A job description (JD) is a written document setting out what a role involves - its key duties, responsibilities, and where it sits in the reporting structure. It is the reference point recruiting, performance management and job grading all draw from.
What it means
A good job description describes the work, not the person doing it - it stays valid as the incumbent changes. It typically covers purpose, key responsibilities, reporting line and the standards the role is measured against.
Where it fits in
The job description underpins the position an employee is appointed to, and its grading determines where that position sits on the pay structure - so it indirectly shapes what payroll calculates, even though payroll itself never reads the JD directly.
Key rules
- JD = job description, setting out duties, responsibilities and reporting line.
- Describes the role, not the person currently filling it.
- Feeds recruiting, performance management and job grading.
- Indirectly shapes pay through the grading process.
