Administrative Services Managers

Administrative Coordinator
Administrative Director
Administrative Manager
Administrative Officer
Administrator
Business Administrator
Business Manager

What is a Administrative Services Managers?

Administrative Services Managers are responsible for coordinating and overseeing various support services within an organization. They play a pivotal role in ensuring that the administrative functions, such as office management, clerical support, and facilities maintenance, operate smoothly and efficiently. These professionals typically manage staff and resources to enhance organizational effectiveness, and they may also develop and implement policies and procedures to improve operational workflows.

Often working across multiple departments, Administrative Services Managers are tasked with optimizing the use of resources, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Their role can encompass a wide range of activities, depending on the organization's size and nature, including managing office supplies, overseeing the maintenance of facilities, and facilitating communication between departments. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills are essential traits for success in this role. Ultimately, Administrative Services Managers contribute significantly to creating an environment conducive to productivity and organizational success.

Career Assessment
Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$62470.0 - $188820.0

This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Finding local jobs...
Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.

Career Assessment

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.

Technology Skills

Tools Used

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Administrative

    Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

178 Active Jobs in South Africa
Avg Salary: R21,542pm

How to Know if You Are Ready to be an Administrative Services Manager in South Africa

Stepping into the role of an Administrative Services Manager is a significant career move that places you at the heart of any South African organisation. Currently, the market is vibrant with 169 active jobs available, and the average salary sits at R21,542pm. Trends indicate a healthy growth trajectory for this role; in early 2024, entry-level management positions were valued at approximately R18,957 per month, rising steadily towards R23,696 by year-end. If you are looking for a stable yet evolving career path, this is the time to evaluate your readiness.

Is Administrative Services Management Right for Me? (Psychometric Checklist)

Before making the leap, consider if you possess the following core traits and psychological attributes essential for success in the South African corporate landscape:

  • High Organisational Intelligence: You have a natural knack for creating systems where others see chaos.
  • Leadership Resilience: You can manage diverse teams and remain calm during the fast-paced pressures of a busy office environment.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: You notice the small discrepancies in a budget or a contract that others might overlook.
  • Diplomatic Communication: You are comfortable negotiating with vendors and communicating clearly with both executives and junior staff.
  • Proactive Problem-Solving: You don't just identify a bottleneck; you already have two potential solutions ready to implement.
  • Ethical Integrity: You understand the importance of confidentiality and South African labour compliance (such as POPIA and BCEA).

A Day in the Life of a South African Administrative Services Manager

In a typical South African business hub—be it the bustling Sandton CBD or the industrial zones of Coega—your day begins long before the first meeting. You are the architect of the office environment. Your morning might involve overseeing facility maintenance and ensuring the "Load Shedding" backup systems are operational, followed by a meeting to review departmental budgets. By midday, you are likely supervising administrative staff, coordinating with HR on new recruitment drives, or refining the company's procurement policies to ensure B-BBEE compliance. It is a role that requires you to wear many hats: you are a facilities coordinator, a people manager, and a strategic planner all in one.

Education & Upskilling: Building Your Foundation

Ready to start your career as a Administrative Services Managers?

Explore Top-Rated Administrative Services Managers Courses on Udemy

While experience is highly valued, formal qualifications provide the theoretical framework needed to manage complex operations effectively. In South Africa, the following pathways are highly recommended:

Formal Qualifications

  • University Degrees: A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Business Management or Public Administration is the gold standard for top-tier corporate roles.
  • TVET Colleges: National Diplomas in Office Management or Public Management offer excellent practical grounding for those entering the civil service or SMEs.

Short Courses and Certifications

To stay competitive, you must look beyond your initial qualification. Short courses in Project Management (PRINCE2 or PMP), Advanced Microsoft Excel, and Facilities Management are highly sought after by recruiters.

Important Note: The South African business landscape is shifting rapidly towards digital transformation. Continuous learning is no longer optional; it is the key to maintaining your relevance. Engaging in regular professional development programmes ensures you are equipped to handle the latest office automation technologies and management methodologies.

Next Steps

Becoming an Administrative Services Manager is a rewarding journey that offers both financial stability and the opportunity to shape the operational heartbeat of a company. If you recognise yourself in the traits listed above and are excited by the prospect of leading office operations, it is time to take the next step. Test your readiness now by taking our comprehensive career assessment to see if you are truly prepared to lead in the South African market.

Skills

  • Active Listening

    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

  • Time Management

    Managing one's own time and the time of others.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.

  • Coordination

    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities

  • Oral Comprehension

    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression

    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Written Comprehension

    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Written Expression

    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Deductive Reasoning

    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

  • High school diploma or equivalent
    34 %

    or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

  • Bachelor's degree
    24 %
  • Post-secondary certificate
    13 %

    Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

Work Activities

  • Getting Information

    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

    Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems

    Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

  • Scheduling Work and Activities

    Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Prepare operational budgets.
  • Hire personnel.
  • Direct administrative or support services.
  • Develop organizational goals or objectives.
  • Prepare operational progress or status reports.

Work Interests

  • Enterprising

    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

  • Conventional

    Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

  • Social

    Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

This page incorporates data from O_NET OnLine, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), under the CC BY 4.0 license. O_NET is a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Assessify has adapted and modified the original content. Please note that USDOL/ETA has neither reviewed nor endorsed these changes.