A6 Job descriptions

Advice and examples for staff and volunteers

First published on this website in December 2003 and last updated in July 2024

Synopsis

Job descriptions are often drafted unhelpfully, used sporadically and then buried somewhere deep inside a filing drawer. This article provides straightforward advice on how to write and use them well.

1: Questions and answers
A range of FAQs with their answers with the focus on the three sections every job description needs:

• Why am I doing this job?
• Who do I relate to in doing this job?
• What am I responsible for?

Questions covered include 'How long should a job description be?' and 'Should you fit person to job or job to person?'.

2: Other helpful paperwork
The person profile – the summary of expectations – the aims for this year

3: Worked examples
Examples for a church’s paid Youth and Community Worker and a (voluntary) member of the Newcomers Team

This article has been updated in July 2024 with minor amendments to the text.