Job description templates for Nigerian employers
Six editable job descriptions for roles most Nigerian businesses hire, with a simple structure you can reuse for any other role.
A clear job description makes hiring faster, appraisals fairer and pay decisions easier to explain. These six templates cover roles that most Nigerian businesses hire, and the structure works for any other role you need to write.
The six parts of a good job description
- 01
Job details
Title, department, location, reports to
- 02
Purpose
One or two sentences on why the role exists
- 03
Responsibilities
Six to eight outcomes the role is accountable for
- 04
Requirements
Qualifications, experience and skills the job needs
- 05
Working pattern
Hours, travel and any shift or weekend work
- 06
Review date
When the description was last checked
How to write a job description
- Start with the purpose. If you cannot say in two sentences why the role exists, the job is not yet clear.
- Write responsibilities as outcomes. “Payroll is accurate and on time each month” says more than “prepares payroll”.
- Separate essential from desirable requirements. Only the essentials should rule a candidate out.
- Leave out what the job does not need. Requirements such as age limits or marital status shrink your pool of candidates and invite complaints.
- Link it to pay and appraisal. Place the role in a grade in your salary structure and use the responsibilities as objectives in the appraisal form.
The job description is not the contract, but the contract or offer letter should refer to it. Section 7 of the Labour Act requires the written terms to include the nature of the work. Our employment letter templates show where it fits.
The templates
1. HR officer
Job title: HR Officer Department: Human Resources Reports to: [HR Manager] Location: [Location]
Purpose: Run day-to-day HR administration so that staff records, leave, onboarding and HR policies are accurate, up to date and applied consistently.
Responsibilities
- Employee records are complete, including tax ID, RSA PIN and NHF details
- New staff are onboarded on time, with signed offer letters and documents collected
- Leave requests are processed and balances kept accurate
- Attendance and lateness data is ready for payroll by [date] each month
- HR queries from staff are answered within [two] working days
- Disciplinary and grievance processes are documented in line with the handbook
Requirements: [B.Sc or HND] in a relevant field; [two] years’ HR experience; working knowledge of the Labour Act; strong Excel skills; [CIPM membership desirable].
2. Accountant
Job title: Accountant Department: Finance Reports to: [Finance Manager] Location: [Location]
Purpose: Keep the company’s books accurate and its statutory obligations met, and give management reliable monthly figures.
Responsibilities
- Monthly accounts closed and reconciled by [working day 5]
- Bank, supplier and customer accounts reconciled monthly
- VAT, withholding tax and PAYE remitted and filed on time
- Fixed asset and prepayment schedules maintained
- Audit schedules prepared and queries answered for the annual audit
- Management accounts and cash flow forecasts produced for review
Requirements: [B.Sc] in Accounting; [ICAN or ACCA qualified or in progress]; [three] years’ experience; knowledge of Nigerian tax rules under the 2025 tax Acts.
3. Payroll officer
Job title: Payroll Officer Department: [HR / Finance] Reports to: [HR or Finance Manager]
Purpose: Pay every employee correctly and on time, and meet every statutory payroll deadline.
Responsibilities
- Payroll processed and approved by [date] each month
- PAYE, pension, NHF and NSITF calculated correctly and remitted by their deadlines
- Payslips issued to every employee on pay day
- New starters, leavers and changes processed from approved documents only
- Annual employer PAYE return filed by 31 January
- Payroll records kept secure and confidential
Requirements: [OND/HND/B.Sc]; [two] years’ payroll experience in Nigeria; strong Excel; attention to detail; discretion with confidential data.
4. Sales executive
Job title: Sales Executive Department: Sales Reports to: [Sales Manager] Territory: [Area]
Purpose: Win and grow customer accounts in [territory] to meet the agreed sales target.
Responsibilities
- Monthly sales target of [amount or units] met
- New prospects identified and contacted each week
- Customer visits and calls recorded in [CRM or report]
- Quotations, orders and payments followed up to completion
- Market and competitor feedback reported monthly
Requirements: [OND/HND/B.Sc]; [one to three] years’ sales experience; confident communicator; [valid driver’s licence if the role involves driving].
5. Customer service officer
Job title: Customer Service Officer Department: Customer Experience Reports to: [Customer Service Lead]
Purpose: Resolve customer enquiries and complaints quickly and courteously, by phone, email, chat and in person.
Responsibilities
- Enquiries answered within the agreed response times
- Complaints logged, resolved or escalated with clear records
- Customer records updated accurately after every contact
- Recurring issues reported to the relevant team weekly
Requirements: [OND/HND/B.Sc]; [one] year’s customer service experience; clear spoken and written English; [knowledge of local languages desirable]; willingness to work [shift pattern].
6. Office administrator
Job title: Office Administrator Department: Administration Reports to: [Office Manager / Managing Director]
Purpose: Keep the office running smoothly so that staff and visitors have what they need.
Responsibilities
- Office supplies, equipment and facilities maintained, within budget
- Visitors received and meetings arranged
- Vendor contracts and payments tracked, such as cleaning, security and internet
- Staff attendance register maintained daily
- Company documents and correspondence filed and retrievable
Requirements: [OND/HND/B.Sc]; [one to two] years’ administrative experience; organised; good Microsoft Office skills.
Keeping descriptions current
Jobs change. Review each description at the annual appraisal, update it when duties shift, and record the review date. An out-of-date description causes problems in appraisals, pay reviews and, if it comes to it, disciplinary cases.
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Sources
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what employers ask us most about this topic.
What should a job description include?
The job title, department, who the role reports to, the purpose of the role, the main responsibilities, the skills and experience required, and the location and working pattern. Salary can go in the job advert or offer letter instead.
What is the difference between a job description and a job advert?
A job description is an internal document that defines the role. A job advert is written to attract candidates and usually summarises the description, adding how to apply and, ideally, the salary range.
How long should a job description be?
One page is enough for most roles. If it runs longer, the responsibilities are probably tasks that could be grouped.
