Understanding Roles at Kyndof
At Kyndof, roles define what work gets done and who's responsible for outcomes. Unlike job titles that can vary between companies, roles represent consistent sets of responsibilities, authorities, and expectations.
Position Over Person: How We Think About Roles
We organize by positions (roles) rather than individuals. This distinction matters:
Position/Role = A defined set of responsibilities, authorities, and expected outcomes Person = The current owner/occupant of that role
Why this matters:
- Roles persist even when people change
- Responsibilities stay clear regardless of who fills the role
- Career paths become visible (what roles lead to what other roles)
- Organizational continuity survives turnover
Example: The "CMO" role owns brand strategy and marketing leadership. Today, that role might be filled by Alice. Tomorrow, if Bob becomes CMO, the role's responsibilities don't change—just the person executing them.
Role Categories at Kyndof
We group roles into several broad categories:
Leadership Roles
Examples: CEO, COO, CMO, Brand Lead, Department Heads Characteristics: Strategic decision-making authority, team oversight, cross-functional coordination
Leadership roles set direction, make high-stakes decisions, and ensure teams execute effectively. These roles are often Accountable in RABSIC matrices.
Design Roles
Examples: Fashion Designer, Pattern Maker, Graphic Designer, Creative Director Characteristics: Creative output, aesthetic judgment, technical craft skills
Design roles transform strategy and customer insights into tangible products and communications. They balance creative vision with practical constraints.
Operations Roles
Examples: Production Manager, QC Specialist, Logistics Coordinator, Operations Engineer Characteristics: Process execution, quality assurance, system maintenance, efficiency focus
Operations roles make things happen—they execute production, manage logistics, ensure quality, and maintain systems. These roles turn plans into delivered outcomes.
Sales & Marketing Roles
Examples: Marketing Manager, Sales Lead, Social Media Manager, Partnership Manager Characteristics: Growth focus, customer interaction, brand building, revenue generation
Sales and marketing roles drive growth, build brand awareness, and manage customer relationships. They connect Kyndof's products with customers and partners.
Explore Sales & Marketing Roles →
Support Roles
Examples: Customer Support, Customer Success Manager Characteristics: Customer-facing, issue resolution, relationship management
Support roles ensure customers succeed with Kyndof products. They handle questions, resolve issues, and proactively help customers get value.
How Roles Relate to RABSIC
At Kyndof, we use the RABSIC framework to assign accountability for decisions and projects. Every role participates in RABSIC based on its authorities and responsibilities:
| RABSIC Role | What It Means | Common Kyndof Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible | Does the actual work | Individual contributors, specialists, executors |
| Accountable | Owns the outcome, approves final decisions | Leadership roles (CEO, CMO, Department Heads) |
| Backup | Steps in if Responsible is unavailable | Cross-trained team members, deputies |
| Support | Helps Responsible complete work | Supporting functions, enablement teams |
| Informed | Receives updates after decisions | Stakeholders, adjacent teams |
| Consulted | Provides input before decisions | Subject matter experts, advisory roles |
Key principle: A role's RABSIC assignment can change based on the decision. The CMO might be Accountable for brand strategy but merely Consulted on technical infrastructure.
Role Attributes
Every role at Kyndof has several defining attributes:
Responsibilities
What outcomes this role is expected to deliver. These are results, not just activities.
Example (Production Manager):
- Deliver products on schedule with acceptable quality
- Manage vendor relationships to ensure supply reliability
- Coordinate production planning across design and operations teams
Authorities
What decisions this role can make without seeking approval.
Example (Production Manager):
- Approve vendor selection up to $X budget
- Shift production schedules within tolerance ranges
- Halt production for quality issues
Relationships
Who this role reports to, who reports to them, and key collaboration partners.
Example (Production Manager):
- Reports to: Department Head (Brand Lead or CMO)
- Collaborates with: Designers, QC team, Logistics, Procurement
- Manages: Production staff, vendor relationships
Success Metrics
How we evaluate whether this role is performing effectively.
Example (Production Manager):
- On-time delivery rate
- Defect rate
- Vendor performance scores
- Budget adherence
Career Paths: How Roles Connect
Roles aren't isolated—they connect to form career progression paths. Understanding these paths helps you see where your role can lead.
Individual Contributor Path
Roles deepen expertise within a function:
- Junior Designer → Designer → Senior Designer → Creative Director
Management Path
Roles expand scope and team leadership:
- Individual Contributor → Team Lead → Manager → Department Head → Executive
Cross-Functional Path
Roles move across functions to gain breadth:
- Designer → Product Developer → Brand Strategist
Specialist Path
Roles develop deep technical or domain expertise:
- Designer → Pattern Maker → Master Craftsperson
Role Ownership
Every role has an owner—the current person filling that role. Role pages in this wiki describe the role itself, not the current owner's personal details.
What you'll find in role pages:
- Role responsibilities and authorities
- Common RABSIC assignments
- Collaboration patterns
- Success metrics
What you won't find:
- Owner's personal information
- Owner's individual performance data
- Owner-specific interpretations of the role
For information about current role owners, use internal tools (org charts, Slack, HR systems).
Geographic Distribution
Many roles note a location (e.g., "Seoul"). This indicates:
- Where the role is based for coordination purposes
- Timezone considerations for collaboration
- Local market context if relevant
Some roles may be remote or distributed. Location is noted for coordination, not as a requirement.
Reading Role Descriptions
When you explore a specific role page, you'll see:
- Role Overview: What this role exists to accomplish
- Core Responsibilities: Key outcomes expected from this role
- Key Relationships: Who this role works with most frequently
- When to Reach Out: What kinds of requests or questions to bring to this role
- RABSIC Context: How this role typically participates in decisions
- Skills & Expertise: What capabilities this role needs
- Related Roles: Similar or complementary positions
Next Steps
Explore specific role categories to understand what each type of role does:
- Leadership Roles → - Strategic decision-making and team oversight
- Design Roles → - Creative and technical design work
- Operations Roles → - Execution, quality, and systems
Or browse by team or function to see how roles fit into the organization.
Navigation:
- By Team - Browse by department
- By Function - Find capabilities across teams
- People Home - Back to directory home
Back to: Wiki Home
Last Updated: 2026-02-03