Program support specialists are individuals who help programs to run efficiently by performing a wide variety of administrative functions. These types of professionals participate in the development of long-term organizational plans and make sure that established objectives are reached. A person who is interested in becoming a program support specialist typically has to complete a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in business administration and be able to work well both independently and with others. The individual is responsible for overseeing program records and answering questions from the public in addition to generating correspondence and completing other office duties.
A major task of a program support specialist is to maintain records accurately. This type of individual has the responsibility of making sure that financial documents remain in a secure location and ensuring that a company’s spending is in line with allotted funds. He or she needs to be comfortable with using computer software database systems to monitor spending. In addition, the specialist must manage the placement of business correspondence and reports.
People in this career area also have to possess solid customer service and scheduling skills. A program support specialist fields telephone inquiries and transfers phone calls to other program staff members when necessary. He or she additionally must be able to manage a department calendar to make sure that other employees know when to attend various meetings. This type of professional prepares facilities for workshops and other events and handles travel arrangements as necessary.
The ability to produce professional-looking documents is another requirement of a job in this field. Individuals who support the success of programs have to be able to use word processing software to create memos, reports on various statistics, and even surveys for participants in their organizations’ initiatives. A program support specialist creates presentation slides and even designs brochures and other public relations materials to promote his or her company’s projects. For this reason, knowledge of computer design software products is critical.
Roles in this industry additionally demand that workers complete a myriad of other office-related tasks. For instance, a program support specialist has to manage his or her office’s inventory to make sure that all needed supplies are available. Monitoring employee time and arranging for equipment to be repaired also are crucial responsibilities of this type of professional. A specialist must distribute mail and perform data entry tasks for his or her program as well.
