O que a seguinte frase significa:

Hey rafa2016!!!!

Thank you for your contribution to the Fórum! 😊

Now let's see your question.

That's something very interesting, because English loves to make scenes as metaphors to make you understand the idea completely.

*worked his way up the career ladder over the years*

Let's analyze part by part.

"To work your way up" means to make a progress and achieve a better position within the organization you work for through hard work. (subir , progredir no trabalho)

"The career ladder" is a metaphor for job promotion. In business and human resources management, the career ladder typically describes the progression from entry level positions to higher levels of pay, skill, responsibility, or authority. (carreira profissional)

My two cents: ladder = escada (aquela manual)

"Over the years" - during all years he worked for that organization. (Ao longo dos anos).

Now, try to read the whole sentence and see if it makes more sense to you:

"He started as an administration officer in 1972, in our accounts department and *worked his way up the career ladder over the years*, finally becoming vice president in 1989, of the company, and managing over three hundred employees."

If not, here you go! My translation:

"Ele começou como gerente de escritório em 1972, em nosso departamento de contabilidade e subiu na carreira ao longo dos anos, se tornando finalmente o vice presidente da empresa em 1989, gerenciando mais de trezentos empregados."

Hope I have helped you!!!