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Job Titles

Job Title Structure

A job title structure reflects both market conventions and organisation-specific requirements. Well-designed job titles are consistent, clear and scalable across the organisation.

Recommended Structure

Ideally, a job title follows this format:

[Rank] + [Role] + [Area of Expertise]

Senior Specialist Finance

Alternatively, a recognised professional designation may be used:

[Rank] + [Professional Title]

Senior Controller

Based on organisational analysis and job evaluation, a consistent job title structure can be developed across all business units.

Example: Graded Job Title Structure

Below is an illustrative progression aligned with job grades:

Individual Contributor Progression

Operator

Senior Operator

Junior Technician

Technician / Junior Specialist

Senior Technician / Specialist

Senior Specialist

Junior Analyst

Analyst

Senior Analyst

Expert

Senior Expert

Principal Expert

Leadership Progression

Supervisor

Team Manager

Manager

Senior Manager

Director

Skill Bands and Grade Levels

Un- / Semi-Skilled Labour: Grades 16–14

Middle-Skilled Labour: Grades 13–10

High-Skilled / Professionals: Grades 9–6

Management: Grades 5–1

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

09

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

Sr. Operator

Operator

Un-/Semi-Skill-Labor

Sr. Specialist

Sr. Technician / Specialist

Technician / Jr. Specialist

Jr. Technician

Middle-Skill-Labor

Principial Expert

Sr. Expert

Expert

Sr. Analyst

Analyst

Jr. Analyst

High-Skill-Labor / Professionals

Director

Sr. Manager

Manager

Team Manager

Supervisor

Manager

Example: Organisational Application

In this example:

Roles for unskilled or semi-skilled labour are titled Operator or Senior Operator, depending on grade

Leadership roles graded at levels 12 or 13 are titled Manager

Titles are supplemented with functional areas, such as:

Operator Logistics / Operator Production

Manager Accounting / Manager HR Administration

Career Paths

Job title structures typically align with clearly defined career paths, allowing progression without forcing employees into management roles.

Management Career Path

Management roles focus on disciplinary leadership, organisational responsibility and budget accountability.

Typical titles include:

CEO

Managing Director

President

CxO

Executive Vice President

Extended Board Member

Vice President

Director

Team Leader

Team Manager

Vice President

Management titles often reflect company culture and may function as status symbols or purely operational designations. Ideally, managers focus on leadership, while technical expertise remains within specialist roles.

Engineering Career Path

Engineering careers usually follow a structured progression from entry to senior expertise.

Typical titles include:

Fellow

Distinguished Engineer

Senior Technical Expert

Senior Architect

Technical Expert

Architect

Senior Engineer

Engineer

Junior Engineer

Trainee

Senior roles are typically assigned based on expertise, business need or functional responsibility.

Technical / Production Career Path

This path covers skilled trades and production roles.

Typical titles include:

Supervisor

Foreman

Technician

Master Craftsman

Craftsman

Tradesman

Worker

Operator

Operative

Apprentice

Common roles include electricians, mechanics, welders, plumbers, fitters and similar skilled trades.

Specialist Career Path

Specialist careers often follow a two-tier structure:

A structured progression at junior and mid levels

Select senior roles accessible based on outstanding expertise or organisational need

Typical titles include:

Principal

Head of …

Senior Expert

Expert

Senior Specialist

Specialist

Junior Specialist

Trainee

Consulting Career Path

Consulting organisations typically operate with clearly defined career ladders linked to competencies, project roles and billing rates.

Typical titles include:

Partner

Associate Partner

Senior Manager

Managing Consultant

Manager

Senior Consultant

Consultant

Associate Consultant

Business Analyst

Support Career Path

Support roles range from semi-skilled to specialised professional positions.

Typical titles include:

Lead Clerk

Lead Administrator

Lead Advisor

Senior Clerk

Senior Administrator

Senior Advisor

Clerk

Administrator

Advisor

Junior Clerk

Junior Administrator

Junior Advisor

Apprentice

While many roles require on-the-job training, specialised support roles (e.g. accounting or case work) often require formal qualifications.

Project Management Career Path

Project managers are responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering time-limited initiatives.

Typical titles include:

Project Director

Senior Project Director

Senior Project Leader

Project Manager

Project Leader

Project Coordinator

Project Assistant

Titles often correlate with project size, complexity and budget responsibility.

Sales Career Path

Sales titles often reflect scope, responsibility and geographic coverage.

Typical titles include:

VP of Sales

Senior Project Leader

Sales Director

Project Leader

Sales Manager

Key Account Manager

Sales Coordinator

Sales Consultant

Sales Representative

Sales Person

Account Executive

Sales Trainee

Geographic scope (District, Regional, National, International) is commonly used to differentiate levels.