Job Description Template

A job description describes the duties and responsibilities of a job. It can help clarify what you need from a role and can be used as the basis to develop a job advertisement. Having a job description in place will also be helpful during a person’s employment, including when setting performance goals.

Who can use this template

Employers can use this template to write a job description.

Need help with hiring a new employee?

• Visit our Hiring employees page at fairwork.gov.au/hiring

• Complete our short course on hiring employees at fairwork.gov.au/learning

How to use this template

A job description lists the duties, conditions, and responsibilities of a job. Use the checklist and template to quickly and easily prepare and create your job description.

Make sure you’re using the latest version of this template by downloading the most up-to-date version from fairwork.gov.au/templates

Check out our other resources

• Explore interactive template tools, and downloadable templates and letters available at fairwork.gov.au/templates to help you manage a wide range of workplace obligations.
• Complete our free online courses available at fairwork.gov.au/learning to develop skills and strategies to help you at work.

Checklist: Suggested steps for writing a job description

☐ Step 1 – Define the job

The first step is to get a good understanding of the job, including:

• tasks
• responsibilities
• skills and abilities that are needed
• any specific qualifications or experience required.

A good place to start is to talk to the person the employee will be reporting to. You could also talk to other employees who are working in the area.

☐ Step 2 – Decide on the type of employment

Decide the type of employment that is needed for the job, based on:

• the number of hours needed to do the job
• how long the job will be for (indefinitely, or for a specified time or task)
• whether the employee is a junior, apprentice or trainee.

You need to decide whether the job is:

• full-time, part-time or casual, and
• fixed term or ongoing.

This is important because it will determine the employee’s pay and conditions.

For more information on the types of employment available, visit fairwork.gov.au/starting-employment/types-of-employees

☐ Step 3 – Write the job description

Use this template to write the job description, based on the information from steps 1 and 2 about the job and type of employment.

☐ Step 4 – Use our other resources

You can use our other resources to help you create job ads, hire employees and onboard them. Other relevant resources you could use include:

• Our downloadable templates for employing staff at fairwork.gov.au/templates, including templates for job ads, telephone screening, reference checking, performance agreements and induction checklists.

• Our short course on hiring employees at fairwork.gov.au/learning, which helps you understand the steps in the hiring process, understand employee entitlements and your obligations, and select the most suitable candidate and make them an offer of employment.

• Our Small Business Showcase at fairwork.gov.au/smallbusiness, which has a range of resources to help businesses manage their employees and meet their employer obligations.

TEMPLATE JOB DESCRIPTION

![][image1] IMPORTANT

This template has been colour coded to assist you to complete it accurately. You simply need to replace the red \< \> writing with what applies to your situation.

Example information is shown in purple writing to assist you and should be deleted once you have finished the ad.

JOB TITLE: \ For example, Receptionist; Sales Assistant

JOB TYPE: \ For example, Full-time; Part-time; Casual

LOCATION: \ For example, Smithton office

SUPERVISOR/MANAGER: \ For example, Office Manager; Shift Supervisor

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: \ For example,

• Coordinate and carry out all office administration including reception, mail, couriers, greeting clients and filing
• Maintain a clean and safe workspace, and abide by workplace health and safety policies and procedures
• Other tasks as directed

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE Qualifications: \ For example,

• Diploma or Certificate IV in Business Administration or relevant experience
• First aid certificate

Experience: \ For example, 3 years experience in a similar role or industry

Skills: \ For example,

• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Organised and able to meet deadlines

PERFORMANCE GOALS: \ For example,

• Complete administration tasks on time
• Ensure office is clean and presentable at all times
• Deal with clients, suppliers and other employees professionally at all times

PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THIS JOB DESCRIPTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

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