What is a Field Coordinator?

Field coordinators have varying responsibilities, and work in a number of different disciplines. The most important duty of a field coordinator is to ensure that programs and events run smoothly and efficiently. Field coordinators can be found working in the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors.

Responsibilities of a field coordinator can vary greatly within the non-profit sector, where duties depend upon the focus of the organization. Often times field coordinators work to place people with appropriate services. In such cases they might need to be multi-lingual, have an understanding of certain social or cultural issues, and have previous experience with the organization or a similar non-profit. Other duties include acting as a liaison for volunteer or non-profit networks, organizing events and grassroots actions, and organizing meetings or conferences for networks.

Field coordinators are often found working in the business and marketing industry. Once again there is a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities that the coordinators are responsible for, and these are dependent upon the needs of a company. The typical field coordinator is given the task of communicating with other employees, members of the community, and other businesses.

The field coordinator in the business sector should be proficient using software programs and communication tools. Traveling is often a requirement, and coordinators are often aware of their schedules well in advance, as well as what percentage of time will be spent traveling. Since the role of a field coordinator is often split between working in an office, and working in the field — in other words traveling — the position can often be based out of a home office, though this is not the case in every situation, and every company has its own requirements and needs.

Educational backgrounds that can lead to a job as a field coordinator include a bachelor's degree in social work, education, political science, psychology, and business-related fields. A master's degree in the aforementioned skills, or other fields that are related to the job responsibilities of the coordinator are also helpful, and often required for the position. Though education in a certain discipline is usually required, it is not always necessary.

Experience can sometimes be substituted for educational degrees and certifications. For example, a person with a great deal of experience working with grassroots campaigns or in advocacy might be well prepared to work as a field coordinator for a political company or a volunteer organization. Writing and communication skills are also helpful, therefore the ability to demonstrate these skills could be sufficient for the job.

Though many field coordinators work full time, there are some positions that employ part-time as well as short-term coordinators. Part-time positions are sometimes found with non-profit organizations that might be operating on limited budgets. Short-term projects are sometimes contracted to fill the need of a project that is being started, or for an upcoming, one time event.