Administrative Support Supervisor
An Administrative Support Supervisor, also known as a first-line supervisor of office and administrative support workers, plays a crucial role in overseeing the delivery of administrative services within an organization. Their responsibilities include hiring and training staff, managing workflow, and setting priorities for various tasks. Typically found in office environments across multiple industries, these supervisors balance their supervisory duties with some administrative tasks, often working around forty hours a week, sometimes more.
This role is ideal for individuals who possess strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills, as they need to motivate and guide their teams while ensuring high standards of work. Daily activities may involve conducting meetings, providing feedback, and resolving issues that arise within the team. While formal education is not strictly necessary, having a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field can enhance career prospects. Overall, the position not only requires technical proficiency but also the ability to foster teamwork and collaboration among diverse individuals.
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Subject Terms
Administrative Support Supervisor
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration, Hospitality & Tourism,
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Enjoy working with people, office management; administrative best practices, leading an
administration staff
Earnings (Yearly Average): $104,900 per year $50.44 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 5% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Related Work Experience Less than 5 years
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Administrative support supervisors, also called first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers, oversee the efficient and effective delivery of administrative services to their organizations. This includes hiring and training administrative and clerical workers, ensuring that scheduled work shifts are covered, setting administrative priorities and goals for short- and long-term projects, and developing best practices and workflow procedures for their employees. Administrative support supervisors may be found in all industries, wherever administrative and clerical tasks are performed.
Work Environment. Administrative support supervisors usually work in office environments in close proximity to the staff whose work they oversee. The supervisor’s administrative support staff may perform such duties as word processing, receptionist duties, filing, photocopying, bookkeeping, and general secretarial work, as well as other office support functions as needed. In addition to supervising staff, administrative support supervisors can usually expect to perform some administrative duties themselves. Administrative support supervisors usually work approximately forty hours per week during normal office hours but are sometimes required to work longer hours as needed.
Occupation Interest. This occupation suits people who combine advanced administrative and organizational capabilities with the ability to lead, supervise, and motivate others. Administrative support supervisors have generally proven their administrative capabilities by first excelling in an entry-level administrative position. Successful administrative support supervisors enjoy working with people and have strong oral and written communication skills, allowing them to delegate, set high expectations, and provide constructive feedback with tact and confidence. Although they work independently in a managerial role, administrative support supervisors must also be comfortable collaborating with members of their team at certain times.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. An administrative support supervisor’s day is likely to involve a combination of administrative and supervisory duties. This is a job in which success usually requires a blend of advanced skills in several areas, including management, technology, administrative duties, the ability to coordinate with other departments, and communication skills.
During a typical day, supervisors may organize and lead meetings with their staff to discuss assigning and scheduling the day’s or week’s work priorities. They may meet with staff individually to receive verbal updates on work progress, provide one-on-one feedback, and to check the accuracy and overall quality of work. Supervisors may spend a considerable amount of time helping staff to resolve problems that arise. In this regard, they are expected to be able to interpret and apply company policy to a wide range of different scenarios. Sometimes they may also be expected to develop or adapt policies or protocols in response to new or special circumstances. Administrative support supervisors may also be required to prepare and administer budgets, contribute to strategic planning processes, and develop new workflows and procedures. They may sometimes be expected to perform some basic administrative duties themselves or to cover others’ duties.
To ensure that the employer’s administrative needs are adequately and appropriately met, administrative support supervisors also coordinate often with members of other departments within the organization, as well as with customers and corporate management. Some workdays may include hiring and training new administrative staff and conducting staff performance reviews. The administrative support supervisor may be required to maintain a weekly or monthly log of his or her employees’ hours and submit timesheets to the human resources or payroll departments.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Administrative support supervisors usually work in comfortable office settings. The specific physical environment will be influenced by the size and type of the employer and the industry in which they operate. There is a wide range of office settings, from small and quiet to large and busy.
Human Environment. Administrative support supervisors interact on a daily basis with a wide range of people within and outside the workplace. These professionals spend a significant amount of time leading, managing, and motivating employees. They frequently interact with colleagues and report to higher-level managers.
Technological Environment. Daily administrative operations require the use of standard office technologies, including computers, telephones, email, photocopiers, and the Internet. Administrative support supervisors must be proficient in the use of basic office software such as word processing programs, contact management software, spreadsheets, and presentation programs. They may also need to use specialized systems, including databases and enterprise-wide resource platforms.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students can best prepare for a career as an administrative support supervisor by taking courses in English, composition, and business writing. Courses that develop general business skills may include accounting, entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, business management, and applied mathematics. Administrative and clerical skills may be developed by taking subjects such as business computing, typing, and shorthand. Subjects such as history and social studies help the student to develop their general research and analytical skills. Studies in psychology may be beneficial for developing understanding about human behavior and motivation.
Becoming involved in part-time administrative or clerical work while still in high school is an excellent way to gain entry-level experience in the administrative profession. High school students may also gain volunteer administrative experience with local church, community, and sporting organizations, as well as with scholastic clubs and societies. A wide variety of extracurricular activities provide leadership opportunities.
Postsecondary. Administrative support supervisors are not generally required to possess formal postsecondary educational qualifications; however, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, administration, or another relevant field may lead to improved career opportunities. In addition to universities and technical or community colleges, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals (AEAP) offer accredited and non-accredited training options for administrative professionals. Some employers in this profession value on-the-job experience or professional development courses more than postsecondary degrees.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
“Administrative Services and Facilities Managers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm. 27 Aug. 2024.