Become an Administrative Services Manager

20
Sep

Become an Administrative Services Manager

Posted by Jeff

Overview for Administrative Services Managers

Administrative services managers coordinate and direct the many support services that allow organizations to operate efficiently. They may oversee secretarial and reception services, administration, payroll, conference planning and travel, information and data processing, mail, materials scheduling and distribution, printing and reproduction, records management, telecommunications management, security, parking, energy consumption, and personal property procurement, supply, recycling, and disposal. They also manage support services for insurance companies, computer manufacturers, and government offices.

Specific duties for these managers vary by degree of responsibility and authority. In small organizations, one administrative services manager may oversee all support services. In larger firms, first-line administrative services managers often report to mid-level managers who, in turn, report to owners or top-level managers.

Administrative services managers who work as contract administrators oversee the preparation, analysis, negotiation, and review of contracts related to the purchase or sale of equipment, materials, supplies, products, or services. Some administrative services managers acquire, distribute, and store supplies. Others dispose of surplus property or oversee the disposal of unclaimed property.

Administrative services managers who work as facility managers plan, design, and manage buildings, grounds, equipment, and supplies, in addition to people. This task requires integrating the principles of business administration, information technology, architecture, engineering, and behavioral science.

Employment Situation

There will be strong competition for the limited number of top-level management jobs available between 2006 and 2016, but demand should be strong for facility managers.

Administrative services managers held about 247,000 jobs in 2006. About 65 percent worked in service-providing industries, including Federal, State, and local government; health care; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; administrative and support services; and educational services, public and private.

Employment of administrative services managers is projected to grow 12 percent over the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand should be strong for facility managers because businesses increasingly realize the importance of maintaining, securing, and efficiently operating their facilities, which are very large investments for most organizations.

Education Outlook

Administrative services managers working in private industry and government and have a wide range of responsibilities, experience, earnings, and education. Administrative services managers should be analytical, detail-oriented, flexible, decisive, and have good leadership and communication skills.

Earning the Certified Manager (CM) designation offered by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), through education, work experience, and successful completion of examinations, can enhance a manager’s advancement potential. In addition, a master’s degree in business administration or a related field enhances a first-level manager’s opportunities to advance to higher managerial positions.

Specific requirements vary by job responsibility. For first-line administrative services managers of secretarial, mailroom, and related support activities, many employers prefer to hire people who have an associate degree in business or management, although a high school diploma may suffice when combined with appropriate experience. Whatever the manager’s educational background, it must be accompanied by related work experience to show real ability. Therefore, many administrative services managers advance through the ranks of their organization.

Salary Expectations for Administrative Services Managers

Earnings of administrative services managers vary depending on the employer, specialty, and geographic area. The median annual earnings of administrative services managers in May 2006 totaled $67,690 and ranged from less than $34,970 to more than $117,610.