Director of Administration Job Description Templates
6 templates by sector: general, corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, and government, with the FLSA classification, reporting structure, and scope-by-sector guidance the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A director of administration leads an organization's administrative operations and support staff, owning budgets, facilities, records, procurement, and the systems that keep the organization running. It is a senior management role that sits below the executive C-suite and above office and operations managers, and it appears most often in larger and institutional employers: corporations, hospitals, universities, nonprofits, and government agencies.
These six templates cover the role across the sectors where it actually shows up: general, corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, and government. Each is ready to use, with the FLSA classification, reporting structure, and sector-specific scope the generic templates leave out. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
A director of administration leads an organization's administrative operations, budgets, facilities, and support staff. It is a senior, exempt, salaried role that sits below a CAO or COO and above office and operations managers, and it concentrates in larger and institutional employers. The closest federal occupation reports a median near $108,000 a year. Download six sector-specific templates as DOCX, with the classification and scope built in.
What a Director of Administration Does
A director of administration plans, directs, and coordinates an organization's administrative services: budgeting, facilities, records and information management, procurement, and office support. The role manages administrative managers and their teams, improves the systems that keep the organization running, and reports to executive leadership. It is a senior operational role rather than a strategy or single-office role.
The closest federal occupation is Administrative Services Managers (SOC 11-3012), which O*NET lists as including administrative director among its sample titles. The role's scope varies more by organization type than almost any other title, which is why the templates on this page are split by sector rather than offering one generic block.
Director of Administration Duties and Responsibilities
Director of administration duties cluster into four areas: budget and finance, facilities and services, operations and vendors, and leadership and compliance. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match your sector and organization, rather than listing every possible task.
Budget and finance
Own and control the administrative budget
Partner with finance on reporting
Manage grants or public funds where relevant
Facilities and services
Oversee facilities and space planning
Manage office services and workplace support
Lead moves, build-outs, and facility projects
Operations and vendors
Manage procurement and service contracts
Direct records and information management
Improve administrative processes and systems
Leadership and compliance
Manage and develop administrative managers
Ensure policy and regulatory compliance
Report on performance to executive leadership
The emphasis shifts sharply by sector: a corporate director leans on facilities and multi-site standardization, while a nonprofit director often spans HR and finance support too. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Director vs Office Manager vs CAO
Several administrative titles get confused, and naming the right one is the first decision before posting, because each sits at a different scale and pay tier.
Role
Core focus
Tier
Office manager
Runs one office day to day
First admin hire, SMB-scale
Operations manager
Runs core processes as a company scales
Mid-tier, scaling SMB
Director of administration
Leads the admin function and teams
Senior, institutional, exempt
Chief administrative officer
Owns operational strategy
C-suite, reports to CEO
The office and operations managers are the small-business roles; the director leads multiple administrative teams in a larger organization; the CAO is the executive above the director. Matching the title to the real scope and the size of the team managed is what makes the posting land with the right candidates and sets pay expectations honestly.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by sector. The core structure is the same across all six, but each one emphasizes the scope, compliance, and pay that fit a specific kind of organization, which matters more for this role than most. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
General
Any organization
The flexible baseline: lead administrative operations, manage support staff and budgets, and oversee facilities, records, and procurement. Adapt to your setting.
Corporate
Multi-site company HQ
For a corporate setting: office services, facilities, procurement, and multi-location process standardization, at the higher end of the pay range.
Healthcare
Hospital, health system
For a healthcare service line or facility: administrative operations within HIPAA and regulatory frameworks, partnering with clinical leadership. Highest-paid setting.
Higher Education
College, university unit
For an academic unit: budgets and grants, facilities, faculty and academic support, and institutional compliance. A large employer of the role.
Nonprofit
Mission-driven org
The broadest version: budgets, grants administration, HR, and operations in one role supporting the executive director. Lower pay, wider scope.
Government
Public sector agency
For a public agency: public procurement, records retention, and budgets under civil-service rules and a defined pay grade. A top employer of the role.
