CS Career Path Framework Template

Show your team exactly how to grow and get promoted, with every level, track and criterion in writing.

Ask a great CSM what's next for them and listen to how long it takes them to answer. Most of the time it's "I don't know," or "I guess management?" They're doing great work and nobody has ever shown them what the next level looks like in writing. When people can't see a future at your company, they go looking for one somewhere else.

I have always believed that if someone who worked for me ends up surpassing me in their career, I've done something right. You can't help someone grow past you if the path is a mystery to both of you. This framework puts it on paper: your tracks, a level map, what each individual contributor and leadership level owns, competency expectations by level, how success is measured, promotion criteria and the process, lateral moves into other teams and a one-page development plan for every person. The guide walks through every section with a made-up example and a six-step rollout.

What's included

• CS Career Path Framework template in Word, plus a make-a-copy link for Google Docs

• 13 sections: framework details, how we think about growth, career tracks, level map, individual contributor levels, leadership levels, competency expectations by level, how success is measured, promotion criteria, promotion process, lateral moves, individual development plan, and review and sign-off

• Starter prompts for four tracks (individual contributor, people leadership, digital and scaled CS, CS operations) and six levels from CSM to VP

• A step-by-step PDF guide with a worked example for every section, a six-step rollout plan, questions for 1:1s, the mistakes to avoid and a Steal This career framework check

Who it's for

Heads of CS and CS managers whose people have started asking how to get promoted, and anyone getting ready for review and compensation season.

How it works

Digital download. Your files are ready right after checkout. Open the Word file, or use the link included with your download to make your own copy in Google Docs. No physical item will be shipped.

Bundle and save

This template is part of the Hiring and Team Bundle: 9 templates for $89, about half the price of buying them one at a time. Want everything? The Complete Architect Collection has every template in the collection for $299.