---
title: "Create department"
method: POST
path: "/v3/departments"
tags: ["Departments"]
---

# Create department

`POST /v3/departments`

Create a department in the caller's organization. Supply `parent_id` (or `external_parent_id`) to nest the new record under an existing department; omit both to create a top-level department. Set `external_id` to keep the new Greenhouse department mapped to the matching record in your HRIS or other external system.

## Request body

- object
  - `name` string, required — Display name of the department. Required.
  - `parent_id` integer — Id of an existing department to nest the new department under. Omit to create a top-level department. Use `parent_id` when you already have the Greenhouse id; use `external_parent_id` to reference the parent by its external id instead.
  - `external_id` string — Partner-supplied identifier for the new department, typically the matching id from an HRIS or other external system. Use this to keep Greenhouse departments mapped to your source of truth without maintaining a separate id table.
  - `external_parent_id` string — `external_id` of an existing parent department to nest the new department under. Useful when you only have external ids on hand; ignored if `parent_id` is also supplied.

## Response `201`

Successful

- object
  - `id` integer
  - `created_at` string, date-time
  - `updated_at` string, date-time
  - `name` string — Display name of the department (e.g. `Engineering`, `Marketing`).
  - `parent_id` integer, nullable — Id of the parent department in the organization's department tree. `null` for top-level departments. References another `/v3/departments` row.
  - `external_id` string, nullable — Partner-supplied identifier for the department, typically the matching id from an HRIS or other external system. Free-form string and `null` when no external id has been set.

## Other responses

- `401` — Unauthorized
- `403` — Forbidden
- `422` — Unprocessable Content

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/greenhouse/apis/auth-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/greenhouse/apis/auth-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/greenhouse/auth-api/revisions/9517a2e54640/schema)