Leadership role
Chief Administrative Officer
Directs an organization's administrative functions, such as office services, facilities and internal operations.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO or COO. Authority covers internal support functions across the organization, which may include HR, IT, facilities and legal administration depending on the design.
Core responsibilities
- Oversees support departments that serve program staff
- Manages facilities, office services, records and procurement
- Often supervises HR and IT leaders
- Develops administrative policies and board-approved procedures
- Coordinates risk management, insurance and business continuity
- Supports board and committee logistics in some organizations
How it differs
The COO usually runs programs and operations together; the Chief Administrative Officer covers only support services. The Chief of Staff coordinates the executive's agenda instead of managing departments.
By organization size
The title appears mainly in larger organizations, such as hospital systems, universities and big human service agencies. In smaller ones these duties sit with a Director of Operations or the finance lead.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Chief Administrative Officer; CAO; Chief Administrative Offic; Chief Admin Officer; Chief Administration Officer; Chief Admin