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In Germany, higher education (HE) managers belong to a group of personnel that is still in a process of definition and growth. They can be found in positions located between those traditionally defined in administration and research. In his organisational-theoretical approach, Stratmann (2014) has highlighted that administrators, who were hitherto primarily responsible for the enforcement of rules, are now being transformed into strategic actors who can perform management tasks, prepare decisions and have room to manoeuvre. The newly-launched standardised online survey within the research project ‘KaWuM – Career paths and qualification requirements in HE management’, ask how far this apparent process of change has progressed: To what extent are higher education managers strategically active? What roles do they take on and how do they perceive themselves? Can this process be understood in terms of professionalisation? The survey data allow us to conclude that the newly created tasks in HE management do differ from the administrative tasks in a number of characteristics. The new group does perform different roles in the organisation and does have a greater scope of leeway than those who do not consider themselves as HE managers. The respondents themselves do confirm that they contribute to the strategic development of their organisation. Also, the formation and membership of professional networks point to a process of professionalisation of this group.