How to Become a Technical Coordinator: Career Path Guide
If you want to become a technical coordinator, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for you. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for a career as a technical coordinator:
• Do you know your way around equipment and computer configuration and troubleshooting?
• Can you remain patient in the face of technical difficulties and frustrated people?
• Are you able to direct the work of others?
• Do you enjoy working with people and technology in equal measure?
Becoming a technical coordinator is a great career choice for individuals that like to build relationships with suppliers, and have a broad knowledge of how technical equipment, computers and computer systems function. It is an excellent career choice for those who want a career that allows them to leverage their people, technical and problem solving skills to provide people and businesses with effective solutions for their technological needs.
Becoming a technical coordinator is not a great career choice for individuals who require their workdays to be built on a solid foundation of routine and predictability.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a technical coordinator. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Technical Coordinator
The educational requirements of becoming a technical coordinator vary from employer to employer. However, many employers prefer candidates for Technical Coordinator jobs to have a diploma or a degree in a field relevant to the industry in which they operate, combined with work experience in a similar role.
For example, employers such as engineering firms or engineering consulting firms may prefer to hire Technical Coordinators that have a degree in engineering or a closely related field, such as physics or applied science, combined with work experience in a position such as Technology Assistant for a different engineering or engineering consulting firm.
Technical Coordinator Job Description
Technical coordinators, also known as technology coordinators, are responsible for overseeing the activities of a technical company, or the technology department of a larger organization. They must supervise the repair and troubleshooting activities for their company or department’s technologically sophisticated equipment, which may include machinery, production systems and processing systems.
A technical coordinator has a broad range of responsibilities, not all of which are necessarily technical in nature. For example, they must liaise with senior management, such as the Director of Technology, to determine the overall technology plan of the organization. Other examples of non-technical responsibilities for technical coordinators include coordinating times for the systems administrator to set up staff computers with passwords, and coordinating travel to a technology meeting, conference or event.
Technical Coordinator Job Duties
The main functions of a technical coordinator usually include product and vendor research, event and conference coordination, correspondence with colleagues, clients and suppliers, as well as the assessment of new technologies. Below is a list of specific duties a technical coordinator may be responsible for:
• Work with executive management, vendors and IT staff to determine the organization’s technology plan
• Generate internal budgetary quotations, detailing workshop, sub-contract and procurement costs
• Assess the cost and benefits of the product or service and takes the recommendations to the Director of Technology
• Generate and maintain service order task lists for active service order within the assigned project cell
• Maintain and develop good working relations with qualified 3rd party vendors and sub-contractors
• Release of purchase requisitions to the appropriate level to support purchasing as required
• Ensure that tasks performed by technical staff adhere to industry regulations
• Provide data to supervisors, co-workers and subordinates
• Oversee the inspection and troubleshooting of equipment, machinery, computers and software
Who Hires Technical Coordinators?
Technical coordinators are hired by small, medium and large organizations across a wide variety of industries, ranging from public education to underwater engineering firms.
Types of organizations that hire Technical Coordinators include:
• Technology firms
• Oil, gas and mining companies and service companies
• Construction companies and service companies
• Manufacturing companies and service companies
• Transportation companies and service companies
• Technology departments of large corporations
• Hospitals and healthcare organizations
• School boards
• Colleges and universities
• Municipal, provincial/state and federal government departments
Experience Needed to Become a Technical Coordinator
Employers usually prefer to hire candidates for Technical Coordinator positions that have previous work experience in a technical support role, or a technical coordinator role with another organization. They also prefer to hire candidates with experience in the industry in which the employer operates.
If you want to get a job as a technical coordinator, it is advised that you emphasize your experience in a directly related role, such as experience as a Technology Assistant for a different organization.
Skills and Traits Needed to Become a Technical Coordinator
In order to become effective in a career as a technical coordinator, you need to posses a certain set of skills and personality traits. These skills and traits will allow you to perform your job duties with competence, as well as help you navigate the challenges of this career.
Some technical coordinator jobs might not require candidates to have specific technological skills; they may prefer candidates to have broad knowledge of different technologies, as technical coordinators are not typically expected to have thorough knowledge of technological operations. Rather, they are expected to have broad technological knowledge mixed with operational savvy, such as the ability to build relationships with vendors and determine the cost benefits of choosing a certain product line.
Many companies will list many of the following skills and traits as required in Technical Coordinator job postings.
• Broad knowledge of how technical equipment and technical systems (including computers) function
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interpersonal relations skills, especially in being a good listener
• The ability to work alone and with others
• A professional and customer service oriented attitude towards work
• Overall intelligence and perseverance
• A strong work ethic
• High ethical standards and accountability
• Self-confidence
• Good time-management skills
• Able to handle work days with several surprises and issues
• Budgeting and other fiscal skills
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Salary of Technical Coordinators
The salary level of technical coordinators can vary, depending on their level of education, their level of experience, the size and type of their employer, the industry in which they operate, the specific responsibilities of the job, and many others.
There is no reliable salary data available specifically for Technical Coordinators. However, we can get a great idea of what they earn by looking at the salary level of careers with a similar scope of responsibility.
Technical Coordinator Salary Alberta: According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working in the Purchasing Agents and Officers occupational group earn an average of between $26.31 and $41.97 per hour. The Survey also states that the mean wage for Albertans in the occupational group Conference and Event Planners is $20.81 per hour.
Technical Coordinator Salary Canada: According to Service Canada, the mean salary level of Canadian workers in the Purchasing Agents and Officers occupational group is $48,351 per year. Service Canada also states that the mean salary level of Canadian workers in the Conference and Event Planners occupational group is $41,698 per year.
Technical Coordinator Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of American workers in the Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents occupational group is $60,550 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also notes that American workers in the Meeting, Convention and Event Planners occupational group earn a median salary of $45,810 per year.
Careers Similar to Technical Coordinator
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to Technical Coordinator, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
References: How to Become a Technical Coordinator
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a Technical Coordinator.
Blog: “Becoming A Technical Coordinator.” (n.d.) alltek website. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
Jobs: “Technical Coordinator.” (n.d.). Macdonlad and Company website. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
Please Note: Some of the information for this career guide was gathered from actual job postings, which due to the brief nature of their online presence, are not listed here as sources.
Scholarships for Becoming a Technical Coordinator
Scholarships listed for majors that apply to becoming a Technical Coordinator can be found on our Computer Science Scholarships and Computer Engineering Scholarships pages.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Becoming a Technical Coordinator: Applicable Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point to becoming a Technical Coordinator. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
