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What are the Different Types of Coordinator Jobs?

Carol Francois
Carol Francois

Coordinator jobs can be divided into four primary categories: information, people, equipment, and events. A coordinator is someone who is responsible for managing communication channels between multiple people or organizations. The role of coordinator is essential for a large number of different companies and industries. For example, a coordinator can be found in the post-secondary education sector as well as in media production.

There are no specific post-secondary training requirements to become a coordinator. Most people obtain this type of position after working in a related administrative assistant position, providing support to a project manager or event coordinator. The skills required for this positions include excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and listening.

Coordinators often manage communications between different departments or organizations.
Coordinators often manage communications between different departments or organizations.

The most important of all the different coordinator jobs is the ability to absorb a large amount of information and determine how it relates to the current business process. The coordinator must be able to decide who needs to be informed and when. The coordination of information exchanges is critical to the success of any endeavor, regardless of industry.

A site coordinator is responsible for hiring vendors or contractors.
A site coordinator is responsible for hiring vendors or contractors.

Working with people, who have different needs, priorities, and requirements, is another one of the different coordinator jobs that must be completed with skill. It is very easy to become frustrated with people who do not work with you, but against you. The ability to manage difficult people and situations is critical as a coordinator.

Many coordinator jobs involve the movement of equipment, supplies, furniture, and other large objects. Identifying suppliers, working as a team, and ensuring everyone is aware of the project is an important part of being a coordinator. The primary people a coordinator must work with on this type of job are the shipper or receiver, site manager, and equipment supplier.

A site coordinator who works with a school system may develop events in which parents, teachers, and students can get together and discuss issues.
A site coordinator who works with a school system may develop events in which parents, teachers, and students can get together and discuss issues.

Many people who work in the event industry take on coordinator jobs. In order to host an event, the coordinator needs to organize the physical materials, location, food, drinks, seats, entertainment, and people. In fact, the event coordinator often hires other coordinators to assist with the project. This may be necessary for large projects to ensure a smooth event.

Events coordinators may be responsible for securing parking for a particular event.
Events coordinators may be responsible for securing parking for a particular event.

The career advancement opportunities for a coordinator range from a project to department manager. Take the time to ensure your work is consistently high quality and talk with your supervisor about what is required to be considered for management positions. Although some employers may require more formal training, this is rarely necessary, as long as you have relevant experience.

Discussion Comments

pleonasm

I think this kind of job would be wonderful though, if you had the right skill set. You'd get to meet some really fantastic people, especially if you were coordinating events where people were giving talks or signing things or whatever.

My sister worked for a comic book convention every year with a kind of volunteer coordinator job and she loved it. She got to meet all kinds of celebrities, as well as talented artists and writers and so forth.

Plus she really enjoyed working with people who were passionate about something. I think that is probably the best part of any coordinator job description.

lluviaporos

I've got some friends who are coordinating an event at the moment and they can't believe how difficult it is. I guess we all thought they would just have to put in a couple of hours and that would be it, but there are so many details that have to be right.

They are flying in some speakers from another country as well as getting locals here, and they have to be met at the airport and put up in accommodation.

And the venue has to be ready, and the publicity has to be maintained. It's very time consuming, even when everything is going well.

And of course, nothing ever runs completely smoothly with an event coordinator job.

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    • Coordinators often manage communications between different departments or organizations.
      By: BlueSkyImages
      Coordinators often manage communications between different departments or organizations.
    • A site coordinator is responsible for hiring vendors or contractors.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      A site coordinator is responsible for hiring vendors or contractors.
    • A site coordinator who works with a school system may develop events in which parents, teachers, and students can get together and discuss issues.
      By: xiaofoto
      A site coordinator who works with a school system may develop events in which parents, teachers, and students can get together and discuss issues.
    • Events coordinators may be responsible for securing parking for a particular event.
      By: Marc Xavier
      Events coordinators may be responsible for securing parking for a particular event.
    • A design coordinator is responsible for preparing program documents and designs.
      By: corepics
      A design coordinator is responsible for preparing program documents and designs.
    • An administrative assistant might move into a coordinator position.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      An administrative assistant might move into a coordinator position.
    • Outdoor work sites often have project coordinators.
      By: michaeljung
      Outdoor work sites often have project coordinators.
    • Project coordinators can be found in the engineering, construction and information technology industries.
      By: mavil
      Project coordinators can be found in the engineering, construction and information technology industries.