Job Titles Decoded — What They Sound Like vs. What They Really Mean

One of the hardest parts of leaving academia? Reading job postings and wondering what those titles actually mean.

Job titles in industry, nonprofits, and government often sound either mysterious (Program Officer? Engagement Manager?) or overly corporate (Associate II, Strategy and Operations). Here’s a quick translation guide for some of the more common roles:

Program Officer

• Sounds like: Someone enforcing the rules at a summer camp.

• Actually means: A grantmaker who manages portfolios, builds relationships with nonprofits, and shapes funding strategy.

Engagement Manager

• Sounds like: A wedding planner.

• Actually means: A client-facing consultant or strategist making sure projects run smoothly and clients are happy.

Policy Analyst

• Sounds like: Endless reading and writing of policy reports.

• Actually means: Research + translating complex info into clear recommendations that influence decision-making.

Project Coordinator

• Sounds like: The person who takes notes in meetings.

• Actually means: The one who keeps projects moving, manages timelines, and wrangles stakeholders.

User Experience (UX) Researcher

• Sounds like: A tech-only role for coders.

• Actually means: Designing studies, interviewing users, and analyzing data to improve products—very similar to qualitative/quantitative research in academia.

Development Manager

• Sounds like: Someone who oversees “personal development” workshops.

• Actually means: A fundraiser. They build donor relationships, manage campaigns, and bring in resources that keep nonprofits running.

Operations Director

• Sounds like: A logistics officer running a factory.

• Actually means: The person who makes the organization work. They oversee budgets, staffing, systems, and processes in order for programs and strategy succeed.

Final Thought
Don’t let unfamiliar job titles scare you off. Behind the jargon are roles that value the exact skills you honed in academia—project management, research, communication, and problem-solving.

© 2025 Marya T. Mtshali. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.