What does an Administrative Manager do?

Administrative Managers typically work in office environments and are among the highest-ranking members of the administrative job title hierarchy. Their job is to manage all administrative staff members, such as AdministrativeAssistants and Administrative Clerks. This typically includes training, coaching, evaluating and delegating tasks to various team members.

They also oversee strategic initiatives that improve administrative processes and support overall organizational efficiency. This often happens by evaluating administrative processes and procedures to determine if they need to be modified. Administrative Managers may also manage relevant policies and work to use resources efficiently.

With an effective Administrative Manager, all departments within your organization should receive consistent support to help them increase productivity.

Administrative Manager skills and qualifications

Effective Administrative Managers are often able to communicate well as they lead the team. It’s common for successful candidates to have several skills and qualifications, such as:

• Advanced computer literacy, including proficiency with office software (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and familiarity with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Zoho or HubSpot
• Project management experience, including the ability to plan timelines, assign tasks and monitor progress using tools like Asana, Trello or Monday.com
• Working knowledge of relevant regulatory standards such as OSHA, HIPAA, GDPR or local labor laws, depending on your industry
• Strong grasp of office management procedures, including workflow optimization, facilities coordination and administrative compliance
• Experience reviewing financial documents such as budgets, purchase orders, invoices and expense reports, with an understanding of internal controls and cost tracking
• Leadership skills, including team delegation, performance coaching and conflict resolution in a supervisory capacity
• Analytical thinking with the ability to identify process inefficiencies and implement practical solutions
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, especially when developing internal policies or liaising with executives, vendors or clients

Administrative Manager experience requirements

Before becoming an Administrative Manager, candidates often work in other administrative roles. They might start in an entry-level administrative position and progress through various supervisory roles to gain relevant management experience. It’s also possible for a candidate to have management experience outside of the administrative department. Their leadership skills can transfer to leading the administrative team within your organization.

You might look for candidates who have experience relevant to your company. For example, if you operate a business in a highly regulated industry, such as pharmaceuticals, finance or food, you may prefer candidates who have held administrative roles within the same industry. This could help them have a better understanding of relevant regulations.

You can also broaden your search by looking for individuals who have developed role-critical skills in a variety of settings. This approach broadens your talent pool and ensures candidates are equipped to navigate relevant regulations, regardless of their previous industry background.

Administrative Manager education and training requirements

Administrative Manager roles typically do not require formal education or certifications, consider a skills-first hiring approach. Rather than focusing solely on degrees, you may choose to prioritize practical abilities such as process management, team leadership, organizational skills and familiarity with administrative systems.

While some candidates may hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field, others may develop the necessary expertise through on-the-job experience in administrative support or office management roles. By emphasizing skills and real-world capabilities, you can expand your talent pool and find candidates with the hands-on experience to succeed in the role.

Job description samples for similar positions

If an Administrative Manager position doesn’t fit your needs, the following job descriptions for similar roles may be more suitable:

• Administrative Director
• Business Administrator
• Office Manager

Administrative Manager job description FAQs

What is the difference between an Administrative Manager and an Administrative Director?

Administrative Directors are typically higher in the organizational chart than Administrative Managers. While Administrative Managers often work closely with various departmental staff members and guide day-to-day activities, Administrative Directors usually take a more strategic approach. They might focus on the department’s high-level goals and supervise Administrative Managers.

What makes a good Administrative Manager?

An effective Administrative Manager often has strong technical skills to manage the use of various software programs within the department. They typically excel at organization and communication, as those are often key characteristics of administrative positions. It also helps to have leadership skills, which may be gained by accepting progressively more complex duties and higher administrative positions.

How can I make my Administrative Manager job description stand out?

It can be helpful to describe the structure of the administrative department, including the number of staff members the selected candidate will manage. You might mention any special projects the department handles, like coordinating the yearly holiday charity event or organizing the company-led conference.

Some candidates look for information about the company culture to help them decide if they will enjoy working in the environment. Include any special perks you offer, such as continuing education or paid certifications.

What are the daily duties of an Administrative Manager?

Administrative Managers often spend their day interacting with administrative team members or leaders from other apartments. They might start by catching up on communications and checking in with other admins to ensure they have the resources they need. Then, they may complete reports, analyze data, review policies and handle other core duties.

Meetings with team members and other leaders across the company are often part of the daily routine. The Administrative Manager typically remains accessible to the team throughout the day as they handle other tasks.