UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HUMAN RESOURCES/COMPENSATION
POSITION INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE SHORT FORM
SAMPLE ONLY
Please modify for your particular job and insert specific position responsibilities.

Check if new position is being created
Date: ______________________
Job Title: ____Research Specialist A__________________
Employee Name: _________________________________________
Job Class Code/Grade: ____320015___________________
Employee ID:_____________________________________________
School/Center: ___School of Medicine______________
Supervisor’s Name: ________________________________________
Department: _____Microbiology____________________
Supervisor’s Title: ______Professor__________________________
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POSITION SUMMARY: In a few sentences, briefly describe the primary function and purpose of position.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRINCIPAL POSITION REPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES: List up to ten major tasks starting with the most important for which the
position is responsible. Include the estimated percentage of time spent on performing the task, with no task more than 25%. Also,
identify how critical the task is to the position, with 1 being least important, 5 being most important. (Refer to PIQ guidelines.)
Estimated
% of Time
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
Maintain records of reagents and order supplies
Critical
Level
20
1
Tissue culture
20
2
RNA isolation and purification
10
3
Cloning and protein purification
20
4
Administrative duties
20
5
Data analysis
5
6
7
8
9
10
Perform additional duties as assigned
5%
0
100%
Identify any of the above listed tasks, which were added in the last year by listing the related numbers:
_______ _______ _______ _______ _______.
JOB EVALUATION FACTORS: Listed below are job evaluation factors. Check single best answer that applies. (Refer to PIQ guidelines
for definitions.)
Position Evaluation Factor
Response
Key Words
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
H.S. Diploma or GED preferred
H.S. Diploma or GED required
Vocational or Technical School required
Associate’s Degree or Two Year College equivalent required
Bachelor’s Degree required; Major (optional) ____________________
Master’s Degree required; Major (optional) _____________________
M.D., Ph.D., Law Degree or equivalent doctoral degree req.
Q2


Minimum Experience

(Minimum experience req.) 
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


 1
 2
 3
 4
0 to 1 year
1 to 2 years
2 to 3 years
3 to 5 years
Q3a
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Planning Scope

(Highest level of planning req.)
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



1
2
3
4
Daily


Current Week

One to Four Weeks
One to Three Months
Q3b

Planning Level
(Level of primary scope of
planning)
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











1
2
3
4
5
6
Individual (position only)
Unit or equiv. (<15 faculty & staff)
Section or equiv. (> 15 faculty & staff)
Department or equiv. (> 15 faculty & staff)
School/Center
University-wide
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
Q1 
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Formal Education 
(Minimum education req.)
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

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

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
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

 5
 6
 7
5 to 7 years
7 to 10 years
Over 10 years
 5
 6
 7
Four to Twelve Months
One to Three Years
Three Years or More
Q4a


Impact on Operating Budget




 1 None

 2
Incidental
 3
Supportive
Approximate Size of Budget

 4
Recommending

 5
Controlling

 6
Delegating
$_________________
Q4a


Impact on Grant Funds 




 1
None

 2
Incidental
 3
Supportive
Approximate Size of Budget

 4
Recommending

 5
Controlling

 6
Delegating
$_________________
Q4a


Impact on Revenue Generating




 1
None

 2
Indirect 
 3
Supportive
Approximate Size of Budget

 4
Contributory

 5
Major impact

 6
Directing
$________________
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Q5
Complexity
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
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








1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Standardized: few repetitive duties
Routine: routine tasks, processes, or operations
Basic: Moderately complex procedures and tasks
Varied: complex and varied work
Analytic: non-standardized and widely varied work
Highly Complex: broad in scope covering one or more complicated areas
Multifaceted: broad in scope covering the entire University’s operations
Q6
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Decision Making
(Level of direction &
supervision)
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 3
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
Q7
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Problem Solving

(Typical level encountered over
extensive period of time) 
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

 1
Standardized: little independent judgment required
 2
Routine: limited opportunity for independent judgment
Basic: provided on as needed basis; some independent judgment necessary
 4
Varied: establish general objectives relative to project; independent judgment required
 5
Analytic: establish and review broad objectives relative to duties/responsibilities
 6
Highly Complex: review established objectives/recommend department/school objectives
 7
Multifaceted: review and approve major recommendations, establish procedures







