Career Streams and Levels

In addition to specific job families, subfamilies and job profiles, staff positions are categorized into three broad career streams:  

  • Operational Contributor (OC)
  • Professional Contributor (PC)
  • Manager/Leader (M)

Each career stream contains a series of levels that define career progression toward more job complexity, knowledge and responsibility.  Career streams and levels are part of the university's job classification architecture, which is intended to help staff develop a roadmap to consider - and potentially work toward - their career goals at the U of A.

OPERATIONAL  CONTRIBUTOR
(OC1 - OC3)

This career stream provides organizational support or service (administrative or clerical) or does “hands-on” technical or craft work.

View Work Dimensions
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTOR
(PC1 - PC5)

This career stream requires specialized knowledge or skills, often gained through postsecondary education, and oversees design and application of processes, programs or policies. 

View Work Dimensions 
MANAGER/LEADER
(M1 - M5)

Manager/Leaders oversee broad portfolios with significant responsibility while leading and directly supervising the work of full-time employees.

This career stream manages strategy and policy development. 

View Work Dimensions 

Career Streams and Levels: Job Subfamily Example

The example illustrates career streams for Accounting, a subfamily of the Finance job family.

Job Profiles, such as Accounting Assistant II, Accountant IV or Accounting Manager III are high-level definitions of a job’s purpose, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Graphic illustrating the career streams and levels for Operational Contributor (OC3 Accounting Assistant III, OC2 Accounting Assistant II, OC1 Accounting Assistant I), Professional Contributor (PC5 Accountant V, PC4 Accountant IV, PC3 Accountant III, PC2 Accountant II, PC1 Accountant I), Manager/Leader (M5 Accounting Manager V, M4 Accounting Manager IV, M3 Accounting Manager III, M2 Accounting Manager II, M1 Accounting Manager I). Job Profiles and levels shown in this example are part of the Finance job family and Accounting sub family.