Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored jobs are 4.5X more likely to result in a hire.**
  • Invite top candidates to apply with Instant Match
  • Get more visibility in search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Administrative Director Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Last updated: September 27, 2023

An Administrative Director, or Chief Administrative Officer, is responsible for the administrative, operational and financial support of an organization. The duties of an Administrative Director include long-term strategic planning, overseeing daily operations, delegating tasks to staff and managing personnel.

Build a Job Description

Administrative Director Duties and Responsibilities

The preliminary duty of an Administrative Director is to ensure all activities are done effectively and efficiently so that all other operations will function well. Some of the duties and responsibilities of an Administrative Director may include: 

  • Negotiating contracts and agreement with vendors
  • Hiring and training staff
  • Delegating tasks to administrative staff and monitoring daily operation
  • Acting as a liaison between the employees and upper management when it comes to financial and administrative issues
  • Developing and promoting policies that ensure positive interaction between administrative staff and other personnel
  • Making changes to increase efficiency in the workplace
  • Generating annual workflow finances
  • Organizing the workplace so that the workflow is streamlined
Build a Job Description

Administrative Director Job Description Examples

What Does an Administrative Director Do?

Administrative Directors work as part of the senior staff overseeing a business or organization and ensuring that company workflows are efficiency and productive. They have a key role in managing entry and mid-level administrative staff and keeping other senior executives informed about changes in organizational procedures. They conduct performance reviews and develop strategic plans for improving professional development and streamlining human resources workflows. Administrative Directors analyze company databases, look for ways to improve reporting and assess the success of new operational initiatives. They may also address compliance issues and collaborate with managers to help employees adjust to company changes.

Administrative Director Skills and Qualifications

Administrative Directors need to be experienced and have unique ways of handling situations. Some of the skills and qualifications an Administrative Director should have include:

  • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting or a related financial field
  • Established experience of evaluating, onboarding, training, supervising and motivating employees in administration
  • Strong communication (both written and verbal), leadership and time management skills
  • Proficient with the use of computers and software programs used in finance and business
  • At least two years of experience in an administrative position in a major corporation or industry
  • Critical thinking, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
  • Strong analytical skills, detail-oriented and exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities

Administrative Director Salary Expectations

The average salary of an Administrative Director is $60,131 per year. The position is mostly full-time, meaning they are required to work Monday to Friday with a minimum of 40 hours a week. Sometimes Administrative Directors would be required to work overtime if the need arises. Also, if hired, the employee will be on probation for the first six to eight weeks, following which a permanent contract will be awarded with an initial contract of between two to four years with free in-job training.

Administrative Director Education and Training Requirements

The minimum education requirement to qualify for this position is a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, information and facility management and other courses relevant to the employer’s industry. However, exceptional applicants often acquire licenses, certification and registration in the employer’s industry. The Facility Management Professional (FMP) certification, Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification and other relevant certifications are often required.

Administrative Director Experience Requirements

An Administrative Director is required to have related work experience that reflects strong leadership and managerial ability. In addition, an applicant should have experience in doing some administrative tasks like packaging, warehousing, transportation and other related administrative operations.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

If this is not what you are looking for, below is a list of related job descriptions:

Ready to Hire an Administrative Director?Build an Administrative Director Job Description

Frequently asked questions about Administrative Directors

What are administrative duties?

Administrative duties are all of the tasks and responsibilities related to distributing information throughout a workplace, keeping records and maintaining consistent procedures. Examples of administrative duties include directing incoming and outgoing calls, posting and storing memos, organizing files and keeping track of employee schedules for key events such as staff meetings or client presentations.

Administrative Directors are in charge of developing a company’s overall strategy for carrying out administrative duties and making sure that it is easy for company employees to communicate with one another, connect with clients and access the information they need to accomplish their work.

Who does an Administrative Director report to?

As a high-level employee, Administrative Directors report to other executives and company leaders. They often report to their employer’s President or CEO, providing updates on the overall implementation of business strategy through administrative procedures. They share information about the daily administration of a company by communicating with Assistant Administrators and Administrative Managers, then sharing their findings with an organization’s key strategists.

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

Administrative Directors are high-level management employees that deal with the big picture of a company’s operations while Administrative Assistants are front-facing and handle the daily minutia of carrying out administrative tasks. Administrative Directors are in charge of carrying out more complex tasks and resolving escalated issues. Administrative Directors make note of all the operational tasks a company must accomplish to function and delegates those tasks to Administrative Assistants. Administrative Directors set standards and expectations for Administrative Assistants to strive for and implement their feedback by updating company policies or testing new tools.

What makes a good Administrative Director?

Good Administrative Directors have the ability to be extremely detail-oriented while also thinking about a company’s long-term strategy. They have strong organizational skills and a knowledge of the different workflow strategies used in their industry. People who enjoy interacting with others and have an analytical mindset can make excellent Administrative Directors because they are able to use their observational skills when communicating with others to identify key problems and pain points that slow down production.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found