Office manager

Job description

The role and duties of an office manager vary according to the size of the employing organisation. Duties involve administrative tasks, health and safety checks, staff management, arranging meetings; anything which is a feature of the office culture and routine.

Work activities

• Organising and attending meetings.
• Using a variety of software packages such as online filing systems.
• Booking transport and accommodation and arranging appointments for staff members.
• Dealing with correspondence, complaints and queries.
• Preparing letters, presentations and reports.
• Supervising and monitoring the work of secretarial, clerical and administrative staff.
• Managing office budgets.
• Liaising with staff, suppliers and clients.
• Implementing and maintaining procedures/office administrative systems.
• Delegating tasks to junior employees.
• Organising induction programmes for new employees.
• Ensuring the office environment and procedures meet health and safety regulation standards.
• Handling staff recruitment and appraisals.
• Keeping personnel records.

Work conditions

Travel: travel is not usually involved as most work is office-based.
Working hours: generally standard office hours.
Location: with organisations throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Entry requirements

A degree can be beneficial, particularly for higher level positions. Most employers require prior office-based clerical, secretarial or commercial experience. Relevant experience can be gained via temporary agency work (temping). Organisations such as the Irish Management Institute and the Institute of Public Administration offer programmes aimed at developing management skills.