Occupational profile

Administrative Assistants are found in all sectors and industries and includes all sizes of organisations from small to large businesses. Assistant administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied across the public, private and third sector.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out routine administration tasks that support day to day operations. The work is conducted under supervision following set procedures for tasks. An assistant administrator is an integral part of the team and organisation responsible for supporting the efficient organisational functions and operations. The assistant administrator is responsible for assisting colleagues with routine duties. These can vary depending on the team structure and size of business. They use digital systems and tools to collate, extract, and enter data. An assistant administrator’s work can include tasks such as routine data entry and providing support to team members to help ensure that daily activities are carried out within agreed timescales and quality expectations. They may also work, under supervision, more widely in the organisation to meet organisational priorities. They may represent the organisation when dealing with internal and or external stakeholders.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues, supervisors, senior managers, clients, customers, contractors, suppliers, service users, and government agencies. Within their organisation they may be asked to work with or act as a point of contact for other departments and colleagues within the organisation such as IT departments, finance, and human resources. They must be able to take and respond to feedback from their supervisor in order to meet the needs of the organisation. Assistant administrators are flexible responding to organisational priorities and changing needs. They may have access to sensitive information respecting organisational and personal information.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for routine administration tasks directed by supervisors providing support to meet the needs of the organisation. Areas of work will be unique to each organisation and to the nature of the role.