Administrator

Administrators are the bureaucrats who ensure the Empire of Dalthion continues to function.

Career

Qualifications

Only citizens of the empire can become adminstrators. In order to be considered for entry into the bureaucracy a citizen must pass several assessments. The first is a test of reading and writing ability. The level demanded is higher than the basic level taught across the empire, requiring a greater range of vocabulary and more precise knowledge on proper grammer than the average person would need.
If this first asessment is passed then several other tests are taken to determine the applicant's other skills. The outcome of these secondary tests will determine whether the applicant is offered a role as a scribe or one of the specialist disciplines.
Those with skills with numbers may be offered a role in the enumerators, calculating and collecting tarrifs. Those who demonstrate a precision in language and thought may join the law specialists.

Career Progression

Scribe

New adminstrators start as scribes regardless of their specialisation. Scribes are tasked with recording meetings and creating fair copies of draft notes. While doing so they are expected to learn the details of their role, including the rules and procedures followed by their superiors. Scribes are assessed on their knowledge every six months. Those who are lacking in skill or not putting in enough effort are dismissed from their role. Those who are doing an adequate job in recording and making fair copy will be allowed to remain scribes, while those who demonstate that they have learned enough to be ready for additional responsibility may be promoted to junior administrator.

Junior Administrator

Juniors are the most commonly encountered bureaucrats in the empire. Having learned the rules and procedires while they were scribes they put this into practice while working with the general public. Most junior Administrator have 2-3 scribes working for them. The job titles and responsibilities diverge at this point but juniors from all branches are assessed every six months to determine if they should be dismissed, retained, or promoted.

Enumerator

The Junior Enumerators calculate the amount due on shops, farms, and houses. They are frequently seen out and about as they follow up withose with money outstanding. They also accompany full Enumerators who deal with traders and assessing the assets of the wealthy.

Clerk

The Law Clerks accept petitions from the public and classify them for the Representatives based on urgency and type of petition. They also collect the statements for criminal cases. Those with more experience are expected to include notes on recomendations for how to deal with a petition.

Administrator

The Junior Administrators without a specialisation may have a variety of roles depending on their skills and interests. Some are assigned to monitor progress construction work, gather information for the full Administrators, or deal with the public as part of a Principal's or Regional Governor's team.

Full Administrator

Experienced and skilled Junior Adminstrators may be promoted to be a Full Administrator. At this point an Adminstrator is considered capable of making independent decisions (within the bounds of their authority). In addition to managing junior administrators and scribes they may have additional responsibilities, such as running a village. Some will be transferred to the Regional Governor's staff which can be a blessing and a curse and the opportunities for recognition and promotion are greater but is the difficulty of the work.

Enumerator

The Enumerators deal with traders and assessing the assets of the wealthy. Some will be transferred to the Regional Governor's staff in order to manage a region's finances, or to the military to look after pay.

Representative

The Representatives consider petitions from citizens and act as advocates during criminal trials. Some may be assigned to help draft new laws or review and improve the wording on existing ones.

Administrator

Full Administrators manage teams of juniors and may be placed in charge of smaller settlements. Some are also assigned to the military to assist with managing logistics.

Senior Administrator

Seniors typically report to a Principal or Regional Governor. They can be responsible for overseeing farming communities, groups of villages, or one of the three divisions under a Principal.

Enumerator

The Senior Enumerators oversee the finances of a town, helping the Principal or Governor with setting budgets and identifying shortfalls. They also make decisions about appeals on tariffs

Judges

Judges make rulings in criminal cases and deal with the most complex or far reaching petitions. They also develop new laws and work out how to address any inconsistencies or gaps in existing ones.

Administrator

Senior Administrators manage groups of small settlements or the day to day operations of the Administration division within a town.

Other Benefits

Aside from generous pay Administrators enjoy a number of other benefits. As a key part of the functioning of the empire they are second only to the military in priority should food need to be rationed.
For every forty years of service Administrators are entitled to ongoing payments for another ten years after they leave. While these payments are at a much reduced level compared to their pay while serving this is far more generous that would be found elsewhere.

Perception

Social Status

With the exception of achieving promotion in the military, the job of Administrator is perhaps the most sought after position in the empire. Some merchants and land holders may have more wealth but few wield more authority.
In theory becoming a scribe and starting a career as an administrator is open to all, regardless of their background. There is certainly plenty of competition for such roles. However, the requirements for a higher level of knowledge as well as the competition for each place has led to the development of an Administrator class (at least amongst the shorter lived). Those who have become administrators are able to provide a better education for their children so that they are better prepared once they have completed their military service.

You complain that they have an advantage over you? Well yes they do. But why does that stop you improving yourself. The efforts you put in to catch up will better prepare you for the challenges to come.

— Kovias Junlinson addressing a group who failed to become scribes

Administrator badge by Tanai Cuinsear

Used By

• Empire of Dalthion

Ranks & Titles

• Principal

DRP

The six monthly Dismiss, Retain, or Promote (DRP) assessment is a time of fear and anticipation across the imperial bureaucracy. In the junior levels success and failure are sometimes not determined by individual performance as more senior Administrators have been known to take out their frustrations about a poor assessment on those working for them.
For the more senior levels it is also not unknown for junior adminsitrators to try to undermine those they report, either because of a genuine dislike or because they have been encouraged to do so by a rival senior Administrator.

If you can't deal with the pressure of being assessed then leave. If you can't deal with that how can I trust you to deal with a real crisis.

— Emperor Kovias Junlinson

Changing Branch

It is unusual for someone to change between branches after they reach the junior level, but it is recognised that sometimes people may be more competent in a different role. For the most part changes tend to be from the Enumerators or Clerks into the general administration area.