Job description

Administrative services managers plan, coordinate and oversee the administrative and supportive services of a company. They are responsible for recordkeeping, mail distribution, facility maintenance, security, budget planning and ensuring that company operations and employees are running smoothly.

Administrative services managers in large companies might take on a specific supportive role, such as facilities manager or records and information manager.

Duties

    • Oversee departments and employee development
    • Set goals, objectives and strategies for departments
    • Manage training programmes for employees
    • Create, maintain and improve company records
    • Arrange for mail distribution, printing and copying
    • Plan and oversee company budgets
    • Suggest changes to company policies and procedures
    • Recommend new office equipment and supplies
    • Monitor facility maintenance
    • Coordinate space design and allocation
    • Ensure health and security standards are met

Skills and qualities

Organisational
Analytical
Planning
Coaching
Communication
Attention to detail
Leadership
Critical thinking
Problem-solving
Computer software

Job outlook

Projected growth
The projected growth rate of employment in the US from 2016 to 2026, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme. The national average growth rate for all professions is 7%.

10%

New jobs
The number of jobs projected to become available in the US between 2016 and 2026, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme.

28.5k

Automation risk
The probability of computerisation, based on data published in ‘The Future of Employment’, a 2013 working paper by Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne.

73%

Career progression

Administrative services managers can earn a promotion to other management roles within a company. They might even progress to a larger firm that offers more specific administrative positions.

Certifications improve your chances of a promotion and getting hired by large organisations. If you have a master’s degree in business administration or a related field, this can advance you to a mid-level or top-level management position, such as director of administrative services or executive vice president for administrative services.

Working conditions

Average hours

40h/ week

Typical schedule

Full Time

Standard business hours

Administrative services managers generally function in an office. They also spend time outdoors if their role involves groundskeeping duties like checking the landscaping and parking area.

You may have to keep track of everything that happens on site, which means making visits around the building and each department.

This position also involves checking the upkeep of supplies, equipment and facilities such as computers, printers and furniture.

Salary

Bottom 10%

$55k

Median

$96k

Top 10%

$170k

Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.

Qualifications and training

Education level

High school

Optional certification

Study time

N/A

Hiring requirements for an administrative services manager vary depending on the practice of the organisation. A high school diploma or bachelor’s degree is usually sufficient. Jobseekers with degrees in business, engineering, facility management or information management tend to be considered for the role.

Work experience that indicates management and leadership skills is considered a plus, while certifications, like the Certified Manager (CM) designation issued by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), are an advantage.

Prospective facility managers can register with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), which offers the Facilities Management Professional (FMP) and Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certifications. (The CM certification must be renewed every three years.)

Records and information managers, on the other hand, can register with the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), which offers the Certified Records Manager (CRM) certification.

Last Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2023

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