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Senior Administrative Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Columbia University

Sr Administrative Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$101K - $116K/yr

Position Summary Reporting to the Chief of Staff to the Founding Director, the Senior Administrative Manager will be responsible for providing high-level support to the Founding Director as well as ...

Opendoorhealth

Administrative Director

Crescent City, CA

$105K - $122K/yr

The Administrative Director (AD) is the senior operational leader for their assigned health center(s), accountable for safe, compliant, financially sustainable, and effective daily operations. The AD ...

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$169.5K

How much do senior administrative director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior administrative director in the United States is $103,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $129,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a senior administrative director typically collaborate with executive leadership and departmental teams?

A Senior Administrative Director acts as a key link between executive leadership and various departmental teams, ensuring that organizational strategies are effectively implemented at all levels. They frequently participate in leadership meetings, contribute to high-level decision-making, and translate executive vision into actionable plans for their teams. Collaboration often includes coordinating cross-functional projects, streamlining workflows, and facilitating communication to align departmental objectives with broader organizational goals. This role requires excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage competing priorities while fostering a cohesive, productive work environment.

What is a senior administrative director?

A Senior Administrative Director is a high-level executive responsible for overseeing the administrative functions of an organization or a large department within it. They develop and implement policies, manage budgets, supervise administrative staff, and ensure efficient operations. This role often involves strategic planning, process improvement, and acting as a liaison between departments and upper management. Senior Administrative Directors play a key role in ensuring that organizational objectives are met and that day-to-day administrative tasks run smoothly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior administrative director?

To thrive as a Senior Administrative Director, you need extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and a relevant degree, often supported by advanced business or management qualifications. Familiarity with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, project management tools, and data analysis software is commonly required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills set outstanding candidates apart. These abilities ensure effective oversight of complex administrative functions, drive organizational efficiency, and support successful achievement of business goals.

What is the difference between Senior Administrative Director vs Administrative Manager?

AspectSenior Administrative DirectorAdministrative Manager
CredentialsBachelor’s degree; often advanced degrees or certifications in administration or managementBachelor’s degree; relevant experience often valued
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level offices, overseeing multiple departments or divisionsDepartmental offices, managing daily administrative operations
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare, corporate, nonprofit sectorsSimilar sectors, often within the same organizations
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding senior administrative roles and responsibilitiesManaging administrative teams and processes

The Senior Administrative Director typically holds a higher-level, strategic role overseeing multiple departments, requiring advanced credentials and experience. In contrast, an Administrative Manager focuses on managing daily administrative functions within a specific department. Both roles are vital in organizational operations but differ in scope and seniority.

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Senior Administrative Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Administrative Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,000 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Administrative Director

The University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago

University Of Chicago rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

162nd of 618 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Department
PSD Enrico Fermi Institute: Staff Leadership
About the Department
The Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics (LITP) is a cross-disciplinary institute for theoretical physics. The Enrico Fermi Institute (EFI) is a multi-disciplinary institute at the University of Chicago that is engaged in research in particle physics, astrophysics, geophysics and accelerator physics. Both institutes are part of the Physical Sciences Division (PSD).
Job Summary
The Administrative Director will serve as the senior administrative leader of the LITP and EFI, reporting to the faculty directors and supervising administrative staff to advance the intellectual mission, strategic priorities, and effective operation of both Institutes. The Administrative Director will support the development and execution of research initiatives, scientific programs and events planning, funding opportunities, external partnerships, and donor-facing activities in coordination with faculty, and University development staff. The Administrative Director will also oversee core administrative functions including financial planning, academic and postdoctoral recruitment and appointment processes, events, reporting, communications, and administrative support for institute activities and faculty. The role supervises administrative staff supporting LITP and EFI and serves as a senior problem-solver and primary administrative point of contact for internal and external constituencies.
Responsibilities
  • Serves as the most senior staff leader for the LITP and the EFI, reporting to the institute Directors and working closely with each faculty Director to set administrative and operational goals for the institutes and implement strategic plans.
  • Oversees and manages the daily operations of each Institute.
  • Acts as primary department liaison with Division on matters of budget, space, facilities, human resources, and advancement.
  • Oversees each institute's internal and external communications, ensuring websites are maintained and communications are drafted when needed.
  • Supervises departmental staff who ensure that that department's HR needs are met including oversight of training, reviews, performance management, and termination of staff.
  • Ensures that purchasing, reimbursements, travel, and other administrative processes are efficiently executed by the institute staff.
  • Supervises and coordinates administrative staff supporting LITP and EFI, including workload planning, cross-training, and coverage.
  • Oversees and directs the appointment/reappointment, onboarding/offboarding, and visa-process support for LITP/EFI affiliated faculty, visitors, and postdoctoral fellows.
  • Directs the work of departmental staff to ensure that the appointment of postdocs and visiting scholars works smoothly and efficiently.
  • Works with the faculty to identify and prioritize opportunities to expand the intellectual impact and visibility of the LITP and EFI.
  • Collaborates with the faculty to develop and execute a strategic vision for the LITP and EFI.
  • Oversees LITP/EFI administration including scientific programs and events planning, academic appointments, funding opportunities, external partnerships, and donor-facing activities.
  • Develops standard operating procedures to streamline workflows and ensure the efficient operations of activities across both institutes including but not limited to comprehensive planning of events across the academic calendar, summer program planning and oversight, seminars, meetings, recruitment activities in collaboration with academic departments and other key initiatives.
  • Works to streamline and improve administrative processes through staff training and development, working collaboratively with Dean's office and university partners.
  • Collaborates with staff in the Division's Local Business Center to support research program development and grant stewardship.
  • Provides advanced administrative, operational, and strategic support to the LITP/EFI Faculty Directors.
  • Serves as the primary administrative representative of the Institutes to internal and external constituencies including the PSD Dean's office, Advancement team, and the Leinweber Foundation.
  • Serves as the primary contact/on-site manager for all LITP/EFI scientific meetings and special functions.Directs an LITP/EFI administrator in the practical execution of such meetings.
  • Ensures the LITP and EFI are compliant with all university policies and communicates information about new policies to relevant stakeholders.
  • Troubleshoots a range of complex problems for the department in collaboration with central offices.
  • Manages employees by establishing annual performance goals, allocating resources, assessing annual performance, and determining individual merit, incentive and/or promotional increases.
  • Manages program operations and administrative functions which may include planning and scheduling, program evaluation, policy implementation, personnel administration, budget, marketing, fundraising and proposal development.
  • Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
---
Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
  • Familiarity with university research environments, either through a background in academic research or related work experience.
  • Supervisory experience.
  • Experience supporting research centers, institutes, academic departments, laboratories, or complex faculty-led programs.

Preferred Competencies
  • Ability to cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with academic researchers, funding agencies, and external partners, and donors.
  • Understanding of higher education and/or non-profit organizations and grant funding structures.
  • Effective project management skills, including managing complex workflows, successfully working across teams, budgeting, and attention to operational and research details.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects effectively with minimal oversight.
  • Expert problem solving and analytical skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Proficiency with standard office, financial, project-management, and communications tools, with ability to learn University-specific systems.
  • Willingness to learn new processes and procedures and explain them to other staff and faculty.
  • Ability to work with a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.

Working Conditions
  • Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends when needed to support institute events and activities.

Application Documents
  • Resume (required)
  • Cover Letter (required)
  • References (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Administration & Management
Role Impact
People Manager
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$110,000.00 - $130,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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