1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Problems solved by reporting them to a supervisor
Problems solved by talking with a supervisor
Solutions found by selecting from specific choices defined in standard work policies
Solutions found by using methods chosen before in similar situations
Problems solving involves identification and analysis of diverse problems
Problems are complex, varied and only mildly related to those seen before
Problem solving requires understanding and evaluation of impact upon the University

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
Q8a

Internal Contacts

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
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

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
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
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






1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Little or no contact
Regular contact within department & periodic contact with other departments
Regular contact within department & with other departments, supplying information
Regular contact to carry out programs; occasionally with officials at higher levels
Regular contact to carry out programs; continuing contacts with officials at higher levels
Regular contact with internal persons of importance and influence
Continuing contacts involving difficult formal negotiations

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Q8b
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External Contacts
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






1
2
3
4
5
6
7
External communication with others is minimal
Occasional contact with outside agencies & general public supplying information
Regular contact with outside agencies & general public supplying/seeking information
Regular external contacts to explain specialized matters, occasionally to enforce policies
Regular external contacts, with continuing personal contact to enforce policies
Regular contact with external persons of importance and influence
Continuing external contacts involving difficult formal negotiations
Q9a
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
Supervisory Responsibility 

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
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
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



 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
_____
No responsibility or authority for direction of others
Authority limited to direction of student &/or temporary workers
Orient/train others; may act in lead capacity
Provide limited supervision for one or more functions within a department (functional)
Make recommendations re: HR issues; plan/assign/evaluate work of staff (bonafide)
Supervise multiple functions, with full responsibility for effective operation & results
Overall responsibility to provide direction and guidance for Penn
Number of Direct Reports
_______ Number of Indirect Reports
Q10a


Job-Related Knowledge 
(Knowledge & skill required to
perform job)






1
2
3
4
Basic Skills

Intermediate Skills 
Advanced Skills 
Formal Technical Skills
Q11


Innovation/Creativity

(Degree job requires developing/
improving procedures, policies
systems, etc.)

















1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Opportunities for innovations are rare
Improved methods affect the immediate lab
Improved methods affect delivery of service to selected customer or students
Results impact several work groups, a large project or an extended customer base
Results generally affect a school/center within the University
Results generally affect several schools/centers
Results generally affect the University as a whole; impact competitive position
 5
 6
 7
Entry Professional Skills
Advanced Professional Skills
Multiple Professional Skills/External Expert
ORGANIZATION CHART:
(Use staff members names)


.
[]
____________________
Manager/Supervisor
_________________
Peer Position
___________________
This Position
____________________
Peer Position
_________________
Reporting Position
___________________
Reporting Position
____________________
Reporting Position
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT: (Check as many as apply)
Working Conditions
Office, library, computer room Requires extensive safety training
 Exposure to chemicals
Stockroom or warehouse

 Alternative work schedules

 Outdoor exposure to weather
High noise environment

 On-Call (beeper)


 Requires protective devices
High dust, dirt, grease environment
 Exposure to moving machinery
 Extensive travel (>1000 mi./month)
Physical Effort
 Typically sitting at a desk or table
 Typically running, climbing 
 Frequent lifting 25 lb. o
 Occasional lifting 25-50 lb. 
 Occasional lifting 25 lb. or less
 Climbing  Typically standing or
walking

 Intermittently sitting/standing/stooping
 Using tools requiring high dexterity
[ ] Typically bending, crouching, stooping
Employee Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Supervisor Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Date: ____________
Employee’s Name (please print): _____________________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Date: ____________
Supervisor’s Name (please print): ______________________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s Title: __________________________Professor_______________________________________________
Department Head’s Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _____________
Department Head’s Name (please print): ________Robert Doms, M.D., Ph.D._______________ __________________
Department Head’s Title: ____________________Chairman________________________________________________
Revised 1/00
POSTING INFORMATION: (TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF POSITION IS TO BE POSTED)
Write summary of position for posting purposes.
DUTIES: (Description should be brief and only include principle duties.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Perform experiments related to viruses and human cancer; maintain reagent stocks; assist PI
with administrative duties as needed; manage equipment and order supplies.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
QUALIFICATIONS: (Qualifications should clearly indicate those that are required and those that are preferred.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_ BS or BA in chemistry or biology with some lab experience required
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s signature ________________________________________________
Revised 1/00
Date: ___________________________