University of Missouri-Columbia Libraries

General Policy Manual Policy #18

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

0.0 CONTENTS

l.0 Scope of Policy

2.0 General

3.0 Format of the Job Description for Professional Staff

4.0 Format of Job Descriptions of Classified Staff

5.0 Format of Job Descriptions of Student Assistants

l.0 SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy establishes guidelines for the development and format of job descriptions in the University of Missouri-Columbia Libraries.

2.0 GENERAL

2.l A job description shall be established and maintained for each professional, and classified position, including temporary positions, in the Libraries.

2.1.1 Job descriptions for student assistants focus on categories of work to be performed rather than by individual.

2.2 Job descriptions for new positions are drafted by the supervisor of the position.

2.3 Job descriptions shall be reviewed annually by the supervisor and the employee as part of the evaluation process.

2.4 When an employee submits her/his resignation, the supervisor and the incumbent employee shall revise the job description for the position.

2.5 A copy of each job description shall be retained by the Personnel Coordinator.

3.0 FORMAT OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF

3.l Job descriptions for all professional positions in the Libraries should follow the format described in sections 3.2 to 3.6 below.

3.2 Position Description

3.2.l Title: The working title assigned to a position to distinguish it from others.

3.2.2 Classification: The rank or range assigned to a position.

3.2.3 Administrative Unit: The name of the department, branch, or unit to which the position is assigned.

3.2.4 Responsible to: The title of the person who directly supervises the person in the position.

3.3 General Function, Purpose, and Scope of Position

A summary which outlines the basic nature and scope of the responsibilities assigned to the position.

3.4 Specific Duties

An enumeration of the duties which must be performed to fulfill the basic responsibilities assigned to the position. Sufficient information should be provided to define the nature of the tasks involved.

3.5 Supervision

3.5.l Received. A statement of how the work is reviewed, how frequently, and by whom.

3.5.2 Given. A statement listing the number and position titles of the individuals who are supervised both directly and indirectly by the person in the position.

3.6 Qualifications

3.6.l Qualifications shall be established on the basis of minimum acceptable qualifications if the position were vacant.

3.6.2 Education. An indication of the minimum level of education (i.e., a Masters degree in Library and Informational Science) a person would be expected to have in order to qualify for the position, expressed in terms of academic degrees or of years of academic study. Additional education beyond the minimum, but considered desirable, shall be stated as "desirable but not essential."

3.6.3 Experience. The minimum number of years and type of experience a person would be expected to have in order to qualify for the position. Additional experience beyond the minimum, but considered desirable, shall be stated as "desirable but not essential."

3.6.4 Skills and Abilities Any special skills and abilities, such as typing, dictation, foreign languages, etc., required of a person in order to qualify for the position. Only skills and abilities which are necessary for the position should be stated here; those which can be acquired on-the-job should not be included. Skills and abilities should be required only if they relate directly to carrying out responsibilities and duties assigned the position.

3.6.5 Revision Date. The date the job description was created or revised.

3.6.6 Approval Signatures. Signatures of approval should be obtained from the supervisor of the position, the unit head, the department head, the personnel coordinator, the appropriate assistant director, and the Director of Libraries.

4.0 FORMAT OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF CLASSIFIED STAFF

Job descriptions for all classified staff are based upon the official University of Missouri Position Classification Questionnaire.

5.0 FORMAT OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Job descriptions for student assistants are based upon an abbreviated version (e.g. page l) of the University's Position Classification Questionnaire.

Sponsor: Personnel Coordinator, January 25, 1984

Approved by Library Council: March 22, 1984

Approved by Director of Libraries: March 27, 1984