Knowledge Management role descriptions

There has been very little standardisation on KM-related job classifications, with the result that a "Knowledge Manager" can be anything from a very junior role to a C-suite position. This makes it very difficult to drive competency definitions of Knowledge Management forward.

The following are proposed as representative KM role descriptions, ranked from highest to lowest in terms of seniority.

Chief Knowledge Officer

• responsible for big picture knowledge strategy; especially long term outcomes
• focus is on what, not how; works with C-suite to develop and critique strategic choices
• uses knowledge risk and value assessments, to set business KM principles, objectives, and align organisational norms

Knowledge Program Manager

• responsible for defined strategic knowledge objectives based on executive mandate from CKO and/or CEO
• focus is on setting up and managing KM projects to achieve goals
• sets KM strategies, goals, and roles/responsibilities

Knowledge Architect

• responsible for organisational systems identification, assessment
• evaluates knowledge construal and knowledge outcomes for business processes to guide KM project methods and mode of delivery
• provides expert input to aspirational future state and benefit measures for organisational systems

Knowledge Process Manager

• responsible for monitoring, evaluation and interventions to improve one or more knowledge processes (ie processes relating to solution identification and selection)
• uses KM tools and techniques correctly in context to achieve improvements

Knowledge Analyst

• evaluates and assesses knowledge for currency, correctness, etc in the context of a specific knowledge process
• captures and/or shares knowledge to support desired knowledge process outcomes