Match the Template to the Sector
Multi-site company: Corporate. Hospital or health system: Healthcare. College or university unit: Higher Education. Mission-driven organization: Nonprofit (the broadest version). Public agency under civil service: Government. Not sure or a general setting: start with the General version and adapt. For a small business doing this work with one person, an office manager or operations manager is usually the better fit.
6 Director of Administration Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: organization and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, a classification and scope note, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, and government. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Director of Administration (General)
The flexible baseline: lead administrative operations, manage support staff and budgets, and oversee facilities, records, and procurement. Adapt it to your setting.
Director of Administration Job Description (General)
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL)
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: __ (COO / CAO / Executive Director / President)
Direct reports: (administrative managers, office, facilities, records staff)
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried)
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year + [bonus]
ABOUT [ORGANIZATION NAME]
[One or two sentences about your organization, its size, and the administrative
function this director will lead. Note the departments and teams in scope.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a Director of Administration to lead and coordinate
our administrative operations and support staff. You will oversee budgeting,
facilities, records and information management, procurement, and office services,
manage administrative managers and their teams, and improve the systems and
processes that keep the organization running. This is a senior management role
reporting to executive leadership.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead administrative operations across the organization
•Manage and develop administrative managers and support staff
•Own the administrative budget and control costs
•Oversee facilities, office services, and space planning
•Direct records and information management and retention
•Manage procurement, vendors, and service contracts
•Improve administrative processes, policies, and systems
•Report on administrative performance to leadership
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[7-10]+ years of administrative or operations management experience
•Track record leading multiple teams or departments
•Strong budgeting, vendor, and contract management skills
•Bachelor's degree in business, administration, or related field
•Excellent leadership, communication, and judgment
•Experience improving processes and systems at scale
CLASSIFICATION AND SCOPE (read before posting)
A director of administration is a senior, exempt, salaried role. It typically
qualifies under the executive or administrative exemption: the primary duty is
management, it directs two or more employees, and it exercises discretion on
matters of significance, well above the federal salary threshold. The title sits
below a chief administrative officer or COO and above office and operations
managers. Define the reporting line and the teams in scope clearly, since the
role's scope varies widely by organization. This is general information, not legal
advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year + [bonus]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Corporate Director of Administration
For a corporate setting: office services, facilities, procurement, and multi-location process standardization, at the higher end of the pay range.
Corporate Director of Administration Job Description
CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [COO / CFO / CAO]
Direct reports: administrative and office staff
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried)
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year + [bonus]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Director of Administration to lead administrative
operations across our corporate offices. You will manage office services,
facilities, procurement, and administrative staff, partner with finance on
budgets, and standardize processes across locations. This is a senior management
role for an experienced administrative leader in a multi-team corporate setting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead corporate administrative operations and office services
•Manage facilities, space planning, and workplace services
•Oversee procurement, vendor, and contract management
•Partner with finance on administrative budgets and reporting
•Standardize administrative processes across locations
•Manage and develop administrative managers and staff
•Lead office moves, build-outs, and facility projects
•Ensure compliance with corporate policies and procedures
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[8-12]+ years of corporate administrative or operations experience
•Experience managing multi-site or multi-team operations
•Strong budgeting, facilities, and vendor management skills
•Bachelor's degree; advanced degree a plus
•Proven leadership and cross-functional partnership
•Skilled at standardizing and scaling processes
CLASSIFICATION AND SCOPE
This is a senior, exempt, salaried role that typically meets the executive
exemption (primary duty is management, directs two or more staff, exercises
discretion on significant matters). It sits below the CAO or COO and above office
and facilities managers. Compensation in corporate settings runs at the higher
end of the range. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year + [bonus]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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For a healthcare service line or facility: administrative operations within HIPAA and regulatory frameworks, partnering with clinical leadership. The highest-paid setting.
Healthcare Administrative Director Job Description
HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION
The broadest version: budgets, grants administration, HR, and operations in one role supporting the executive director. Lower pay, wider scope.
