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Roles overview

In FedMS, you have two layers of roles:

  1. A site role that applies across the whole instance.
  2. One or more group roles that apply to each org, event, or session you belong to.

This page summarizes both. For the full domain model see Members and roles. For the permission-level detail see the Permissions matrix.

Find your roles

Go to My profile → Memberships. You will see:

  • Your site role at the top (e.g. "Authenticated", "Manager", "Content Manager").
  • A list of your memberships — each org, event, or session you belong to, with the group role(s) you have in each.

Site roles

Role What it means in plain language
Authenticated You can sign in, see your profile, and access whatever groups you have been added to. Most users start here.
Manager You can create organizations, events, and sessions, and add members. This is the operational role.
Content Manager You can design event/session/attachment types and their fields. This is the editorial / configuration role.
Host Reserved for cross-group host capabilities. Under review.
DevOps You are an operator / automation account. You can see everything.
Administrator You can do anything. Reserved for emergency / framework administration.

Most users are Authenticated. The other site roles are assigned deliberately by the instance owner.

Group roles

A group role applies to one specific membership in one specific group. The same user can be a Manager in one event and an Attendee in another.

Roles available on all group types (org, event, session)

Role What you typically do
Manager Run the group operationally. Add members, create content, configure logistics. → Manager guide
Host / Sponsor Represent the group externally. Often the client's main contact for an event. → Host guide
Member Default insider role. View group content; perform any role-specific tasks.
Outsider Default role for non-members. Cannot see most group content.
Anonymous Unauthenticated visitor.
Administrator Sees and can do everything in the group.
DevOps Operator / automation. Sees everything.

Roles available on events and sessions only

Role What you typically do
Speaker / Tutor Deliver content. Prepare slides, run the session. → Speaker guide
Moderator Facilitate the session. Keep time, manage Q&A. → Moderator guide
Attendee / Delegate Participate. Receive content, do pre-work, attend, give feedback. → Delegate guide
Service Provider Provide a service (venue, AV, catering, interpretation). → Service Provider guide
Observer Watch without participating (training of trainers, audits). → Observer guide

How roles combine

You can have multiple roles in the same group — for instance, you could be a Manager and a Speaker at an event. Permissions are the union of the permissions of all your roles, so the most permissive role wins.

Why you can't see something

If a button or a page is missing, the most common reason is that your group role does not include the corresponding permission. Talk to the Manager of that group — they can grant you a different role.

A second possibility is that the content does not exist yet. The dashboard only shows what is real.

How roles are assigned

Type How assigned
Site role By a site administrator, deliberately.
Outsider / Member group role Automatically, from your site role.
Manager / Host / Speaker / Moderator / Delegate / Service Provider / Observer Manually, by the group's Manager, at the moment they add you.

So if you log in and you "should" be a Speaker but you only see what an Attendee sees, ask the event's Manager to update your role on the membership.

Next steps