Your career at the University of Iowa is more than just a job — it's a journey that's shaped by your individual strengths, motivations, and aspirations. You're in control, backed by a culture that supports ongoing learning, growth, and development. With opportunities to connect and make a difference, Iowa is the place to pursue your dreams and thrive.
From the moment you accept your job offer to your first year at Iowa and beyond, you'll discover support that fosters growth and keeps you engaged. Because every employee's career path is unique, we've identified six themes that emerge across our institution, spanning from campus to health care and from Merit staff to faculty.
To further clarify career pathways at Iowa, we've created a webpage that defines key terms.
Career journey at the University of Iowa
Accepting the job offer 🡆
Onboarding 🡆
First year at Iowa 🡆
Finding new opportunities 🡆
Growth and development 🡆
Retirement or exit
"There's so much more to learn here than just the one job you're doing. I've liked this job ever since I got it because it gives me a chance to help my staff grow as people and maybe transfer somewhere else or get a promotion—just to grow within themselves. In the end, we're all working toward a common goal."
Career Pathways at Iowa
We strive to create a supportive environment where employees can grow and succeed throughout their careers. We empower individuals to take charge of their careers and development, with supervisors and HR providing the support and guidance they need. By working together, we're building a dynamic workplace where everyone can reach their full potential.
Employee
- Evaluate their own performance
- Set goals
- Communicate with their supervisor
- Build relationships
Supervisor
- Identify their department needs
- Discuss career development
- Provide ongoing feedback
- Partner with HR
Human Resources
- Outlines what's needed to advance
- Offers guidance to employees and supervisors
- Reinforces expectations
Actions to further your career
Career advancement and classification changes begin with employees and their supervisors working together to document the employee's updated role and responsibilities. Then, the respective department's HR and University HR Compensation and Classification review the documentation to make sure it aligns with the institution's structure, standards, and policies. This collaborative effort ensures that all changes are carefully reviewed and accurately implemented.
Professional and Scientific (P&S) staff:
Merit and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) staff:
Examples of career pathways at Iowa
Examples
Career Pathway maps are designed to empower employees, supervisors, and HR representatives by visualizing career progression within the Professional and Scientific (P&S) job families. This tool shows how employees move into a target job family through rehiring, transfers, and career development actions, but only for regular positions. The information focuses on internal career movement, so we don't include situations where someone wasn't rehired for more than two years. The data displays “Move From” and “Move To” paths, sorted by how often they happen. When you click on a title, you'll see additional career movements to explore. You can also click on job codes to access key areas of responsibility (KARs) or job descriptions, giving you the insights you need to make informed career decisions.
P&S career pathways by job family
Professional and Scientific Career Pathway Map by Job Family
| Move From | Clerk III (GB12) Secretary II (GB51) Secretary III (GB52) Clinic Services Specialist (PVL2) Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Support Services Specialist (PVD1) Clerk IV (GB13) Admin Services Specialist (PAA2) Patient Access Specialist (PVL1) Secretary IV (GB53) Clerk II (GB11) Supply Chain Associate (PBH1) Acad Clin Prog Mgt Associate (PCC1) | Admin Services Coordinator (PAA1) Acad Clin Prog Mgt Associate (PCC1) | Admin Services Specialist (PAA2) Admin Services Coordinator (PAA1) | Admin Services Manager (PAA3) | Admin Services Administrator (PAA4) Program Director (PAD3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAA | Administrative Services Coordinator (PAA1) | Administrative Services Specialist (PAA2) | Administrative Services Manager (PAA3) | Administrative Services Administrator (PAA4) | Administrative Services Director (PAA5) |