Nonprofit Director of Administration Job Description
NONPROFIT DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION JOB DESCRIPTION
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Executive Director / COO]
Direct reports: administrative and operations staff
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried)
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a Director of Administration to lead the
administrative and operational backbone of our nonprofit. You will manage
budgets, grants administration, HR processes, facilities, and office operations,
support the executive director and board, and keep our operations efficient and
compliant so the team can focus on the mission. This is a broad, senior role
common in nonprofits.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead administrative and operational functions
•Manage budgets, grants administration, and reporting
•Oversee HR processes, payroll coordination, and benefits liaison
•Manage facilities, office operations, and vendors
•Support the executive director and board with operations
•Ensure compliance with grant and nonprofit requirements
•Improve administrative processes and systems
•Manage and develop administrative and operations staff
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[5-8]+ years of administration or operations, ideally in nonprofits
•Experience with grants administration and budgets
•Familiarity with HR and compliance processes
•Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, or related
•Strong organization, leadership, and communication skills
•Mission-driven and comfortable wearing multiple hats
CLASSIFICATION AND SCOPE
This is a senior, exempt, salaried role. Nonprofit administrative directors tend
to be paid below corporate and healthcare counterparts, and the role is usually
broader, often spanning HR, finance support, and operations in one position.
Define the breadth of the role and the reporting line to the executive director
clearly. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: Government / Public Sector Director of Administration
For a public agency: public procurement, records retention, and budgets under civil-service rules and a defined pay grade. A top employer of the role.
Government / Public Sector Director of Administration Job Description
GOVERNMENT / PUBLIC SECTOR DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION JOB DESCRIPTION
Agency: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [City Manager / Department Head / Commissioner]
Direct reports: administrative and support staff
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried)
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year (per pay grade)
JOB SUMMARY
[Agency Name] is hiring a Director of Administration to lead the administrative
operations of a [department / agency]. You will manage budgets, procurement,
records, facilities, and administrative staff, ensure compliance with public
procurement and records-retention rules, and support department leadership. This
is a senior public-sector management role, often tied to a civil-service pay
grade.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Lead administrative operations for the department or agency
•Manage the administrative budget and public funds
•Oversee public procurement and contract compliance
•Direct records management and public-records retention
•Manage facilities and administrative services
•Manage and develop administrative and support staff
•Ensure compliance with public-sector rules and policies
•Report to department leadership and support governance
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[7-10]+ years of administrative experience, ideally in public sector
•Knowledge of public procurement and records-retention rules
•Experience managing public budgets and staff
•Bachelor's degree; public administration degree often preferred
•Strong leadership, compliance, and communication skills
•Familiarity with civil-service and governance processes
CLASSIFICATION AND SCOPE
This is a senior, exempt, salaried public-sector role, often tied to a defined
pay grade and civil-service rules. Local and state government are among the
largest employers of this occupation. Public procurement and records-retention
compliance are central and do not appear in private-sector versions. This is
general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ to $_____ per year (per pay grade)
Benefits: __
To apply, follow the agency's official application process at _.
[Agency Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Classification, Level, and Scope
This is the part the generic templates skip, and the part that matters most for a director of administration hire: the exempt classification, the level that the reporting line signals, the dramatic variation in scope by sector, and the institutional pay profile. Get these right and your posting reads credibly to senior candidates and sets accurate expectations.
FLSA: a senior, exempt, salaried role
A director of administration is almost always exempt from overtime and paid a salary. The role qualifies under the executive or administrative exemption: its primary duty is management, it customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees, and it exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance, all well above the federal salary threshold of $684 per week. A real director job description from a major law firm explicitly lists the FLSA status as exempt, which is the norm for the role. That means the posting should state an exempt, salaried classification and an annual compensation range rather than an hourly wage. As always, the classification follows the actual duties and salary rather than the title alone. This is general information, not legal advice.
Where the role sits: below CAO and COO, above office and operations managers
The director of administration is a senior management role, but it is not consistently C-suite. It sits below a chief administrative officer or chief operating officer, who own broader strategy, and above office managers and operations managers, who run narrower day-to-day functions. Naming the reporting line in the posting is the clearest way to communicate the level of the job: a director reporting to a COO at a large company is a different role from a director reporting to an executive director at a small nonprofit. State who the role reports to and which teams it directs, since the scope of a director of administration varies more by organization than almost any other title. This is general information, not legal advice.
