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What is a director of support services and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A director of support services is a management individual who oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization's support services department. Support services include human resources, finance, IT, and administrative assistance.

A director of support services sets goals and guidelines for meeting organizational service needs establishes department budgets, and coordinates with upper management and other teams in how to best support their operations. These individuals also research and analyze support services practices, work with clients and customers, and interact with existing and potential business partners.

Most support services directors have a bachelor's degree in the area in which they work, such as finance, human resources, or IT, however, some employers may consider qualified individuals with comparable skills and experience. A support services director should possess strong leadership, communication, organizational and problem-solving skills, and be able to work with a variety of individuals and staff. Depending on the industry, a support services director can make up to $40,000 annually in the US, and the career field is expected to grow 13% by 2028.

ScoreDirector Of Support ServicesUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $57,657

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.7

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.88%

Asian 5.18%

Black or African American 11.43%

Hispanic or Latino 14.51%

Unknown 5.39%

White 62.61%

Gender

female 44.76%

male 55.24%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
9.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Director of support services career paths

Key steps to become a director of support services

  1. Explore director of support services education requirements

    Most common director of support services degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.2 %

    Master's

    20.1 %

    Associate

    12.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of support services skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Support Services14.51%
    Customer Service9.15%
    Patients7.12%
    Oversight4.65%
    Social Work4.47%
  3. Complete relevant director of support services training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of support services learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of support services based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of support services resumes.
  4. Research director of support services duties and responsibilities

    • Analyze numerous enhancement proposals to ensure ROI and service level goals are achieved.
    • Develop and manage a capital budget of $200K, an operational budget of $100K and 50 FTE's.
    • Lead RFP responses, providing both product design and cost models to address client needs.
    • Full clinical responsibilities as well as direct staff management, JCAHO certification with no deficiencies.
  5. Get director of support services experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of support services. The most common roles before becoming a director of support services include director, manager team lead and administrative assistant.
  6. Prepare your director of support services resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of support services resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of support services resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of support services resume templates

    Build a professional director of support services resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of support services resume.
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
    Director Of Support Services Resume
  7. Apply for director of support services jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of support services job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of support services job

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Average director of support services salary

The average director of support services salary in the United States is $57,657 per year or $28 per hour. Director of support services salaries range between $27,000 and $119,000 per year.

Average director of support services salary
$57,657 Yearly
$27.72 hourly

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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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