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What does an administrative assistant lead do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Lead administrative assistant job responsibilities include providing administrative support to ensure the organized operation of the office. They assist managers and employees through a range of tasks related to the organization, including ordering supplies, scheduling support meetings, filing confidential files, and booking travel arrangements. Typically, they also handle all incoming and outgoing communication through phones and support the preparation and distribution of memos, letters, and company-related forms. Moreover, they report to a direct manager or head of a unit/department.

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Administrative assistant lead responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real administrative assistant lead resumes:

  • Manage upper level calendar scheduling, arrange domestic and international travel, prepare PowerPoint presentations, correspondence and process expense reports.
  • Perform administrative duties of the store, including POS data, bookkeeping, and file management.
  • Maintain and process weekly payroll, daily monitoring of employee's attendance record using in- house payroll system.
  • Interview applicants, approve and process employee payroll and update department's employee handbook and equipment operation packet.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations/excel reports for partners and senior management.
  • Dispense and deliver patient medications to patients throughout the hospital.
  • Arrange medical appointments to update patients with immunization shots, tuberculosis testing, medical history and medications.
  • Assemble monthly talent recognition communications including soliciting contributions from field offices, editing content and publishing to SharePoint site.
  • Implement a solution for staffing restructure that reduce overall salary expense while maintaining productivity for a rehabilitation inpatient nursing unit.
  • Review process Medicaid applications and renewals by coordinating the start of service date with the Medicaid eligibility data.

Administrative assistant lead skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Administrative Assistant Leads are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Patient Care. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Administrative Assistant Leads that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 15%

    Back office functions include rooming patients, recording vital signs, and taking brief histories in preparation for the Orthopedic Surgeon.

  • Customer Service, 15%

    Provided customer service in the facility through face-to-face communication and answering phone calls to schedule activities to students and community members.

  • Patient Care, 13%

    Worked with Medical Director and handled work schedule and outlook schedule so patient care and Medical Director Meetings were not overlapping.

  • CPR, 8%

    Participate in code team activities if indicated, maintain current CPR card and Medical Assistant Certification.

  • Medical Assistants, 5%

    Worked as the active Medical Assistant Lead with a well-known breast cancer physician while leading six other medical assistants.

  • Vital Signs, 4%

    Take vital signs, blood withdraw, and administered injections.

"patients," "customer service," and "patient care" are among the most common skills that administrative assistant leads use at work. You can find even more administrative assistant lead responsibilities below, including:

Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an administrative assistant lead to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Administrative assistant leads often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "exhibited solid interpersonal relations skills toward courteously greeting patients and assisting them with completingpaperwork. "

Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform administrative assistant lead duties is organizational skills. Administrative assistant leads responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Administrative assistant leads also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "organized hr transactions, updated organizational charts, contact lists and group aliases. "

Writing skills. This is an important skill for administrative assistant leads to perform their duties. For an example of how administrative assistant lead responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an administrative assistant lead: "acted as a liaison between operations and underwriting to ensure quality customer service has been provided. ".

Most common administrative assistant lead skills

The three companies that hire the most administrative assistant leads are:

Compare different administrative assistant leads

Administrative assistant lead vs. Administrative support

Administrative support specialists provide different types of governmental assistance. They carry out varied clerical duties in almost all industries. Most of these duties revolve around supervising and distributing information within an organization. This typically includes taking memos, answering phone calls, and managing, storing, and organizing files. They are also responsible for receiving and sending correspondence and greeting customers and clients. Some administrative support may be required to have vast professional knowledge as their duties are more specialized than the others.

If we compare the average administrative assistant lead annual salary with that of an administrative support, we find that administrative supports typically earn a $2,172 lower salary than administrative assistant leads make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between administrative assistant leads and administrative supports are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, customer service, and payroll.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between administrative assistant leads and administrative support. For instance, administrative assistant lead responsibilities require skills such as "patient care," "cpr," "medical assistants," and "vital signs." Whereas a administrative support is skilled in "data entry," "phone calls," "excellent organizational," and "human resources." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Administrative supports really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $40,623. Comparatively, administrative assistant leads tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $36,387.On average, administrative supports reach similar levels of education than administrative assistant leads. Administrative supports are 0.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Administrative assistant lead vs. Clerk's assistant/administrative assistant

A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant is responsible for supporting the company's operations and customers' needs by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed. Clerk's assistants/administrative assistants respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, acknowledging and processing orders, and posting their payments. They also sort company documents, manage office supply inventory, submit business transaction reports, schedule appointments, and operate office equipment. A clerk's assistant/administrative assistant must be very organized. They must also have excellent time-management and multitasking skills to perform office duties with high accuracy and efficiency under minimal supervision.

On average, clerks's assistant/administrative assistant earn a $6,313 lower salary than administrative assistant leads a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both administrative assistant leads and clerks's assistant/administrative assistant have skills such as "customer service," "scheduling appointments," and "powerpoint. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, administrative assistant lead responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "patient care," "cpr," and "medical assistants." Meanwhile, a clerk's assistant/administrative assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "data entry," "dmv," "computer system," and "clerical support." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, clerks's assistant/administrative assistant earn a lower salary than administrative assistant leads. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, clerks's assistant/administrative assistant earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $37,752. Whereas administrative assistant leads have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $36,387.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clerks's assistant/administrative assistant tend to reach similar levels of education than administrative assistant leads. In fact, they're 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Administrative assistant lead vs. Administrative staff

As the administrative staff, they primarily provide administrative and secretarial support for the department. Typically, they do report-writing, filing and scheduling, and payroll. They plan department weekly meetings, schedule conference calls, and work on solving administrative related concerns and issues. They do a complex task that involves multi-tasking from the preparation of department reports, analyzing data, and finding solutions. It is a requirement to be an experienced, collaborator, and trained cross-functional communicator. Moreover, other duties will include scheduling company-initiated activities, meetings, and events.

On average, administrative staff earn higher salaries than administrative assistant leads, with a $37,237 difference per year.By looking over several administrative assistant leads and administrative staff resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "payroll," "scheduling appointments," and "powerpoint." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from administrative assistant lead resumes include skills like "patients," "customer service," "patient care," and "cpr," whereas an administrative staff is more likely to list skills in "personnel actions," "resource management," "hard copy," and "human resources. "

Administrative staff earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $73,642. Administrative assistant leads earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $36,387.When it comes to education, administrative staff tend to earn similar degree levels compared to administrative assistant leads. In fact, they're 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Administrative assistant lead vs. Administrative assistant/personal assistant

An Administrative Assistant/Personal Assistant performs daily and time management tasks, meeting schedules, note-taking, and correspondence. Administrative Assistants answer and direct phone calls to the appropriate staff. They are in charge of ordering and purchasing office supply stocks. Their duties and responsibilities depend on the company and the industry they are working for. They serve as the point of contact for external stakeholders and staff. They must develop professionalism, inventory control, and administrative writing skills.

Administrative assistants/personal assistants tend to earn a higher pay than administrative assistant leads by an average of $887 per year.According to resumes from administrative assistant leads and administrative assistants/personal assistants, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "payroll," "scheduling appointments," and "powerpoint. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between administrative assistant leads and administrative assistants/personal assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an administrative assistant lead might have more use for skills like "patients," "customer service," "patient care," and "cpr." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of administrative assistants/personal assistants require skills like "financial statements," "real estate," "event planning," and "clerical support. "

In general, administrative assistants/personal assistants hold similar degree levels compared to administrative assistant leads. Administrative assistants/personal assistants are 2.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of administrative assistant lead

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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