Classification and Position Types
Virginia employs approximately 17,000 people across three main campuses, throughout the state, and around the world in a variety of position types. Select the following links to learn more about types of positions at the university and associated classification information.
For information on the pay structure for positions at the university, visit the Salary and Pay Structures page.
Employment terms
Following are few key terms that are used with regard to employee classifications at Virginia Tech.
These positions usually work nine, 10, or 11 months during the academic year from August 10 through May 10, June 10, or July 10.
These positions work 12 months during the year.
Salaried positions that are eligible for certain benefits. Usually employees in these positions work 40 hours per week.
Some part-time positions are salaried and are less than 40 hours per week, but more than or equal to 20 hours per week. Certain benefits are available for salaried, part-time positions.
Other part-time positions are considered wage positions with an hourly rate of pay and do not offer benefits. Wage positions are considered part-time even if the person works 40 hours per week for 37 weeks because of the 1,500-hour maximum limit for hours that can be worked per fiscal year.
Positions with regular funding are usually state funded positions and have greater stability.
Positions with restricted funding are normally contract or grant funded. They have an end date or the continuation of the position is based on the availability of funds.
Faculty
Virginia Tech has approximately 5,700 faculty positions across all faculty position types listed below. Faculty positions fall under the purview of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, which is responsible for establishing faculty employment policies. The search and screen process for faculty positions is decentralized and is the responsibility of the hiring department. Human Resources does provide guidance on conducting a faculty search. Virginia Tech jobs that are posted through the PageUp Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will be automatically posted to certain sites; visit the Recruiting and Hiring Guidelines page for more information. Departments may also choose to advertise vacant positions in a variety of locations.
Following is more information on the types of faculty positions at Virginia Tech.
Part-time, temporary teaching positions, which may also be called P14 positions, exist at the university. Such positions may or may not be advertised. To pursue such opportunities, applicants should approach the relevant department head directly.
Administrative and professional faculty perform work directly related to the management of colleges, institutes, or administrative departments. These positions are often senior administrators and functional leaders serving in roles with titles such as dean and assistant/associate dean; vice president and assistant/associate vice presidents; and senior director, director, and manager. These roles also include other positions serving as individual contributors.
Professional and managerial positions include jobs in professions such as finance, public relations, human resources, and information technology. Other positions include librarians, counselors, extension agents, coaches, physicians, academic and student affairs professionals, development officers, professionals in outreach and continuing education, and others. There are approximately 2,700 A/P faculty positions with about one-tenth serving as extension agents employed in locations throughout the state. A/P faculty positions typically require a minimum of a master’s degree; some require a doctorate. For information on A/P faculty classification, visit the A/P faculty job architecture site.
Research faculty members are typically employed on sponsored grants and contracts and carry out research (or outreach projects) as part of the university’s research and outreach missions. The university currently has approximately 750 research faculty positions.
Research faculty ranks are research associate, senior research associate, research scientist, senior research scientist, postdoctoral associate, project associate, senior project associate, project director, research assistant professor, research associate professor, and research professor. These positions are usually on soft (grant) funds and are restricted. Research faculty positions typically require a minimum of a doctorate; however, project associate and research associate ranks require a minimum of a master’s degree.
Individuals interested in pursuing postdoc positions should contact the relevant department or faculty members directly. In some cases research faculty can be hired through a search exemption. The open position must be posted for a minimum of 10 business days for competitive searches.
The minimum initial appointment for all research faculty is one year. Since research employment can be opportunistic, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to seek referrals and to make connections with relevant departments and research centers to explore what possibilities might exist. A listing of research (and other) centers is available.
Virginia Tech also supports the professional development of dual career hires through unpaid appointments as affiliated research faculty. These appointments allow spouses or partners with appropriate academic credentials to affiliate with a relevant academic department or research center for the purpose of pursuing sponsored grants or contracts to support their own salaries and research programs.
For more information about Research faculty, see the Faculty Handbook.
