Schedule 2: Classification descriptors - General staff

Definitions

Higher Education Officer Level 1

Training level or qualifications

No formal qualifications or specific work experience required on employment; structured training and extensive induction provided.

Level of supervision

Close supervision or, in the case of more experienced staff working alone, routine supervision.

Task level

Straightforward manual duties or elements of level 2 duties under close supervision and structured on the job training. Some knowledge of materials, e.g. cleaning chemicals and hand tools, may be required. Established procedures exist.

Organisational knowledge

May provide straightforward information to others on building or service locations.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Resolve problems where alternatives for the jobholder are limited and the required action is clear or can be readily referred to higher levels.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Cleaner, labourer, trainee for level 2 duties: perform a range of industrial cleaning tasks, move furniture, assist trades personnel with manual duties.

Higher Education Officer Level 2

Training level or qualifications

Year 12 without work experience;

Certificates I or II with work related experience; or

Equivalent combination of experience and training.

Level of supervision

Routine supervision of straightforward tasks; close supervision of more complex tasks.

Task level

Straightforward tasks where procedures are clearly established; may occasionally perform more complex tasks.

Organisational knowledge

Following training, may provide general information/advice and assistance to members of the public, students and other staff based on a broad knowledge of work area/responsibility, including knowledge of functions carried out and location and availability of particular personnel and services.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Solve relatively simple problems with reference to established techniques and practices. May be required to choose between a range of straightforward alternatives. Expected to perform a combination of routine tasks where daily work routine will allow latitude to rearrange some work sequences, provided the prearranged work priorities are achieved.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Administrative assistant: Manage inward and outward movement of mail, copy, maintain and retrieve records, undertake straightforward data entry and retrieval.

Higher Education Officer Level 3

Training level or qualifications

Trades certificate or Certificate III; or

Year 12 or a Certificate II, with relevant work experience; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or
education/training.

May typically perform duties which require further on the job training or knowledge and training equivalent to progress toward completion of a Certificate IV or Diploma.

Level of supervision

In technical positions, routine supervision, moving to general direction with experience. In other positions, general direction. Supervision of other staff may be required.

Task level

Some complexity. Apply body of knowledge equivalent to trade certificate or Certificate III, including diagnostic skills and assessment of the best approach to a given task.

Organisational knowledge

Perform tasks/assignments which require knowledge of the work area processes and an understanding of how they interact with other related areas and processes.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Exercise judgement on work methods and task sequence within specified timelines, standard practices and procedures.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Tradesperson, technical assistant/technical trainee, administrative assistant.

Trades: apply trades certificate/Certificate III skills in a range of construction, maintenance and repair tasks, using precision hand and power tools and equipment. May involve familiarity with work of other trades or require further training.

Technical: assist technical officers in operating a laboratory, including ordering supplies; assist in setting up routine experiments, preparation of specimens and feeding and care of animals; monitor experiments for report to a technical officer. Staff are expected to perform a greater range and complexity of tasks as they progressed through the level and obtained further training.

Administrative: standard use of a range of desk-top based programs, e.g. word processing, established spreadsheet or database applications, and management information systems (e.g. financial, student or human resource systems), including storing/ retrieving documents, keying/lay out/merging of documents, tables and basic graphics; provide general administrative support including setting up meetings, answering straightforward inquiries and directing others to the appropriate personnel; process accounts for payment.

Higher Education Officer Level 4

Training level or qualifications

Diploma level qualification with relevant work related experience;

Certificate IV with relevant work experience; or

Post-trades certificate and extensive relevant experience and on the job training; or

Certificate III with extensive relevant work experience; or

An equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

In technical positions, routine supervision to general direction depending upon experience and the complexity of the tasks. In other positions, general direction.

Task level

Undertake limited creative, planning or design functions; apply skills to a varied range of different tasks.

Organisational knowledge

Perform tasks/assignments which require proficiency in the work area's rules, regulations, processes and techniques, and how they interact with other related functions.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

In trades positions, extensive diagnostic skills; In technical positions, apply theoretical knowledge and techniques to a range of procedures and tasks; In administrative positions, provide factual advice which requires proficiency in the work area's rules and regulations, procedures requiring expertise in a specialist area or broad knowledge of a range of personnel and functions.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Technical officer or technician, administrative, advanced tradespersons.

Trades: work on complex engineering or interconnected electrical circuits; exercise high precision trades skills using various materials and/or specialised techniques.

Technical : develop new equipment to criteria developed and specified by others; under routine direction, assist in conduct of major experiments and research programs and/or in setting up complex or unusual equipment for a range of experiments and demonstrations; demonstrate use of equipment and prepare technical reports.

Library technician: copy cataloguing; use range of bibliographic databases; undertake acquisitions; respond to reference inquiries.

