A senior coordinator is a business professional who works directly with owners, executives and other senior personnel within a company structure. In some cases, the role of the coordinator is to advise and inform the company leadership on matters regarding the function of the business, including day to day operational procedures, sales and marketing efficiency, or matters that impact demand for the goods and services offered by the business. At other times, the senior coordinator functions as an assistant to one or more members of the executive team, performing tasks assigned by those executives.
Depending on the culture within a given company, the work of a senior coordinator may be highly specialized or include a wide range of tasks. Coordinators may be responsible for managing a number of clerical tasks for a manager or executive, such as preparing the text of proposals, speeches, or reviewing contracts with vendors or customers. An events coordinator may be responsible for managing conferences and seminars conducted by the company, under the direction of an event manager. The coordinator may even function as an executive assistant, handling a wide range of tasks that managing an executive’s schedule, arranging transportation and hotel accommodations for trips, and screening inbound telephone and email communications.
As with most types of upper level positions, there are continuing education opportunities specifically for the senior coordinator. These are often structured as workshops, seminars, or even as classes offered at a college or university. Many coordinators take advantage of these opportunities, using the knowledge gained to improve their own efficiency and often translating what they learn into practical processes and procedures that can be used in various departments and divisions of the company where they are employed.
Since the scope of a senior coordinator position usually depends on the environment within a given company, it is important for coordinators to consider the nature of the position before attempting to secure the job. The idea is to match the needs of the company with the skill set of the coordinator, allowing both parties to gain mutual benefit and satisfaction from the business relationship. A coordinator that is trained to provide advice and educational opportunities to company owners and executives would probably not be the best fit for a coordinator position that focused more on executive assistant functions, or vice versa. For this reason, many professional coordinators will look beyond the position title and seek to learn specifics about the position responsibilities before pursuing the opportunity.