Teaching and research (T&R) faculty are typical teaching faculty members with substantial responsibilities for undergraduate and graduate instruction, research, and outreach. Research positions are also T&R faculty, although they may have a relatively small instructional component.
The university's approximately 2,100 T&R faculty positions may be tenure-track with the ranks of assistant, associate, or full professor and typically require a terminal degree in the field. They can also be non-tenure-track, such as instructor or clinical faculty ranks. These positions may be either restricted or regular and typically require at least a master’s degree in the field.
For more information about T&R faculty positions, see the Faculty Handbook.
Staff
Virginia Tech has approximately 3,400 staff employees in a wide array of positions including housekeepers, food service workers, administrative assistants, lab technicians, trade workers, and entry-level professionals such as human resources generalists, registered nurses, business managers, IT professionals, graphic designers, and many more.
The Division of Human Resources is responsible for all aspects of staff employment, including oversight for the advertising and screening of applicants for various positions. Guidance on recruiting for staff positions is available. Virginia Tech jobs that are posted through the PageUp Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will be automatically posted to certain sites; visit the Recruiting and Hiring Guidelines page for more information.
Most staff jobs are in pay bands 1-4 and the university uses the Commonwealth of Virginia occupational families structure to classify positions. General information about staff career groups is also available online through the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Human Resource Management site. Visit the staff and wage occupational structure page on this website for key terms and definitions. Staff positions are salaried and eligible for certain benefits. See the staff pay practices page for additional information.
Following is more information on staff positions at Virginia Tech.
Employees who began state employment prior to July 1, 2006, when the Restructured Higher Education Finance and Administrative Operations Act in Virginia became effective are covered by the Virginia Personnel Act and Commonwealth of Virginia Human Resource policies, which are administered by the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management. Classified staff may choose to convert to university staff.
Employees hired on or after July 1, 2006, are considered university staff and are covered by Virginia Tech policies.
Wage
Virginia Tech has approximately 6,400 wage positions, including student wage, across the university.
While departments are responsible for the recruitment and management of wage positions, guidance on recruiting for wage positions is available.
The university uses the Commonwealth of Virginia occupational families structure to classify positions. Visit the staff and wage occupational structure page on this website for key terms and definitions.
Wage positions are paid an hourly rate for hours worked. These positions are considered part-time and are currently not eligible for benefits. Wage positions are limited to a maximum of 1,500 hours worked from May 1-Apr. 30 each fiscal year. While wage employees may not work more than 1,500 is a fiscal year, they may be required to work some other combination not to exceed the 1,500-hour maximum (ex. They may be required to work 40 hours per week for 37 weeks or 28 hours per week for 52 weeks).
Following is more information on the types of wage positions at Virginia Tech.
These positions are hourly, do not offer benefits, and are temporary or seasonal with a time limit not to exceed 130 days. Advertising and hiring is done at the department level and no search process is required. For more information on emergency hire positions, applicants should contact the department they want to work in to see if an emergency hire position is available.
These jobs can be short-term or project focused, or may continue for several years. Total hours worked from May 1-Apr. 30 each fiscal year is limited to a maximum of 1,500 hours. Like staff and faculty positions, these positions are advertised through standard university channels because the job is posted in the university's PageUp Applicant Tracking. See Human Resources' Recruitment and Hiring Guidelines for more information.
Employees in this category work occasionally or sporadically on a part-time basis, typically for 10 hours or less per week. Employees work solely at their option in a different capacity from their regular employment. Assignments must be infrequent, irregular, or occurring in scattered instances (e.g., assignment may not be every week or every other week). Employees are not eligible for benefits. Advertising and hiring is done at the department level and no search process is required.
These positions are considered part-time and usually do not offer benefits. Vacant positions are advertised and filled at the department level. Positions may be advertised online through the department's web page or other means of advertising. To qualify for student wage positions, the applicant must be currently enrolled as a Virginia Tech student, be available to work the required work schedule, be qualified to do the work, and possess the necessary permits to work in the United States. Working over 20 hours per week may require approval from the student's program of study.