Administrative and Executive Assistants

Senior-level office administration roles

Administrative Assistants and Executive Assistants provide invaluable support to a school district’s senior management team. They take on critical administrative responsibilities to support the Offices of the Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer, Board of Education, and various departments in Human Resources, Facilities and Transportation Services, Student Services and so forth.

Under the supervision and direction of Superintendents and Secretary-Treasurers, Executive Assistants assist with a district’s business operations, support corporate boards, and participate in board meetings.

Duties may include:

  • assisting with preparing presentation material,
  • composing reports and correspondence,
  • records management,
  • interfacing with the public and so forth.

An assistant’s work requires accuracy, organizational ability and self-direction to complete work in a timely manner while adhering to a district’s policies, administrative procedures and standards, collective agreement, and provincial legislation and regulations. Since assistants access classified information and work with sensitive files, this role requires one to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Even more, this role requires tact, independent judgment and sound action, especially when interfacing with district and Ministry staff, Trustees, and members of other organizations and the public on various matters.

Administrative and Executive Assistant roles are classified as non-unionized exempt staff. Related job titles include:

  • Human Resources Administrative Assistant,
  • Human Resources Executive Assistant,
  • Executive Assistant to the Superintendent,
  • Confidential Secretary to the Superintendent,
  • and Executive Assistant to the Superintendent.

Qualifications and Certification Details

Administrative Assistants and Executive Assistants typically possess post-secondary credentials or training in office administration or a related field. Relevant experience within the public sector or a unionized environment is considered an asset.

Related skills and the ability to operate office equipment, computers and word processing software are also required in these roles. Since the needs of districts vary, please refer to individual job postings for specific qualifications for this role.

Salary

The salary and benefits vary depending on the position’s responsibilities and terms of employment. As public education sector employees, assistants receive comprehensive extended health benefits, professional development allowances and a pension plan.

The following are salary estimates based on data from July 1, 2018. Salaries and hourly rates vary from district to district.

POSITION TITLEAVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Administrative Assistant$45,344
Executive Assistant$61,848

Training and Educational Programs