U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

General Titling Provisions

Supervisors and Leaders

• Add the prefix "Supervisory" to the title of positions classified using the General Schedule Supervisory Guide.  (Cemetery Administrator positions in the GS-1630 series.)
• Add the prefix "Lead" to the title of positions classified using the General Schedule Leader Grade Evaluation Guide.

Parenthetical Titles

• None authorized.
• Agencies may supplement the basic titles authorized in this standard with parenthetical titles if necessary for recruitment or other human resources needs.

Organizational Titles

• The official position titles as outlined below for human resources management, budget, and fiscal purposes.  This does not preclude continued use of organizational or functional titles for internal administration, public convenience, program management, or similar purposes.

General Series Determination Guidelines

Determining the correct series is usually apparent from reviewing the duties and responsibilities assigned to the position.  In most instances, the series definition and the general occupational information that job family standards include will reflect the primary work of the position, the highest level of work performed, and the paramount knowledge required.  Normally, users will have little trouble making the decision by comparing the characteristics of the position in question to the series definitions and occupational information in job family standards.  However, in other instances determining the correct series may not be as obvious.

Related Series in This Job Family.  When the work of a position falls into more than one series within this job family it is sometimes difficult to determine the correct series.  If it is unclear whether a particular series predominates, apply the following guidelines in the order listed to determine the correct series:

• Paramount knowledge required.  Although there may be several different kinds of work in the position, most positions will have a paramount knowledge requirement.  The paramount knowledge is the most important type of subject-matter knowledge or experience required to do the work.
• Reason for existence.  The primary purpose of the position or management's intent in establishing the position is a positive indicator for determining the appropriate series.
• Organizational mission and/or function.  Positions generally align with the mission and function of the organization to which they are assigned.  The organization's function is often mirrored in the organizational title and may influence the appropriate series.
• Recruitment source.  Supervisors and managers can help by identifying the occupational series that provide the best qualified applicants to do the work.  This is closely related to the paramount knowledge required.

For further guidance, refer to The Classifier's Handbook. [339KB]

Equipment, Facilities, and Services, GS-1601

Cemetery Administration Services, GS-1630

Facility Operations Services, GS-1640

Printing Services, GS-1654

Laundry Operations Services, GS-1658

Food Services, GS-1667

Equipment Services, GS-1670