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
Job outlook
Projected growth
10%
New jobs
28.5k
Automation risk
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.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Oxford Martin SchoolLast Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2023