Scope varies dramatically by organization type and size
More than most roles, what a director of administration actually does depends on the organization. In a corporation it leans toward facilities, office services, and multi-site standardization. In healthcare it operates within HIPAA and clinical partnership. In higher education it involves academic budgets, grants, and faculty support. In a nonprofit it is often the broadest version of all, spanning HR, finance support, and operations in a single position. In government it centers on public procurement and records retention under civil-service rules. The same title can describe meaningfully different jobs, which is why a sector-matched template beats a generic one: it sets accurate expectations and draws candidates with the right background. This is general information, not legal advice.
Compensation is an institutional, above-mid-market profile
This is a well-paid role concentrated in larger and institutional employers. The closest federal occupation, administrative services managers, had a median annual wage of about $108,390 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent below $64,740 and the highest 10 percent above $200,010. Pay varies sharply by sector: healthcare and corporate settings sit at the higher end, government and higher education in the upper-middle, and nonprofits toward the lower end, often near or below the occupation's 25th percentile. Because director-titled roles carry more seniority than the broad occupation, market figures for the specific title commonly run above the occupational median. Benchmark to your sector, size, and region, and post a range where required. This is general information, not legal advice.
A Senior, Exempt, Salaried Role
A director of administration's primary duty, managing the administrative function with discretion and independent judgment, typically meets the executive exemption, directing two or more employees well above the $684 per week salary threshold. Real director job descriptions list the FLSA status as exempt. State an exempt, salaried classification and an annual range, not an hourly wage. Classify on the actual duties, not the title.
For the full classification picture, the exempt vs non-exempt guide covers the executive and administrative exemption duties tests that a director of administration clears.
Requirements and Skills to Include
Requirements for a director of administration center on senior administrative or operations experience, team leadership, and sector-specific knowledge. The lines that work are concrete and demonstrable, not generic.
Weak requirement
Strong requirement
Management experience
7+ years of administrative or operations management
Leadership skills
Track record leading multiple teams or departments
Budget knowledge
Owns and controls an administrative budget
Organized
Improves processes and systems across functions
Sector experience
HIPAA, grants, or public procurement, per sector
Keep every line job-related and neutral, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Director of Administration Salary
A director of administration is well paid, with compensation varying sharply by sector, size, and region. Anchor on the federal category, then price your sector and market.
Median About $108,000 a Year (BLS)
Administrative services managers (SOC 11-3012), which O*NET lists as including administrative director, had a median annual wage of $108,390 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent below $64,740 and the highest 10 percent above $200,010, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Director-titled roles carry more seniority, so title-specific market figures commonly run higher. Employment is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Pay is highest in healthcare and corporate settings, upper-middle in government and higher education, and lowest in nonprofits, where the role is often broader but less compensated. National compensation surveys focused on the specific title tend to center in the low-hundreds of thousands. This is an institutional, above-mid-market profile, not a small-business administrative wage. Benchmark to your sector, size, and local market, and post a range where required.
Is This the Right Role to Hire?
Because the director of administration title is widely misapplied, the most useful thing a job description can do is help you confirm it is the role you actually need before you post. The role exists to lead a multi-team administrative function, so it fits larger and institutional organizations more than small ones.
Director of administration vs office manager
These are different roles at different scales, and confusing them wastes a posting. An office manager runs the day-to-day administration of a single office: supplies, scheduling, vendors, and front-office coordination, typically the first dedicated administrative hire at a growing company. A director of administration leads the administrative function across an organization, managing administrative managers and their teams, owning budgets, and setting policy. The director requires an administrative team to direct, which is why the role appears in larger and institutional organizations rather than small ones. If the work is running one office, the right title is office manager; if it is leading multiple administrative teams and functions, it is a director. Post the title that matches the actual scope and the size of the team being managed.
