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Job Opportunities For Public Administration Graduates
Job Opportunities For Public Administration Graduates
With a degree in public administration and social policy you can end up influencing
the major decisions that affect society. Public administration students learn how to
set public policy, communicate effectively, create budgets and understand financial
reports. Organizing people and assets, mediating conflicts and designing programs
are also covered in bachelor's and master's degree programs. Health care
administrators, urban planners and city managers are all examples of public
administration positions. Other possible careers include non-profit management,
court administration and community organization.
Careers in public administration are varied and demand a wide set of skills. Because
of the importance of these jobs in the public sphere, postsecondary degrees and
related experience are greatly valued by employers.
1. Civil Service
The role of Civil Service administrator is quite broad and can cover a range of
tasks and responsibilities.
2. Charity Officer
A charity officer works for, or is a trustee of, a charitable organization. The job
title can refer to personnel in several roles within a charity. Roles vary
considerably depending on the size, aim and type of organization.
Charity officers may also be called charity administrators, community liaison
officers or project development officers.
Types of charity officer
In larger organizations, charity officers may focus on a specific area, such as:
project management;
business development;
finance;
marketing;
public relations;
fundraising;
volunteer management.
In smaller charities, the charity officer may undertake multiple tasks. Common
activities range from applying for grants or managing volunteers to providing
advice and information.
Government social research officers provide research input for the analysis
required to develop, implement, review and evaluate new and existing
government policies. This research evidence helps inform the policy decisions
of ministers.
The role involves responsibility for the research and analysis of policy, as well
as commissioning and managing research. It is a challenging, fast-moving and
diverse role that has a direct impact on many government activities, often at
a high-profile level.
Research officers are also employed in local government, working for local
authorities.
A health service manager is responsible for the strategic, financial and day-to-
day running of hospital, general practitioner (GP) or community health
services.
Managers liaise with clinical and non-clinical staff and other partner
organisations, while considering the demands of political policy and local
circumstances.
finance;
human resources (HR);
clinical management;
staff management;
project management and procurement;
information management;
facilities management;
operational management.
Most jobs are in National Health Service (NHS) settings, with opportunities also
increasing in the private healthcare sector.
5. Housing manager/officer
The manager role may involve line management responsibility for a team of
housing officers, rent arrears staff and tenancy support officers and
participation in more strategic projects.
Local government officers are responsible for the development and execution
of council policies and procedures, as well as ensuring that local services are
delivered effectively.
This work is likely to involve contact with members of the public, councillors,
administrators and specialists in other departments or other local councils or
authorities. Some posts, particularly more senior roles, also involve committee
work. Some less senior roles will work more exclusively within specific
departments, but can still be responsible for a variety of services.
7. Social researcher
You'll need to be curious about human behaviour, a logical thinker, and have
an awareness of research methods to get a job as a social researcher
Social researchers plan, design, conduct, manage and report on social research
projects. You will use a variety of methods to collect, analyse and organise
information and data, which you then present to others, either in a written
report or as an oral presentation.
Types of research
The research might centre on a range of topics, such as:
the benefits system;
crime;
education;
the environment
gender;
healthcare;
population structure and migration;
poverty;
social services;
transport;
unemployment.
1. Education administrator
If you want to play a role in the smooth running of a university, college or
school, then a career in education administration may be for you
You will normally work in areas such as admissions, quality assurance, data
management and examinations or in a specialist department such as finance,
careers, marketing or human resources. All of these can be either centrally
based or within faculties, departments or other smaller units.
Job titles and job descriptions vary widely, and not all will have 'education' or
'administrator' in the title.
As a human resources (HR) officer you will develop, advise on and implement
policies relating to the effective use of staff in an organisation.
In the role your aim is to ensure that the organisation that you work for
employs the right balance of staff in terms of skill and experience, and that
training and development opportunities are available to colleagues to enhance
their performance and achieve the company's business aims.
conditions of employment;
equality and diversity;
negotiation with external work-related agencies;
pay;
recruitment;
working practices.
conflict;
disaster preparedness;
economics;
education;
environment;
forced migration;
gender equality;
governance;
healthcare;
human rights;
infrastructure;
livelihoods;
security.
Types of international aid/development worker
Career areas include:
administration;
research;
fundraising;
training;
consultancy;
advocacy;
relief work;
economist roles;
medicine;
engineering;
planning.
4. Public affairs consultant
Public affairs consultants are often referred to as lobbyists, but their work is
more wide-ranging. They use their understanding of the political system to
offer political and public policy advice to their clients. Clients may include
private sector companies, trade associations, charities, not-for-profit
organisations and overseas governments.
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree
subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. There could be more
job opportunities that are lurking, you just need to be wiser and be ready!