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What Is a Support Coordinator?
A support coordinator is a professional who specializes in one of several areas within a business, and helps with the organizing, planning, and directing of activities within that area. He may work under a head coordinator or manager and act as a second-in-command for the direction of major projects. Other tasks may include directing others and planning company events.
One of the main jobs of the coordinator is that of manager or director. This person often works over several team members to guide them on what things need to be done and how they should be carried out. Nearly any department of a company could have a support coordinator, and in many large companies every department does have one.
Support coordinators also must work together with other department coordinators to discuss common company goals. For example, a new product launch may involve coordinators from the marketing, sales, design, and accounting departments. All of these people work together in order to make the product launch a success.
In some cases, the coordinator will help with the hiring of subcontractors for projects and events, as well as new employees, although this depends on the department he or she works in. An example of this would be a support coordinator working in the marketing department of a firm. He or she may help with the hiring of contractors who may provide graphic design, programming, or writing services to the company. He or she will also be partially responsible for overseeing the jobs these people do.
Sometimes, the support coordinator will help with the planning of a corporate event, such as a networking function. He or she may help find subcontractors to provide food, entertainment, and other additions. Other aspects such as planning a guest list may also be taken care of by the coordinator.
Most coordinators work under a general manager, supervisor, or head coordinator. They help to take some of the burden off of their superiors so that the company as a whole benefits. This requires a great amount of organization, team work, and drive to succeed.
To become a support coordinator, most people should receive a four-year college degree in business, marketing, accounting, or a related field. This is not the only way to land a job, but it is generally the fastest and most efficient way of doing so. Those who do not attend a four-year college may consider getting a lesser degree form a two-year school, or starting in a lower position and working up within the company.
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![Support coordinators must be able to work well with a team.]()
By: drubig-photoSupport coordinators must be able to work well with a team. -
![A support coordinator specializes in one of several areas within a business, and helps with the organizing, planning, and directing of activities within that area.]()
By: Minerva StudioA support coordinator specializes in one of several areas within a business, and helps with the organizing, planning, and directing of activities within that area. -
![Support coordinators are in charge of arranging catering services.]()
By: Aleksey KondratyukSupport coordinators are in charge of arranging catering services.
Discussion Comments
@Mor - Honestly, when you get into the depths of a company, they are all the same. They all have accountants and graphic designers and so forth. Whether they make paperclips or fireworks, I don't think it matters.
Operations support coordinators are often going to be dealing with the same kinds of people no matter what kind of company it is. I think, like any job, it can be boring sometimes and challenging at others.
@irontoenail - I think it depends on where you are doing the work. I don't mean to disparage anyone, but I would prefer to work in a company that arranges events, or makes computer games, or something exciting, rather than one that makes, say, office supplies. If that's all that they do, even if you are in charge of coordinating all the different areas in the company, it's still not going to be all that interesting.
The human element makes it more interesting of course, but that kind of depends on the company as well. Different kinds of companies will attract different kinds of people. I'd rather be working to support the administration of an interesting company, with interesting people.
This kind of work really appeals to me, because it would never be boring. Every day would have to be different, because you'd be coordinating such different areas and have to face different challenges all the time.
I guess the most important skill for this kind of coordinator job is to work well with people and be able to understand what they need. You might not know how to do all the different jobs yourself, but you know how to get people to do them well, and how to find people with the right combinations of skills to fit into the team.
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