Director of administration vs chief administrative officer and COO
The director of administration sits a tier below the executive C-suite. A chief administrative officer or chief operating officer owns the organization's broad operational strategy and typically reports directly to the CEO; a director of administration owns the administrative function specifically and usually reports to one of those executives or to an executive director. The director is hands-on with budgets, facilities, records, and procurement; the CAO and COO are more strategic and broader in mandate. In a smaller organization the lines blur and one person may carry both, but in the institutions where the director title is common, the distinction is real. Name the reporting line so candidates understand whether this is the top operational seat or a senior function leader reporting into it.
Director of administration vs director of operations
These overlap but point in different directions. A director of administration focuses on the internal support backbone: office services, facilities, records, procurement, and administrative staff. A director of operations focuses on the organization's core delivery: the processes that produce and deliver the product or service. The two intersect, and in some organizations one person covers both, but the center of gravity differs, administration is internal support, operations is core production. When the role is mostly about keeping the organization's internal machinery running, it is administration; when it is about running the work the organization exists to do, it is operations. Choose the title that matches where the real weight of the job sits.
If your organization does not yet have multiple administrative teams to direct, the right hire is usually an office manager for day-to-day administration, or an operations manager as you scale, rather than a director of administration. Match the title to the structure you actually have.
After You Hire: Onboarding a Director of Administration
Onboarding a director of administration is a senior salaried-hire start with an emphasis on handing over the administrative function: the teams, budgets, vendors, and systems the role will own. Because the role directs other staff, the org chart and reporting relationships matter from day one.
Send the offer
Confirm the title, salary, exempt classification, and reporting line in writing. An offer letter with e-signature sets the senior-hire terms clearly.
Map the function and teams
Walk the new director through the administrative teams, budgets, vendors, and systems they will own, with the org chart in hand.
Set the first priorities
Agree on what success looks like in the first 30, 60, and 90 days, whether that is a budget review, a process audit, or a facilities project.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, policies, and any compliance documents organized and accessible from day one.
Once the offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the hire with the salary and exempt classification stated, and the onboarding template gives a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, e-signature, document storage, org chart, and onboarding workflow in one place, so an organization can capture signed policies, map the administrative teams the director will lead, and run a consistent first few weeks. FirstHR is an HR and onboarding platform, not a facilities, procurement, or finance system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those tools. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A director of administration leads an organization's administrative operations, budgets, facilities, and support staff.
Use the template that matches the sector: general, corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, or government.
The role is senior, exempt, and salaried, typically meeting the executive or administrative exemption.
It sits below a CAO or COO and above office and operations managers; the reporting line signals the level.
The role concentrates in larger and institutional employers; a small business usually hires an office or operations manager instead.
Pay is an institutional profile near a $108,390 median (BLS, May 2024), highest in healthcare and corporate, lowest in nonprofits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a director of administration do?
A director of administration leads and coordinates an organization's administrative operations and support staff. Day to day, that means owning the administrative budget, overseeing facilities and office services, directing records and information management, managing procurement and vendor contracts, improving administrative processes and systems, and managing administrative managers and their teams. The role reports to executive leadership, often a chief operating officer, chief administrative officer, or executive director, and reports back on administrative performance. It is a senior management role that keeps the operational backbone of an organization running, distinct from the strategy focus of the C-suite above it and the single-office focus of the managers below it. The specific mix of responsibilities varies more by organization type than almost any other title, which is why corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, and government versions differ meaningfully. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a director of administration and an office manager?
They sit at very different scales. An office manager runs the day-to-day administration of a single office: supplies, scheduling, vendor coordination, and front-office support, and is typically the first dedicated administrative hire at a growing company. A director of administration leads the administrative function across an entire organization, managing administrative managers and their teams, owning budgets, and setting policy. The director requires an administrative team to direct, which is why the role appears in larger and institutional organizations rather than small businesses. A small business almost always hires an office manager or operations manager for administrative work, and only adopts the director title once it has grown large enough to have a multi-person administrative function. When deciding which to post, match the title to the scope: running one office is an office manager, leading multiple administrative teams is a director. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a director of administration exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
A director of administration is almost always exempt and paid a salary. The role qualifies under the executive or administrative exemption of the Fair Labor Standards Act: its primary duty is management, it customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more employees, and it exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance, all well above the federal salary threshold of $684 per week. Real director job descriptions, including one from a major law firm, explicitly list the FLSA status as exempt. That means the posting should state an exempt, salaried classification and an annual compensation range rather than an hourly wage and overtime. As with any exemption, the classification follows the employee's actual duties and salary rather than the job title alone, and some states apply stricter tests, so confirm the analysis for the specific role. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a director of administration and a chief administrative officer?
