Have a Vacancy? Where to start?
All Vacancies start with an effective Position Description.
What is a Position Description?
- First line of legal defense as an employer; communicates expectations to employees
- Defines the duties and responsibilities of the position, the required education and training, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) and the experience needed to do the position
- Drives the information for the posting; establishes objective criterion for Matrix/Rubric; provides hiring justification for Hiring Proposal
Inclusive and Accurate Position Description
Once you have formed a committee, the first task is to write the position announcement and decide where to advertise. Instead of recycling a prior description, write the new position with intention, all the while keeping some important considerations at the forefront of the committee’s work.
Writing the Position Description
• What competencies are we including, and why are they important to this search? (E.g., interdisciplinary, extensive publishing, broad or specific teaching experience, etc.)
• Have we made the position description both clear and broad enough to attract the greatest number of candidates?
• Could the description’s language be off-putting to some job seekers (e.g., “aggressive,” “digital native”)?
• Do we explicitly promote inclusivity beyond our standard EEO/AA statements?
• Do we request evidence of working with diverse communities in service, teaching, or research?
Additional Resources
Need help writing an effective Position Description? Click HERE!