U.Va. Human Resources: Compensation

Mailing Address:
U.Va. Human Resources
914 Emmet Street
P.O. Box 400127
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Phone: (434) 924-4598
Email: hrdept@virginia.edu

Office of Compensation Management:
Definitions of Terms Used in Position Classification

Listed below are definitions for common terms used in classifying positions. These are the definitions that have traditionally been used in the Commonwealth of Virginia and upon which many of our classified position titles are based. In addition to these terms, the Department of Human Resources also has a glossary of terms.

Administrator	Applies to the professional-level work which is concerned with policy matters related to operations rather than carrying out procedural operations. An administrator is typically one level higher than a manager since a manager is usually more operations oriented. In a professional series, the hierarchy would normally include supervisor, manager, administrator and director. The term administrative functions for the organization such as accounting, budgeting, contract administration, procurement, personnel, finance, data processing, supplies, facility maintenance, and communications.
Aide	Designates sub-professional work which is applied to very routine and simple duties and is the lowest level in a series such as clerical aide.
Analyst	Designates professional-level jobs which are concerned with attacking a variety of problems regarding policies, procedures and operations. The work is accomplished by collecting facts, organizing data, evaluating findings on similarities and dissimilarities, drawing conclusions, and preparing reports on the results. Also, an analyst will detail alternate solutions and make recommendations on the best actions to follow to solve the problem.
Assistant	Applies to work of both a professional and nonprofessional nature indicating a series or class that does not have final authority or responsibility for the work. An assistant usually assists another worker by performing related or similar tasks and may serve in place of the worker in his/her absence.
Consultant	Applies only to professional-level jobs which demand unusual knowledges and abilities as well as background in the area of expertise. The consultant usually gives technical advice outside his/her organization.
Classification	The category a position is assigned for which role title and pay band are characteristics.
Coordinator	Designates professional or sub-professional staff work which assures evenness in line operations and is accomplished by giving consistent information to all unites concerned. The coordinator usually monitors and reports on the integration of operations and recommends changes to improve. Also, the coordinator may have indirect or quasi-supervisory relationships with line positions.
Counselor	Usually designates a class which uses a specific body of knowledge to give professional-level advice to clients such as employment, social or psychological counseling.
Deputy	Applies to the single position which is second in command. This term normally applies to positions having total line authority over all functional areas, but in some cases positions may be designated as second in command without having responsibility for all functional areas.
Director	Usually applies to professional positions which have substantial managerial and/or administrative responsibilities in a specialty area. Classically, the term applies to low population classes which are responsible for a major programmatic area of an agency’s operations.
Helper	Applies to workers who assist another worker by performing a variety of manual duties such as furnishing materials, tools, and supplies; cleaning working area; holding materials and tools; and other routine duties. Much of the helper’s time is spent with the higher level worker.
Inspector	Applies to code and other enforcement work. An inspector examines conditions of person, plants, animals, or materials; the quality of consumer goods or services; or the operations of establishments and compares the examination with written codes, laws, rules, and regulations to verify compliance and/or enforcement. Often licenses may be issued, denied or revoked on the basis of the inspection.
Investigator	Usually applies to classes in the police, regulatory, compliance, enforcement or related functions. An investigator deals with questions and facts pertaining to violations of codes, laws and regulations.
Lead Worker	Applies to one who assigns and reviews the work but who also performs the work. A lead worker does not have total supervisory authority.
Manager	Applies to professional line authority for a program which is most often departmental or in satellite (remote) locations. Responsibilities include budget justification and management, staffing coordination, and program management and implementation. A manager usually reports to a director or an administrator.
Officer	Traditionally applies to police protection work and indicates a position of trust, authority and command. The term may also apply to professional-level classes with agency –wide responsibility specific to a function and with lesser authority than a director such as a budget officer.
Planner	Applies to professional positions which study and make recommendations for immediate and future operations and resources.
Representative	Used for sub-professional and professional public contact positions.
Role Title	All classified position are assigned a “role” title, which is the job title for the position.
Senior	Usually applies to the advanced level of work and indicates a substantial level of expertise and/or responsibility.
Specialist	Should be used sparingly to designate a narrow professional field. A specialist may supervise others in the same narrow field.
Superintendent	Commonly used to designate certain institutional managers. It may also be used in specialized, high-level labor and trades related classes such as a fleet management superintendent.
Supervisor	Includes technical and administrative work and the responsibility for assignment, training, and evaluation of staff. Supervisors have the responsibility to direct the work; the power to control it; the authority to hire, fire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, assign, reward, and discipline; the authority to respond to grievances; or the authority to effectively recommend the preceding actions. Supervisors direct the work of sufficient numbers of employees so that a significant amount of their time is spend supervising.
Working Title	An optional agency-specific or functional title that is descriptive of the overall purpose of the position. This is typically not the role title. Schools/departments have the flexibility to assign working titles to a position within certain guidelines established and monitored by OCM.