The chief administrative officer is a tier above the director of administration. A chief administrative officer, or CAO, is a C-suite executive who owns the organization's broad operational and administrative strategy and typically reports directly to the CEO. A director of administration owns the administrative function specifically, manages its teams and budgets hands-on, and usually reports to a CAO, a chief operating officer, or an executive director. In short, the CAO sets strategy across the organization while the director runs the administrative function within it. In smaller organizations the two roles can be combined into one position, but in the larger and institutional employers where the director title is common, the distinction is real and reflected in both scope and pay. When hiring, the reporting line in the posting is the clearest signal of which role you are filling. This is general information, not legal advice.
What qualifications does a director of administration need?
A director of administration typically needs several years of progressively senior administrative or operations management experience, usually in the range of seven to ten years or more, with a track record of leading multiple teams or departments. Core skills include budgeting and financial management, facilities and vendor or contract management, process improvement, and team leadership. A bachelor's degree in business, administration, or a related field is commonly required, and an advanced degree is often preferred, especially in higher education and larger institutions. Sector-specific knowledge matters: healthcare versions call for HIPAA and regulatory experience, higher education for academic budgets and grants, government for public procurement and records-retention rules, and nonprofits for grants administration. The right bar depends on the organization and sector, so list the experience level, education, and sector knowledge your specific role actually requires rather than a generic list. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a director of administration make?
A director of administration is well paid, with compensation that varies sharply by sector, organization size, and region. The closest federal occupation, administrative services managers (SOC 11-3012), which O*NET lists as including administrative director among its sample titles, had a median annual wage of about $108,390 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $64,740 and the highest 10 percent more than $200,010. Because director-titled roles carry more seniority than the broad occupation, market figures for the specific title commonly run higher, with national compensation surveys centering roughly in the low-hundreds of thousands. Pay is highest in healthcare and corporate settings, upper-middle in government and higher education, and lowest in nonprofits, where the role is often broader but less compensated. This is an institutional, above-mid-market compensation profile. Benchmark to your sector, size, and local market, and post a range where required. This is general information, not legal or compensation advice.
What size organization needs a director of administration?
The director of administration title generally appears in larger and institutional organizations rather than small businesses. The role exists to lead a multi-person administrative function, managing administrative managers and their teams, so it requires an organization big enough to have that structure, generally a hundred or more employees, and it concentrates in government, healthcare, higher education, nonprofits, professional-services firms, and corporate headquarters. Smaller organizations handle the same work differently: a growing company typically hires an office manager as its first dedicated administrative role, an operations manager as it scales, and a chief operating officer at the executive level, rather than a director of administration. A professional-services firm of forty or fifty people might occasionally use the title, but that is an edge case. If your organization does not yet have multiple administrative teams to direct, an office manager or operations manager is usually the more accurate hire. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a director of administration job description include?
A strong director of administration job description names the sector and organization type up front, since the role varies more by setting than almost any other title, whether corporate, healthcare, higher education, nonprofit, or government. It should include a brief about the organization and the administrative function in scope, a job summary that frames the senior management nature, the reporting line, the teams directed, and responsibilities grouped into budget and finance, facilities and services, operations and vendors, and leadership and compliance. The qualifications should state the experience level, education, and any sector-specific knowledge such as HIPAA, grants, or public procurement. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the practical specifics: the exempt salaried classification, the reporting structure that signals the role's level relative to a CAO or office manager, the sector-appropriate compliance, and a realistic salary range. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear application instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
