Technical administrative assistants function like other office secretaries and are responsible for providing administrative support to an information technology (IT) organization. In certain cases, technical administrative assistants may report directly to an information technology executive, such as the chief information officer (CIO). They perform secretarial duties, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, screening and handling office communications, greeting and directing visitors and other administrative office procedures as appropriate.

Technology Enabled Work Environment

New and emerging technologies have evolved the role of the administrative assistant. To best support the administrative needs of the technology organization, technical administrative assistants are subject matter experts in using office productivity applications. They rely on automated, integrated computer solutions to manage and disseminate information, plan and schedule meetings and maintain administrative records. Technical secretaries may sometimes conduct research for IT projects and are adept at using technological means to complete these duties.

Administrative Competencies

Technical assistants possess excellent interpersonal skills. They are comfortable interacting across multiple levels of the organization and liaise with other departments, personnel and external business entities. IT assistants serve as the primary administrative point-of-contact and are able to convey complex information in tangible business terms.

Technical secretaries are well-organized and detail oriented; they leverage these skills to effectively manage their time, as well as the dynamic schedules of the IT managers they support. Technical secretaries demonstrate advanced proficiency in personal computer applications, which typically include Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and VISIO.

Duties & Responsibilities

The duties of technical administrative assistants comprise of providing administrative support to IT staff members, correspondence, coordinating schedules and travel arrangements and confirming appointments. At times, and under the direction of an IT professional, technical secretaries conduct technical research and analysis. They also collect, proofread, edit, format and distribute documentation needed by staff, such as technical user guides, policy information and other relevant data.

Skills & Experience

Employers generally require technical administrative assistants to have an associate's degree, in addition to one to three years of office administration work experience and one year of hands-on computer experience. Additional office administration experience is often acceptable in lieu of a formal degree.

Salary

The median expected salary for a technical administrative assistant in the United States is $35,733, as of 2010. According to Salary.com, factors such as employer size, industry, credentials and years of experience can dramatically affect the salary of a technical secretary. In general, the salary range for a typical administrative assistant in the United States is $31,539 to $40,275.