| Move To | Admin Services Specialist (PAA2) Acad Clin Prog Mgt Associate (PCC1) Program Coordinator (PAD1) Support Services Specialist (PVD1) Compliance Coordinator (PNB1) HR Associate (PGA1) HR Specialist (PGB1) Research Support Coordinator (PRM1) Clinic Services Specialist (PVL2) Facility Coordinator (PFB1) HR Coordinator (PGA2) Instructional Serv Specialist (PCH2) Research Support Specialist (PRM2) Communications Specialist (PMP3) Sponsored Research Associate (PRN1) Admin Services Manager (PAA3) Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Patient Access Specialist (PVL1) Financial Analyst (PBF2) Qual & Op Improv Coordinator (PAF1) Support Services Coordinator (PVD2) Communications Coordinator (PMP1) Educ Supp Svcs Specialist (PCE2) Registrar Services Specialist (PCR1) Project Coordinator (PAE1) | Admin Services Manager (PAA3) Admin Services Coordinator (PAA1) Support Services Specialist (PVD1) Acad Clin Prog Mgt Associate (PCC1) Program Manager (PAD2) Acad Clin Prog Mgt Specialist (PCC2) Qual & Op Improv Engineer (PAF3) | Admin Services Administrator (PAA4) | Admin Services Director (PAA5) |
| Move From | Admin Services Coordinator (PAA1) Clerk IV (GB13) Supply Chain Associate (PBH1) Admin Services Specialist (PAA2) Secretary III (GB52) Supply Chain Coordinator (PBH2) | Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Accountant (PBF1) | Accountant (PBF1) | Senior Accountant (PBF3) Financial Analyst (PBF2) Accountant (PBF1) | Senior Financial Analyst (PBF4) Senior Accountant (PBF3) | Mgr, Acct & Financial Analysis (PBF5) | Assoc Budget/Financial Officer (PBF6) Mgr, Acct & Financial Analysis (PBF5) | Budget/Financial Officer (PBF7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBF | Accountant (PBF1) | Financial Analyst (PBF2) | Senior Accountant (PBF3) | Senior Financial Analyst (PBF4) | Manager, Accounting & Financial Analysis (PBF5) | Associate Budget/Financial Officer (PBF6) | Budget/Financial Officer (PBF7) | University Financial Administrator (PBF8) |
| Move To | Senior Accountant (PBF3) Financial Analyst (PBF2) Senior Financial Analyst (PBF4) Research Support Specialist (PRM2) | Senior Financial Analyst (PBF4) Research Support Specialist (PRM2) | Senior Financial Analyst (PBF4) Mgr, Acct & Financial Analysis (PBF5) Research Support Manager (PRM3) | Mgr, Acct & Financial Analysis (PBF5) Snr Business Intel Analyst (PIX2) HC Svcs Supv/ Assistant Mgr (PVB1) Business Intel Architect (PIX3) | Assoc Budget/Financial Officer (PBF6) Budget/Financial Officer (PBF7) | Budget/Financial Officer (PBF7) | Univ Financial Administrator (PBF8) |
| Move From | Patient Account Representative (GB02) Support Services Specialist (PVD1) Medical Assistant II (GC55) Clerk III (GB12) Clinic Services Specialist (PVL2) Revenue Cycle Coordinator (PVC3) Coding Representative (PVC2) Pharmacy Technician, Certified (GC73) Patient Access Specialist (PVL1) Snr Pharmacy Technician, Cert (GC72) Nursing Unit Clerk (GB36) | Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Coding Coordinator (PVC4) Clerk III (GB12) | Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Clinic Services Specialist (PVL2) Revenue Cycle Manager (PVC5) Instructional Serv Specialist (PCH2) | Coding Representative (PVC2) | Revenue Cycle Coordinator (PVC3) Coding Coordinator (PVC4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVC | Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) | Coding Representative (PVC2) | Revenue Cycle Coordinator (PVC3) | Coding Coordinator (PVC4) | Revenue Cycle Manager (PVC5) |
| Move To | Support Services Specialist (PVD1) Revenue Cycle Coordinator (PVC3) Coding Representative (PVC2) Admin Services Coordinator (PAA1) Instructional Serv Coordinator (PCH1) Clinic Services Specialist (PVL2) Instructional Serv Specialist (PCH2) Compliance Coordinator (PNB1) Patient Access Specialist (PVL1) | Coding Coordinator (PVC4) Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Compliance Coordinator (PNB1) Senior Compliance Coordinator (PNB2) | Revenue Cycle Representative (PVC1) Revenue Cycle Manager (PVC5) | Coding Representative (PVC2) Senior Compliance Coordinator (PNB2) Revenue Cycle Manager (PVC5) Compliance Coordinator (PNB1) | Revenue Cycle Coordinator (PVC3) |
Resources
University HR offers many resources to help employees, supervisors, and HR representatives with career development. We invite you to look into these resources and use the programs, services, and systems that can help you and your teams grow in their careers.