How to become An Education Administrator

• School Superintendent
• Education Director
• Education Coordinator
• Education Site Manager
• Provost
• Dean
• Chief Academic Officer

What do Education Administrators do?

An Education Administrator would typically need to:

• Manage day-to-day activities at an educational institution; provide administrative support to a team of lecturers, tutors, or teachers
• Develop academic programs and work with academic boards, governing bodies, and task groups
• Manage the student lifecycle from registration/admission to graduation/leaving
• Contribute to policy and planning; draft and interpret regulations; deal with queries and complaints procedures
• Coordinate examination and assessment processes; maintain high levels of quality assurance, including course evaluation and course approval procedures
• Use information systems and prepare reports and statistics for both internal and external use; participate in the development of future information systems
• Purchase goods and equipment, and process invoices; manage budgets and ensure financial systems are followed
• Assist with recruitment, public or alumni relations, and marketing activities; supervise other administrative staff; organize and facilitate a variety of educational or social activities
• Communicate with partner institutions, other institutions, external agencies, government departments, and prospective students

Education Administrators divide their time between their office and the campus. If you take up a liaison role, you may need to travel locally and further afield. More generally, you may need to travel to national conferences and training events.

Overseas work or travel is uncommon unless your work involves liaison and collaboration with overseas partners, in which case you may need to visit partner institutions abroad. The dress code for Education Administrators would lean toward business formal or business casual unless otherwise specified.

Education Administrators generally work full time year-round, but some may be able to reduce their hours during the summer.

Working hours are generally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although some roles, particularly those that include regular interaction with students, can include weekend or evening work. You may have to work overtime at certain points in the year, such as during examinations and enrollment.

Part-time work and job shares are viable options. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Education Administrators can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Civic and commercial organizations may employ Education Administrators to direct their educational programs. There are occasional opportunities for very experienced administrators to work freelance in specialized areas such as quality assurance, project management, preparing funding bids, marketing, and public relations.

Education Administrators are generally employed by:

• Universities
• Higher Education & Further Education Institutes
• Private Colleges
• Technical Schools
• Community Colleges
• Primary & Secondary Schools
• Business Entities
• Museums
• Correctional Facilities
• Community Service Organizations

Professional associations and organizations like the Association for International Administrators are crucial for Education Administrators interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Challenging, particularly at critical points during the academic or school year
• The direct impact of any policy changes in the education sector
• Career progression dependent on funding and financial health of the institution, which is directly related to buoyant student numbers

Employers typically prefer candidates who have formal office experience in public sector administration or academic administration, in positions such as registrars and academic deans. Some universities run in-house graduate trainee schemes, which provide an experience of a range of departments and areas of university management.

Temporary work and work shadowing are excellent ways to develop your skills and experience. Many institutions offer casual employment opportunities at busy times of the year, which will also give you an insight into the daily activities of Education Administrators. You could also contact your old college or school to find out about possible opportunities.

It is important to show your interest in the education sector through, for example, involvement in committees and skills development schemes at the school or university level, work as a sabbatical officer, student recruitment activities, and mentoring. You can also complete a business apprenticeship before applying for entry-level roles.

Education Administrators typically need a master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in education, business studies, English, maths, statistics, information management, social work, accounting, or marketing may be sufficient for administrative roles at small colleges and universities.

Provosts and deans often must have a PhD. Some begin their careers as professors and later move into administration. They have a doctorate either in their field or higher education.

Certification demonstrates competence in a skill or set of skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization in educational finance & operations, educational leadership, and pupil transportation can help you gain professional credibility, increase your chances for advancement, and carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 percent. Employers prefer applicants who are familiar with the most current educational computer software and programs.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. The reassurance that members who practice outside the Code will be investigated and held accountable earns the community’s trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing an Education Administrator’s future.

Education Administrators need a license to be gainfully employed. Individual government entities conduct licensing. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfillment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship.

Career progression will depend on your performance, professional qualifications, and specialist expertise. Because of the range of jobs within education administration, promotion and career development are rarely linear.

