Classification Home

Glossary of Classification Terms

Administrative

Classification Specification

Reclassification

Administrative Support

Examples of Work

Span of Control

Appointing Authority

Expert

Supervisory Control

Audit

Lead Work/Lead Worker

   - Immediate or close supervision

Class or Class of Positions

Manager/Managerial 

   - General supervision

Class Series

Paraprofessional

   - Limited Supervision

   - Entry Level

Position

Supervisor

   - Full-Performance Level

Position Description 

Technical

   - Advanced Level

   - Expert Level

Professional

Program

Trainee

Unit

  

Reallocation


Administrative - work activities relating to planning, organizing, directing, controlling, supervising and budgeting of agency or unit operation, programs and mission.

Administrative Support - support services such as personnel, budget, purchasing, data processing which support or facilitate the service programs of the agency; also means work assisting an administrator through office management, clerical supervision, data collection and reporting, workflow/project tracking, etc. Top

Appointing Authority - the executive or administrative head of an agency who is authorized by statute to appoint employees in the classified or classified-exempt service. By written notification to the Director of Personnel, the appointing authority may delegate specific powers authorized by this rule to persons who satisfy the definition of employee as established in this rule. Top

Audit - a detailed examination/review of the duties and responsibilities assigned to a position to include reviewing current and previous position description forms, organizational charts, reporting relationships and organizational setting. Audits may include a field audit where the personnel analyst interviews the employee and the supervisor at the work site where the position is located. Top

Class or Class of Positions - one or more positions sufficiently similar in duties, training, experience and responsibilities, as determined by specifications, that the same title, the same qualifications, and the same schedule of compensation and benefits may be equitably applied to each position in the class.

Class Series - a grouping of two or more classes having the same kind of work but with ascending levels of difficulty and complexity. Top

Classification Specification - the official description of a class of position which describes the nature of work, provides examples of work performed, and knowledges, skills, and abilities, and states the generally accepted minimum qualifications required for employment. Top

Examples of Work - a part of the class specification describing duties and responsibilities typically assigned to positions in the class; generally listed in order of importance on the class specification with the most important duties listed first or those most representative of positions in the class. It is not necessary that any one position in the class include all the examples of work listed and positions may include examples of work not listed on the class specification.

Expert - recognized expert by peer group or professional society certification.

Lead Work/Lead Worker - this is a level of work at which an incumbent is assigned the on-going responsibility of scheduling and/or reviewing the work of other co-workers and guiding and training them while performing identical or similar kinds of work. Top

Manager/Managerial - oversees a formally designated organizational unit or program that requires extensive planning, organizing, and monitoring of work activities of subordinate staff, controlling  resources including staff, budget, equipment, and all the means used to accomplish work within the assigned area of responsibility. Is held accountable for establishing and meeting the objectives and goals of the unit or program.

Paraprofessional - typically performs some of the duties of a professional or a technician in a support role, which usually requires less formal training and/or experience normally required for a professional or technical status. Usually requires an Associate degree, or business/vocational training. Top

Position - an authorized and identified group of duties and responsibilities assigned by the proper authority requiring the full-time or part-time employment of at least one person.

Position Description - the document prepared by the position supervisor or the employing agency and approved by the appointing authority, which describes the officially assigned duties, responsibilities, supervisory relationships and other pertinent information relative to a position. This document is the basic source of official information in position allocation. Position description forms shall be prescribed by the Director. Top

Professional - work which requires the application of theories, principles and methods typically acquired through completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher or comparable experience; requires the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment in the research, analysis, interpretation and application of acquired theories, principles and methods to work product.

Program - A group of related activities performed by one or more organization units for the purpose of accomplishing a function for which the government is responsible.  A unit can be a division, a section, or a workgroup.  Each program has an identifiable service or output and objectives to effectively provide the service.

Reallocation - reassignment by the Director of Personnel of a position from one classification to a different classification on the basis of a significant change in the kind or level of duties and responsibilities assigned to the position. Top

Reclassification - the revision by the State Personnel Board of the specifications of a class or class series which results in a redefinition of the nature of the work performed and a reassignment of positions based on the new definition and may include a change in the title, pay grade, or minimum qualifications for the classes involved.

Span of Control - the number of subordinate employees supervised. Established at three or more full-time employees. Top

Supervisory Control - levels of

Supervisor - formally delegated responsibility for planning, assigning, reviewing and approving the work of three or more full-time employees which also includes initiating disciplinary actions, approving sick and annual leave requests, conduct performance evaluations, and recommend salary increases. Top

Technical - work requiring the practical application of scientific, engineering, mathematical or design principles.

Trainee - an entry level position having a defined training period and a formal training program with established competencies to be acquired.

Unit - A division, a section, or a workgroup that contains staff.

Revised: June 8, 2010

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