:

Development of the Human Resources Department

  • Oversees the implementation of Human Resources programs through Human Resources staff. Monitors administration to established standards and procedures. Identifies opportunities for improvement and resolves any discrepancies.
  • Oversees and manages the work of reporting Human Resources staff. Encourages the ongoing development of the Human Resources staff.
  • Develops and monitors an annual budget that includes Human Resources services, employee recognition, sports teams support, company philanthropic giving, and administration.
  • Selects and supervises Human Resources consultants, attorneys, and training specialists, and coordinates company use of insurance brokers, insurance carriers, pension administrators, and other outside sources.
  • Conducts a continuing study of all Human Resources policies, programs, and practices to keep management informed of new developments.
  • Leads the development of department goals, objectives, and systems to support the organization's business plan.
  • Establishes departmental measurements that enable the HR department to support the accomplishment of the company's strategic goals.
  • Directs the preparation and maintenance of such reports as are necessary to carry out the functions of the department. Prepares periodic reports for management, as necessary or requested, to track strategic goal accomplishment.
  • Develops and administers programs, procedures, and guidelines to help align the workforce with the strategic goals of the company.
  • Participates in executive, management, and company staff meetings and attends other meetings and seminars as needed to accomplish the organization's and department's goals
  • With the CEO and CFO, annually plans the company's philanthropic and charitable giving and community outreach.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

In this section of the job description, list each essential responsibility that the job holder must be able to perform satisfactorily to do the job successfully. Note that these requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Requirements

  • Broad knowledge and experience in:
  • Above average skills in:
  • Excellent skills in:
  • Demonstrated ability to:
  • Demonstrated ability to:
  • Demonstrated ability to:
  • General knowledge of:
  • Experience in:
  • Other:

Education and Experience

  • Degree or equivalent experience:
  • Years of experience:
  • Specialized training in:
  • Active affiliations:
  • Other requirements (certifications and so forth):

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions.

Example: While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The vision abilities required to perform this job include close vision.

Work Environment

Example: While performing the responsibilities of the job, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the job holder will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The passage of employees through the work area is average and normal.

Conclusion

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. But, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.