There are various opportunities to move into other related roles or to gain promotion to more senior levels. Education Administrators may occasionally apply for internal vacancies or move to a different department on secondment.

As you gain experience, you are likely to develop your interests and look for opportunities in that area. Doing this could lead you into specialist areas such as human resources or finance, wherein you might need additional qualifications.

You may need to change institutions or relocate to progress, especially if you are interested in reaching the most senior positions in a supervisory, managerial, or strategic planning role. Competition for jobs can be fierce. Education Administrators with advanced degrees may be promoted to higher-level positions within their department or the college. Some become College Presidents.

Job prospects will be better for candidates who have experience working in higher education.

On starting your job, you will usually get an induction to the institution and training in the specific systems they use, such as student records and finance software packages. If you work in a specialist area, such as finance, marketing, or IT, you may receive additional training. You are encouraged to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) through in-house, regional and national courses and conferences. Many education institutions have a performance and development review system that you can use to identify your training needs.

Some professional organizations and universities offer a range of seminars, conferences, lectures and workshops, certificates, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s programs in higher education administration, management, and leadership. There is also a range of school business management qualifications aimed at Education Administrators working in schools and desirous of leadership roles.

Professional qualifications can be useful for gaining promotion, and you may be able to negotiate time off to study, especially if you can complete the qualification at your institution. If you are on a university graduate trainee scheme, you will usually work across many departments on a range of challenging and strategic projects.

Room for Customization

Education Administrators manage the administration, support systems, and activities that keep an educational institution running smoothly. Job titles vary widely, and not all will have 'education' or 'administrator' in the title. As there is no formal post-entry qualification or promotion structure in the educational sectors, job descriptions, grades, and salaries may vary across institutions.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The duties of Education Administrators depend on the size of their college or university. Small schools often have small administrative teams that take on many different responsibilities, but larger schools may have distinct offices for each of these functions. For example, at a small college, the Office of Student Life may oversee student athletics and other activities, whereas a large university may have an Athletics Department.

Student Admissions - What do They Entail?

Education Administrators who work in admissions typically determine how many students to admit to the school, meet with prospective students and encourage them to apply; they review applications, analyze the data on applicants and admitted students, and prepare promotional materials about the school. They are often assigned a region of the country to which they travel and speak to high school counselors and students. Education Administrators who work with the financial aid department offer federal and institutional financial aid packages to prospective students.

In a College or University

Education Administrators may be provosts or academic deans. Provosts help college presidents develop educational policies, participate in making faculty appointments and tenure decisions, manage budgets, oversee faculty research at colleges and universities. Academic deans coordinate the activities of the individual colleges or schools. For example, a large university may have a separate dean for business, law, and medical schools. Education Administrators who work in the registrar’s office maintain student and course records. They typically schedule course offerings, including space and times for classes, oversee student registration for classes, and ensure that students meet graduation requirements. Their duties vary throughout the school year. They also plan commencement ceremonies, prepare transcripts and diplomas for students, produce data about students and classes, and maintain academic records.

Education Administrators who work in student affairs are responsible for a variety of co-curricular school functions. They typically advise students on housing, personal problems, or academics and communicate with parents or guardians. They also create, support, and assess nonacademic programs, athletic events, or recreational activities.

Education Administrators in student affairs may further specialize in student activities, housing, residential life, or multicultural affairs. In student activities, they plan events and advise student clubs and organizations. In housing and residential life, they assign students to rooms, match them with roommates, ensure that residential facilities are well maintained, and train residential advisers. In multicultural affairs, they plan events to celebrate different cultures and diverse backgrounds. Sometimes, they manage multicultural centers on campus.

In Brazil, school starts at 7 a.m. and is over by noon so children can go home and have lunch with their parents. Having meals together as a family is an integral part of Brazilian culture.

People are not born leaders. They mold themselves into leaders through sheer effort and determination, which is the price we must all pay to achieve any worthwhile goal.

Delegate and empower the people around you – there is no better way to get things running smoothly.