Yes, and specifically the kind of bureaucratic organization-man corporatized that the article discusses.
Tuition keeps skyrocketing at multiples of inflation, yet post docs and adjunct lecturers live in near-poverty. Where's the money go? "Administration".
A dean. Absolutely laughable if it wasn't so sad.
Mundane property issues are probably handled by the dean’s admin at some (most?) CCs, but property in general is often going to fall under a dean’s purview.
Also, note that a dean’s work at a CC is generally going to be fantastically boring administrative scut work.
The specific differences in your perception may revolve around whether the manager/dean has a trusted admin, and whether that admin is around.
Just a guess...
What do you think managers do?