Administrative: may use full range of desktop based programs, including word processing packages, mathematical formulae and symbols, manipulation of text and layout in desktop publishing and/or web software, and management information systems; plan and set up spreadsheets or data base applications; be responsible for providing a full range of secretarial services, e.g. in a faculty; provide advice to students on enrolment procedures and requirements; administer enrolment and course progression records.

Higher Education Officer Level 5

Training level or qualifications

Degree without subsequent relevant work experience;

Advanced diploma qualification and at least 1 year’s subsequent relevant work experience;

Diploma qualification and at least 2 years’ subsequent relevant work experience;

Certificate IV and extensive relevant work experience;

Post-trades certificate and extensive (typically more than 2 years) relevant experience as a technician; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

Professional positions: routine supervision to general direction, depending on tasks involved and experience. Other positions: general direction and may supervise other staff.

Task level

Apply body of broad technical knowledge and experience at a more advanced level than Level 4, including development of areas of specialist expertise. Professional: apply theoretical knowledge, at degree level, in a straightforward way. Administrative: provide interpretation, advice and decisions on rules and entitlements.

Organisational knowledge

Perform tasks/assignments which require proficiency in the work area's rules, regulations, policies, procedures, systems, processes and techniques, and how they interact with other related functions, in order to assist in their adaptation to achieve objectives, and advise, assist and influence others.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Professional: solve problems through standard application of theoretical principles and techniques at degree level. Technical: apply standard technical training and experience to solve problems. Administrative: may apply expertise in a particular set of rules or regulations to make decisions, or be responsible for co-ordinating a team to provide an administrative service.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Graduate (i.e., degree) or professional, without work experience on entry (including inexperienced computer systems officer); administrator with responsibility for advice and determinations; experienced technical officer.

Technical: develop new equipment to general specifications; under general direction, assist in the conduct of major experiments and research programs and/or in setting up complex or unusual equipment for a range of experiments and demonstrations; under broad direction, set up, monitor and demonstrate standard experiments and equipment use; prepare technical reports.

Library technician: assist with reader education programs and more complex bibliographic and acquisition services; operate a discrete unit within a library which may involve significant supervisory duties or running out-posted service.

Administrative: responsible for managing an administrative function, e.g. HECS advice, records, determinations and payments, centralised enrolment function, organisation and administration of exams at a small campus.

Professional: under professional supervision, work as part of a research team in a support role; provide a range of library services including bibliographic assistance, original cataloguing and reader education in library and reference services; provide counselling services.

Higher Education Officer Level 6

Training level or qualifications

Degree with subsequent relevant experience;

Extensive experience and specialist expertise or broad knowledge in technical or administrative fields; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

In professional positions, general direction; in other positions, broad direction. May have extensive supervisory and line management responsibility for technical, administrative and other non-professional staff.

Task level

Perform work assignments guided by policy, precedent, professional standards and managerial or technical expertise. Staff would have the latitude to develop or redefine procedure and interpret policy so long as other work areas are not affected. In technical and administrative areas, have a depth or breadth of expertise developed through extensive relevant experience and application.

Organisational knowledge

Perform tasks/assignments which require proficiency in work area's existing rules, regulations, policies, procedures, systems, processes and techniques and how they interact with other related functions; adapt those procedures and techniques as required to achieve objectives without impacting on other areas.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Discretion to innovate within own function and take responsibility for outcomes; design, develop and test complex equipment, systems and procedures; undertake planning and develop proposals for resource allocation; exercise high level diagnostic skills on sophisticated equipment or systems; analyse and report on data and experiments.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Graduate or professional with subsequent relevant work experience (including a computer systems officer with some experience); line manager; experienced technical specialist and/or technical Supervisor.

Technical: manage laboratory or field station; set up complex experiments; provide highly specialised technical services; design & construct complex or unusual equipment to general specifications; assist honours & postgraduate students with laboratory requirements; install, repair, provide & demonstrate computer services in laboratories.

Administrative: provide financial, policy and planning advice; service committees, including preparation of agendas, papers, minutes and correspondence; monitor expenditure against budget in a school or small faculty.

Professional: work as part of a research team; provide a range of library services, including bibliographic assistance, original cataloguing and reader education in library and reference services; provide counselling services; undertake a range of computer programming tasks; provide documentation and assistance to computer users; analyse less complex user and system requirements.

Higher Education Officer Level 7

Training level or qualifications

Degree with at least 4 years subsequent relevant experience; or

Extensive experience and management expertise in technical or administrative fields; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

Broad direction. May manage other staff including administrative, technical and/or professional staff.

Task level

Independently relate existing policy to work assignments or rethink the way a specific body of knowledge is applied in order to solve problems. In professional or technical positions, may be a recognised authority in a specialised area.

