In general, an administrative coordinator oversees and supports a company’s or organization’s offices. Typical responsibilities include providing comprehensive administrative support, supervising support staff, and assisting with budget management. These jobs are ideal for someone who is self-motivated, thorough, and practical.
Primary Responsibilities
An administrative coordinator’s primary responsibility is to serve as a liaison between departments, outside vendors, and employees. Most organizations have a complex hierarchy of individuals and specialists who must work together to get things done in order to function effectively. Administrative coordinators are usually in charge of organizing, supervising, and facilitating this process. They may also be asked to learn about a company’s technical details and inner workings in order to provide specialized support.
For example, if a university faculty member requires travel reimbursement, the coordinator may need to coordinate with several other departments to secure the funds. To process the necessary information for the faculty member, he or she may collaborate with the travel office, accounting department, faculty support staff, or others. Other school employees can usually better serve the faculty member than an administrative coordinator with specialized knowledge of university reimbursement protocol.
Managing Employees
The support staff is usually managed by the administrative coordinator of a large organization. Non-supervisory employees in the department who provide clerical, secretarial, or financial services are typically included in this group. Most coordinators are also responsible for hiring new employees, evaluating or disciplining current employees, and assigning work.
Supporting Roles
If the organization for which an administrative coordinator works is small, he or she may be required to perform basic clerical duties. He or she may be responsible for database maintenance, report writing, letter writing, and other general support tasks. Coordinators are frequently in charge of office maintenance, which includes purchasing supplies, collaborating with facilities management, and ensuring equipment maintenance.
Creating a budget
An administrative coordinator’s other important responsibilities include assisting in the preparation and implementation of the organization’s budget. Most coordinators are involved in their company’s financial management to some extent. They are frequently involved in tracking how money is spent, assisting with cost control, approving expenses, and preparing financial reports.
Obtaining the position of Administrative Coordinator
Prior work experience is the most important qualification for an administrative coordinator, with many organizations requiring the equivalent of seven years in administrative support. Several coordinators have worked as office or administrative managers, administrative assistants, or customer service representatives in the past. Many of these jobs require a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma in addition to experience (GED). A bachelor’s or even a graduate-level college degree may be required by some organizations.