what is a coordinator?

As a coordinator, you combine various resources and elements to complete a project or plan an event. The projects or tasks you coordinate should appear in the job title. For instance, if you work in construction organising work schedules and teams, you are a project coordinator. In the mining industry, you plan mining processes and workflows. Coordinating aims primarily to achieve specific objectives and ensure operations run smoothly. That means you create a detailed plan for executing a project and write a report detailing the successes and failures.

what does a coordinator do?

As a coordinator, you organise teams and work closely with project team members, managers and leads to help deliver major organisational tasks efficiently. You also communicate with external stakeholders to ensure the project standards meet expectations. If there is a project manager, the coordinator handles administrative tasks like answering phone calls, taking notes in meetings and providing customer service. You also oversee budgeting and supervise vendors of a project.

Since coordinators work in various industries, their skillsets are diverse. However, successful coordinators are efficient, organised and have good interpersonal skills. It is crucial to be an excellent planner to synchronise and execute complex tasks with different groups.

coordinator jobs
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average salary of a coordinator

The median salary of a coordinator in Australia is $85,000 per year. When you are new in the role, your earnings start from $70,000 annually and increase gradually to $100,000 per year with experience. The remuneration package usually depends on your specialism. For instance, a support coordinator earns a lower average salary of $73,000 per year, while an office coordinator receives a slightly lower salary of $ 65,000 per year. Apart from the remuneration package, some employers also provide allowances and non-monetary benefits to employees.

what factors affect the salary of a coordinator?

A coordinator's remuneration package depends on their specialism and credentials. If you are a programme or project coordinator, your responsibilities can be complex and attract a remunerative salary compared to other specialisms. Your credentials determine your remuneration since they showcase your transferable skills.

Your location also affects your earnings since metro areas and large cities have a high demand for coordinators. The remuneration package in metro areas should also reflect the high cost of living, which raises your salary.

Want to know what you will earn as a coordinator? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

coordinator salary
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types of coordinators

Some of the coordinator jobs you can pursue include:

  • programme coordinator: as a programme coordinator, you work for non-profit organisations, educational institutions or community outreach organisations. Your job is to plan and implement various programmes that benefit the target group. You will be in charge of administrative duties like preparing reports, managing support staff, scheduling events and managing budgets for the programme.
  • educational coordinator: an educational coordinator helps to develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs. You may work in a variety of settings, such as schools, museums, and community organizations.
  • human resources coordinator: an hr coordinator helps to manage the day-to-day operations of a company's human resources department. As a human resources coordinator you are responsible for a variety of tasks, such as maintaining employee records, coordinating employee training, and handling employee benefits.
  • administrative coordinator: an administrative coordinator provides support to an organization or individual by performing administrative tasks. Common duties of an administrative coordinator include scheduling appointments, managing correspondence, handling customer inquiries, and preparing reports.
  • recruiting coordinator: a recruiting coordinator helps to identify, screen, and hire qualified candidates for open positions within an organization. As a recruiting coordinator you may also be responsible for conducting initial interviews, scheduling follow-up interviews, and extending job offers to successful candidates.
  • NDIS support coordinator: as an NDIS support coordinator you help people with disabilities to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). You also provide support and advice to families and carers.
  • project coordinator: as a project coordinator, you handle administrative tasks for the project manager and team members. You ensure the project runs smoothly by ordering equipment or supplies and managing workflows and deadlines. You also keep track of the budget and schedule meetings for project managers.
  • mining coordinator: as a mining coordinator, you plan and organise the work activities of a mine. You supervise workers by overseeing the development and tunnelling of mines. The role involves checking the quality of rocks, minerals and stones or inspecting mines for danger.
  • event coordinator: as an event coordinator, you ensure event plans work properly. You complete specific tasks to ensure a successful event, like meeting vendors and running errands for the event planning team.
bird view of people having a meeting
bird view of people having a meeting
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working as a coordinator

A coordinator oversees projects to complete and perform other specialised tasks successfully. Here are the specific responsibilities and work schedules of coordinators:

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coordinator education and skills

A bachelor's degree and vocational qualifications are important if you want to become a coordinator. Some of the academic credentials to consider include:

  • bachelor's degree: when looking for qualifications as a coordinator, consider the specialism you want to work on and find a relevant course. You may want to consider a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science or a bachelor of education. For instance, project coordinators can study a bachelor's degree in project management, while office coordinators require a degree in business administration. To become a coordinator, you can also study Certificate III at TAFE after finishing Year 10 to get a vocational diploma. Some common courses for coordinators include the diploma of project management or Certificate IV in project management practice.
  • work experience: some employers prefer candidates with a few years of experience. A coordinator can gain work experience through internships and graduate programmes to develop managerial skills.

skills and competencies

Some of the skills of a coordinator include:

  • communication: as a coordinator, you should have good communication skills to ensure clear written and verbal interactions. Communication skills help you articulate plans, schedules, workflows and directions and provide clear instructions. It is crucial to concisely communicate event plans and logistical requirements to other employees to avoid problems during planning. You also regularly communicate with clients and vendors, and your communication skills help you convey instructions and explain the project execution plan.
  • leadership skills: becoming a coordinator is often a managerial position in which you supervise other team members. Leadership skills help you guide and motivate employees towards a goal and ensure events run according to plan.
  • problem-solving skills: as a coordinator, you identify deficiencies and resolve issues during a project's execution. With problem-solving skills, you can think on your feet and provide remedies to problems and project delays.
  • time management skills: as a coordinator, you ensure projects are completed within the stipulated timelines. That means you manage time effectively and ensure the work schedules are adhered to by team members. Time management skills also help you juggle multiple tasks at the same time.
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FAQs about working as a coordinator

Here are the most asked questions about working as a coordinator:

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