Organisational knowledge

Detailed knowledge of academic and administrative policies and interrelationships between a range of policies and activities.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Independently relate existing policy to work assignments, rethink the way a specific body of knowledge is applied in order to solve problems, adapt procedures to fit policy prescriptions or use theoretical principles in modifying and adapting techniques. This may involve stand alone work or the supervision of others in order to achieve objectives. It may also involve the interpretation of policy which has an impact beyond the immediate work area.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Senior librarian; technical manager; senior research assistant, professional or scientific officer; senior administrator in a small less complex faculty.

Librarian: combine specialist expertise and responsibilities for managing a library function.

Technical: manage teaching and research facilities for a School or equivalent.

Research: utilise acknowledged expertise in a specialised area or a combination of technical management and specialised research.

Administrative: provide less senior administrative support to relatively small and less complex faculties or equivalent.

Student services: train and supervise professional staff and undertake policy development responsibilities (which may include research and publication).

Higher Education Officer Level 8

Training level or qualifications

Postgraduate qualifications or progress towards postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience;

Extensive experience and management expertise; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

Broad direction, working with a degree of autonomy. May have management responsibility for a functional area and/or manage other staff including administrative, technical and/or professional staff.

Task level

Work likely to require development of new ways of using a specific body of knowledge which applies to work assignments, or may involve the integration of other specific bodies of knowledge.

Organisational knowledge

Expected to make policy recommendations to others and to implement programs involving major change which may impact on other areas of the University's operations.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Responsible for program development and implementation, providing strategic support and advice (e.g. to schools or faculties) requiring integration of a range of university policies and external requirements, and an ability to achieve objectives operating within complex organisation structures.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Manager (e.g. administrative, research, professional or scientific); senior school/faculty administrator; researcher.

Assist in managing a large functional unit with a diverse or complex set of functions and significant resources; Manage a function or develop and implement policy requiring a high degree of knowledge and sensitivity; Manage a small or specialised unit where significant innovation, initiative and/or judgement are required; Provide senior administrative support to schools and faculties of medium complexity, taking into account the size, budget, course structure, external activities and management practices within the faculty or equivalent unit.

Higher Education Officer Level 9

Training level or qualifications

Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience;

Extensive management experience and proven management expertise; or

Equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Level of supervision

Broad direction, working with a considerable degree of autonomy; Management responsibility for a major functional area and/or manage other staff including administrative, technical and/or professional staff.

Task level

Conceptualise, develop and review major professional, management or administrative policies at the corporate level. Significant high level creative, planning and management functions. Will have responsibility for significant resources.

Organisational knowledge

Conceptualise, develop and review major policies, objectives and strategies involving high level liaison with internal and external client areas. Responsible for programs involving major change which may impact on other areas of the University's operations.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Responsible for significant program development and implementation. Provide strategic support and advice (e.g. to schools/faculties or at corporate level) requiring integration of a range of internal and external policies and demands, and an ability to achieve broad objectives while operating within complex organisational structures.

Occupational equivalent

Manager (e.g. administrative, research, professional or scientific); senior school/faculty administrator; senior researcher: Assist in managing a large functional unit with a diverse or complex set of functions and significant resources; Manage a function or develop and implement policy requiring a high degree of knowledge and sensitivity and the integration of internal and external requirements; Manage a small and specialised unit where significant innovation, initiative and/or judgement are required; Provide senior administrative support to more complex schools and faculties, taking into account the size, budget, course structure, external activities and management practices within the faculty or equivalent unit.

Higher Education Officer Level 10

Training level or qualifications

Proven expertise in the management of significant human and material resources, in addition to, in some areas, postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience.

Level of supervision

Broad direction, operating with a high overall degree of autonomy. Will have substantial management responsibility for diverse activities and/or staff (including administrative, technical and/or professional staff).

Task level

Complex, significant and high level creative planning, program and managerial functions with clear accountability for program performance. Comprehensive knowledge of related programs. Requires application of high level of theoretical and applied knowledge.

Organisational knowledge

Bring a multi-perspective understanding to development, marketing and implementation of new policies; devise new ways of adapting University's strategies to new, including externally generated, demands.

Judgement, independence and problem solving

Be fully responsible for the achievement of significant organisational objectives and programs.

Occupational equivalent and typical activities

Senior program, research or administrative manager: Manage a large functional unit with a diverse or complex set of functions and significant resources; Manage a more complex function or unit where significant innovation, initiative and/or judgement are required; Provide senior administrative support to the most complex schools and faculties, involving complex course structures, significant staff and financial resources, outside activities and extensive exercise of administrative, policy and financial management responsibilities.