Occupation · SOC 11-3012
Administrative Services Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.
Median wage
$108,390
$64,740–$200,010
Projected growth
+4.7%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,260
per year
Employed (US)
254,140
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
2,821 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningTime ManagementSpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingCoordinationNegotiation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageAdministrativeComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Document management softwareDesktop publishing softwareHuman resources softwareContent workflow softwareComputer aided design CAD software
Representative tasks
Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.Set goals and deadlines for the department.Acquire, distribute and store supplies.Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.Hire and terminate clerical and administrative personnel.Direct or coordinate the supportive services department of a business, agency, or organization.Communicate with and provide guidance for external vendors and service providers to ensure the organization, department, or work unit's business needs are met.Develop operational standards and procedures for the work unit or department.Establish work procedures or schedules to organize the daily work of administrative staff.Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented.Manage paper or electronic filing systems by recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records or correspondence.Meet with other departmental leaders to establish organizational goals, strategic plans, and objectives, as well as make decisions about personnel, resources, and space or equipment needs.Oversee payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.Read through contracts, regulations, and procedural guidelines to ensure comprehension and compliance.Represent work unit at meetings or conferences and serve as liaison for requests or complaints.Supervise administrative staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Operational reports and schedules — review for basic accuracy and completeness under direct supervisor guidance in an office administrative setting.Supply inventory records — track and update using established forms and procedures within a departmental supply room.Department deadlines and task lists — follow and monitor daily under close supervision to support timely workflow completion.Internal process documentation — read and apply standard operating procedures when carrying out assigned administrative tasks.Staff correspondence and memos — draft routine written communications using approved templates in a clerical office environment.Document management software — enter, retrieve, and file records under supervision in a shared organizational database.Scheduling requests from staff or clients — receive and log using electronic mail software within a front-office environment.Supply orders — assist in acquiring and distributing standard office materials following pre-approved purchasing protocols.Verbal instructions and briefings — listen actively and confirm understanding before carrying out assigned administrative duties.Basic spreadsheet and database tools — input and organize data under guidance to support departmental reporting needs.
developing
Operational reports — prepare and review on a recurring basis with reduced oversight to verify accuracy and support scheduling efficiency in a mid-size office.Department goals and short-term deadlines — translate manager directives into actionable task timelines for a small administrative team.Supply acquisition and distribution cycle — manage end-to-end ordering, receipt, and storage of office supplies within approved budget limits.Internal administrative procedures — identify inefficiencies and draft recommended process improvements for supervisor review.Staff training sessions — coordinate and facilitate introductory procedure classes for new or reassigned administrative personnel.Human resources software — maintain employee scheduling and leave records with routine accuracy in a departmental HR system.Vendor communications — negotiate routine supply or service agreements using organizational guidelines and purchasing protocols.Customer and staff service requests — triage and resolve standard issues independently, escalating complex cases as needed.Content workflow software — configure and monitor document routing processes to ensure timely review and approval cycles.Performance data and activity logs — monitor departmental metrics and flag variances to management for corrective action.
proficient
Operational reports and efficiency schedules — autonomously prepare, analyze, and present findings to leadership, driving data-informed administrative decisions.Departmental goals and multi-month deadlines — set and communicate clearly to staff, aligning individual workloads with organizational priorities.Records disposal and supply chain processes — evaluate, redesign, and implement procedural changes to improve compliance and resource efficiency.Complex internal process analyses — conduct independently, synthesizing cross-functional data to recommend and execute policy-level improvements.Staff training curricula — develop and deliver comprehensive procedure classes addressing both routine and non-routine administrative scenarios.Financial analysis and accounting software — use to oversee departmental budgets, forecast expenditures, and prepare variance reports for senior leadership.CRM and database systems — manage and query to support service delivery tracking, contract oversight, and vendor relationship management.Non-routine administrative problems — diagnose root causes, weigh options, and implement solutions with minimal escalation in a multi-department environment.Personnel resources — allocate and adjust staffing assignments based on workload analysis, skill assessment, and operational demands.Public safety and security protocols — apply and enforce in administrative operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and workplace safety standards are met.
advanced
Organization-wide administrative strategy — define and implement long-range goals, policies, and operational frameworks aligned with executive leadership priorities.Cross-departmental process improvement initiatives — lead the design, pilot, and full-scale rollout of procedural reforms that measurably elevate organizational efficiency.Administrative services budget — oversee full lifecycle planning, approval, and accountability reporting at divisional or enterprise scale.Workforce development programs — build and champion multi-tier training and mentorship structures that grow administrative talent pipelines across the organization.Vendor and contract negotiations — lead high-stakes, organization-wide procurement or service agreements, establishing standards that govern all administrative purchasing.Technology adoption roadmap — evaluate, select, and sponsor enterprise document management, HR, and CRM platforms to modernize administrative infrastructure.Organizational performance monitoring systems — design dashboards and KPI frameworks that enable data-driven governance of all administrative functions.Senior leadership and board stakeholders — advise and present on administrative policy, risk exposure, and resource allocation with authoritative clarity.Change management efforts — guide multi-unit teams through significant operational transitions, sustaining morale, compliance, and service continuity throughout.Administrative governance standards — establish and enforce organization-wide policies covering records management, public safety compliance, and personnel resource practices.
Also known as
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