This worksheet asks a series of questions on aspects to consider in designing a Job - the Design Elements - then links each aspect to the position description - Reference in Position Description. Design Elements Reference In Position Description Job Purpose Why Is this job needed? ; What Is this Job doing for the organization? How does the Job add to the total capability of the work area? Is It a generalist or spectacles role? ; How often Is the Job needed? ; How long is it needed for? ; Could the work be dispersed to other positions or discontinued? The environment Primary purpose of the position Organization environment Key challenges and influences How does the environment impact on the Job? How does the Job impact on the environment? Does the Job fit the organization's culture? ; What is the operating environment like in the work area? In the organization? Do priorities, technology, resounding, stakeholder requirements change often? ; What are the political, industrial and other sensitivities? Job activities Do the tasks form a coherent whole Job with varied capability requirements? Is this a satisfying job for the employee? ; What tasks or work activities does the job need to do? ; How often do the activities/tasks need to be done? ; Is there travel involved? How frequently? How will this impact on the individual and the team? ; What Is the likely volume of work? ; Is the work varied? Routine?Challenging? Boring? ; Is there an element of planning and discretion In the Job? ; Will meetings be a significant part of this job? ; Is there management and collegial support for the employee? Key outcomes/ accountabilities April 2011 Design Elements position description Health screening and safety training requirements may be included under Other requirements bib inks - OH What are the OH risks associated with the Job? What can you do to reduce exposure to risks? ; What are the inherent physical and mental fitness requirements of the Job? Are there work stress, ergonomic or other OH issues? ; Is an occupational assessment required? ; Are pre-employment medical/physical screening tests required? ; Are employees required to undertake safety training? Job risks - other What are the other organizational risks associated with the Job? What can you do to reduce exposure to these risks? ; Is staff retention likely to be an issue? ; Can service continuity be maintained if the position occupant is on leave or the Job falls vacant unexpectedly? ; What is the risk that corporate knowledge could be lost?Is it shared or in some other way protected? Work organization These are work management issues not generally included in the position description. Is the way the work is organized seamless and efficient? ; How does the Job interface with the work of other employees? ; Is it clear who is expansible for what? ; Are there any gaps in coverage of the work? ; Is there duplication of work? ; What knowledge and other resources can employees share? Reporting relationships Position details Organization environment Organization chart Are the reporting lines logical and realistic? Who does the Job report to? Is this logical, given its work? ; Does the Job require a dual reporting line? For example, separate professional and administrative reporting lines. ; How many others report to the same manager? ; How many report to this position? ; Do the numbers allow direct reports to be coached/developed? If the Job is a supervisory/managerial role, does it also have responsibility for independent work or projects? 2 Reference in Position Description These are work management issues not generally included in the position description.Succession planning and talent management How could you enlarge or enrich this Job to build capability for the future? ; Is there a career path for this Job? ; Are the Job skills transferable to other Jobs? ; Will it develop capabilities useful in other Jobs or in the future? ; How will the position develop capabilities required to progress? ; Does the Job foster and support workforce perversity and equity? Flexible work practices How flexible can you make this Job? ; Could the Job be done on a part-time or Job share basis? Could it be done on a casual or seasonal basis? ; Does it really need to be located in an office? ; Could the work be performed by a person with disabilities, given reasonable workplace adjustment? Decision-making and influence Do the Job's accountabilities and its freedom to act match? Are there unnecessary layers of management? Is there too little management control? ; Where does this Job fit in the organizational hierarchy? ; What decisions can this Job make on its own? When does it have to consult with a superior? ; How much influence would its recommendations have? Would its influence be internal? Organization-wide? External to the organization? Guidance available Key challenges and influences Also/alternatively reflected where possible in Key outcomes / accountabilities What sort of thinking do you expect from this Job? ; What guides the work? Is it legislation? Policies? Written procedures? Precedents? Expert panels? ; Where does it fit in the spectrum from application of simple routines to original, ground breaking work? ; How easy or difficult is it for the employee to get assistance and advice if needed? Reference in Position Description Resource management Is resource management a significant role for this Job? ; Will the Job be responsible for managing resources (people, budgets, assets, revenues, intellectual property? ) ; Will the Job have significant influence over resources, even if it doesn't manage them? For example, budget allocation, sales management? ; What are the numbers/ the size of this responsibility? ; What administrative and financial delegations will it have? ; Are there any system/process/ technological limitations which may impact on Job performance? ChallengesKey outcomes/ accountabilities Position details Position Dimensions (complex information) or Key challenges and influences (simple information, for example, a single budget) Key challenges and influences What is difficult or complex about the Job? What challenges confront the position? ; Does it have any large project or program development responsibilities? ; Does it have to come up with new ideas and innovations? ; Is customer/client relationship management challenging? ; Are there technological challenges or limitations? ; Is change management an issue? ; What other challenges does the position face?Communications and Business Relationships What communication/ interpersonal skills does this Job need? ; What is the position's role in relation to key stakeholders? ; What internal and external contacts will the Job have and for what purpose? Capability Requirements Key outcomes/ accountabilities Key challenges and influences Capabilities required for the position Other requirements Are the capabilities required consistent with the accountabilities of the position?