Lesson 12: Job Descriptions and Profiles

Lesson Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

  • Understand what a job description is
  • Explain what a job profile includes
  • Identify performance goals and measures
  • Understand alignment between roles and organisational goals

Overview

Every role in an organisation needs clarity. That’s where job descriptions and job profiles come in.

They define:

  • What a person is responsible for
  • What skills are required
  • How performance is measured

This ensures that both the employee and employer are aligned on expectations.

1. What is a Job Description?

A job description outlines:

  • Duties and responsibilities
  • Tasks to be performed
  • Reporting structure

It answers the question:
👉 “What does this role require me to do?”

2. What is a Job Profile (Job Specification)?

A job profile focuses on the person needed for the role.

It includes:

  • Qualifications
  • Skills
  • Experience
  • Personal attributes

📌 Job specifications help determine whether a person is suitable for a role.

3. Performance Goals and Measures

Performance goals define:

  • What needs to be achieved

  • Expected outcomes

Performance measures:

  • Track progress

  • Evaluate success

👉 Example:

  • Goal: Increase customer satisfaction

  • Measure: Customer feedback scores

4. Alignment with Organisational Goals

Performance goals must align with:

  • Company objectives

  • Business strategy

📌 Clear alignment ensures everyone in the organisation is working toward the same goals.

5. Importance of Job Descriptions and Profiles

They help to:

  • Clarify expectations
  • Improve recruitment
  • Support performance management
  • Ensure accountability

👉 Key idea:
If roles are unclear, performance will be inconsistent.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, you learned:

  • What job descriptions are
  • What job profiles include
  • How performance goals are defined and measured
  • Why alignment with organisational goals is important
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