Administrative Officers play an important role in the government. They often have a wide range of responsibilities. They are primarily responsible for securing the needed organizational support - resources and services - to run and operate a department or agency. They have the administrative accountability and oversight for the programs and activities of the organization. They are also responsible for coordinating and implementing all the managerial activities across the organization. It is crucial for Administrative Officers to have a thorough knowledge of the organization, its vision and mission, and its overall operations.

Administrative Officers in the government often fall under one of two types. The first type functions as the head of a central administrative unit which provides support to other divisions or units. These units are headed by operating managers. The central administrative unit often has personnel specializing in areas such as budgeting, human resources, data management, etc. The Administrative Officer heading the central administrative unit usually has considerable authority to carry out his role.

The second type is the officer in charge of an operating division or unit of an organization which receives support from the organization’s servicing offices such as procurement, personnel, IT, finance and accounting. The operating unit usually has few or no personnel specialists. The Administrative Officer’s scope is relatively smaller for this type compared to the first one but they also exercise administrative authority over the unit under their responsibility.

Administrative Officers are problem solvers. They apply management principles, practices, methods and techniques in areas like people management, budgeting and funds management, activities scheduling and data management. They have a good understanding of the objectives of management and how the different roles in the organization function to meet these objectives. Administrative Officers pay attention to the tasks involved in a program and the positions needed to fulfill them. They make sure that employees have the necessary training and experience to enable them to carry out their duties. Administrative Officers are involved in addressing problems faced by employees and are concerned with the overall work environment.

Administrative Officers are also involved in policy-making and implementation. They develop new policies that will better the organization in fulfilling its objectives as well as interpret and implement existing ones. They assess programs and processes to identify areas for improvement. Administrative Officers are also involved in the formulation and implementation of budgets. They are responsible for monitoring the organization’s spending and its financial reporting. Their administrative tasks also deal with the management of the organization’s data, both in physical and digital forms.

This occupation falls under the Administrative and Management category but the title of Administrative Officer does not necessarily refer specifically to supervisors who directly manage organizations or teams. Rather, jobs in this category deal with managing systems or processes such as finances, security systems, training programs, or marketing.

Individuals in this occupation typically get promotions in 2 grade increments at a time until they reach GS-12. The average annual salary for Administrative Officers working in the Federal Government is $95,877.98 in 2020. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 9% growth in employment for jobs in this category. According to the BLS, the continuing focus on an organization’s environmental impact, energy efficiency and information governance will keep administrative and management services in demand.