行政总监是主管一个企业日常运营并为其表现负全责的高管。设立在所有行业、非盈利组织和公共贸易部门中，这些管理专业人员是维持他们供职的企业诸项职能的专家。

行政总监(CAO)对私有，公共或政府组织的行政管理负责，对该组织的实际首长负责。

在市政机构中，行政总监这一头衔等同于城市经理(city manager), 县行政长官(county administrator),或县执行长官(county executive)。特别地，行政总监并不拥有诸如任免各部长的权力。

在英国, 上市公司的CAO必须是特许秘书(Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators)，律师， 认证/注册会计师或其他有同等阅历的人士。

Chief administrative officers are top-tier executives who supervise the daily operations of a business and are ultimately responsible for its performance. Found across all industries and in both the non-profit and publicly traded sectors, these management professionals are experts at maintaining numerous functions of the businesses they serve.