what is a coordinator?
As a coordinator, you put together various resources and elements to complete a project or plan an event. The projects or tasks you coordinate should appear in the job title. If you work in construction organising work schedules and teams, you are a project coordinator. The primary purpose of coordinating is to achieve specific objectives and ensure operations run smoothly. That means you have to 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 managers and other managers. You also communicate with external stakeholders to ensure the project standards meet expectations. If the project has a project manager, the coordinator handles the 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.
Would working as a coordinator suit your strategic planning and organisational skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a coordinator role.
average salary of a coordinator
According to ONS, the average salary of a coordinator in the UK is £24,000 annually. When starting your career, your earnings are about £20,001 per year. The base salary increases to £32,500 per year as you gain more experience and improve your skills. While a coordinator is an entry-level position, you will enjoy various benefits in your compensation package. Most companies provide medical insurance and various allowances to facilitate your job. Some employers also contribute to your pension scheme or provide paid vacation time. Bonuses and overtime pay are also common in the role.
how to increase your salary as a coordinator
You can increase your wages by improving your skills and qualifications since the pay structure often relies on educational qualifications and work experience. Some industries also pay coordinators more due to the complexity of the tasks. For instance, coordinators working in construction or manufacturing industries earn more than office coordinators. The company or project size may also influence the compensation package. When you work in a big company, you handle massive projects or plan large events, increasing your salary. Major companies have the resources to provide comprehensive compensation packages, unlike small companies with limited budgets. Working in urban locations also improves your salary prospects due to the high demand for coordinators.
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.
- 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.
- event coordinator: as an event coordinator, you make sure event plans work properly. You complete specific tasks to ensure a successful event, like meeting vendors and running errands for the event planning team.
working as a coordinator
If you like making detailed plans for events or projects, you will enjoy working as a coordinator. Let's check out your work schedule and daily tasks.
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coordinator job description
While the duties of a coordinator vary depending on the project or industry, some standard tasks include:
- creating and managing budgets: as a coordinator, you create budgets for projects, events or programmes. That means you need to plan the allocated funds to cover the required resources. During execution, you monitor resources and ensure the costs don't exceed the set budget.
- finding vendors and negotiating contracts: whether it is an event or a construction project, you need vendors to supply raw materials or offer services. Catering, entertainment and security vendors are essential for events, while suppliers are necessary for projects. After identifying vendors, you negotiate the contracts and ensure the quotations fall within the budget limits.
- preparing employees' schedules: as a coordinator, you schedule employees for proper workflow management. While the team leader or project manager is in charge of assigning tasks, you prepare the work schedules to ensure the project is completed within the timeline.
- promoting and marketing events or programmes: as a coordinator, you collaborate with the marketing team to create and implement promotional strategies. You are also responsible for improving the attendee experience. That means you need to be on-site to manage attendee concerns and deal with complaints.
- supervising execution and completion of projects: coordinators bring all resources together and monitor a project's execution to completion. Your job is to ensure the project is completed on time and meets the quality standard. You also keep track of the project by writing reports from the planning stage to execution.
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work environment
Your work environment as a coordinator ranges from convention centres and event venues to construction sites and offices, depending on your responsibilities. When you work in the office, you spend most of the day on your desk working on your computer or completing paperwork.
Sometimes, you meet clients at the office or off-site locations. As a coordinator in construction environments, you work on-site to manage the construction crew and perform other administrative tasks. Event coordinators spend long hours standing or walking around an event venue.
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who are your colleagues?
Your colleagues might include project managers, quantity surveyors, and event planners based on your employer and industry. You might also be working in close proximity to civil engineers and construction managers, and other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, accountants, team leaders, and contracts managers.
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work schedule
As a coordinator, you work over 40 hours a week on a full-time basis. Since you work alongside the project manager, your work schedule will match theirs. When the team is working overtime, you need to provide administrative support. You also work evenings and weekends to complete projects on time. Part-time opportunities are available for coordinators, or you can work on short-term contracts. Freelance opportunities are also available, especially in event planning and non-profit organisations. Being a coordinator involves travelling to meet with vendors and clients. You also need to visit event venues to ensure everything is in place.
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job outlook
Being a coordinator gives you exciting opportunities to advance your career and specialise in different fields. Your career progression as a coordinator depends on your interests. For instance, if you enjoy working on construction projects, you can become a project manager or construction manager. Alternatively, if you prefer working on events, build a career as an events planner. Some coordinators specialise in contracts and become contracts managers, while others move to marketing careers or cost analysis roles.
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advantages of finding a coordinator job through randstad
Finding your coordinator job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a coordinator is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Coordinator jobs require minimal educational qualifications, and you do not need a degree to start your career. A Higher National Diploma (HND) in a relevant subject will help you secure a job. You can study for a bachelor's degree in project management or a relevant field of study. Most universities require at least 1 or 2 A Levels to start a foundation or undergraduate degree. Aside from academic qualifications, you need work experience to gain skills in your role.
skills and competencies
Some of the skills and competencies that coordinators require include:
- communication: as a coordinator, you should have good communication skills for clear written and verbal interactions. Communication skills help you articulate plans, schedules, workflows and directions and provide clear instructions. It is crucial to communicate event plans and logistical requirements to other employees concisely to avoid problems during planning. You also regularly communicate with clients and vendors, and communication skills help you convey instructions and explain the project execution plan.
- leadership skills: while becoming a coordinator is not a managerial position, you are in charge of supervising other team members. Leadership skills will help you guide and motivate employees towards a goal and ensure events run according to plan.
- problem-solving skills: as a coordinator, you need to identify inefficient areas and resolve issues that arise during project 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 need to 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.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a coordinator
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what is the role of a coordinator?
A coordinator brings together the resources necessary for accomplishing a project. For instance, they can find suitable materials, suppliers and contractors for a construction project.
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what does coordinator mean in a job title?
Coordinator is a general job title for someone who assists in combining various elements to complete a project. A coordinator can work on events, programmes or projects.
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is a coordinator the same as a manager?
A manager oversees the overall process, from planning to execution, and manages significant roles, including hiring and determining the budget. A coordinator focuses on specific aspects of the project.
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who is called the coordinator?
A coordinator is any person who plans and facilitates the execution of a project. They also plan events and find the resources for the event.
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how do I apply for a coordinator vacancy?
Applying for a coordinator job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
