Social and Community Service Managers

Career summary

Job titles for social and community service managers usually reflect an area of specialization.

Social and community service managers work in public and private agencies. These agencies provide services such as:

• Mental health counseling
• Job training
• Housing

Managers direct the operation of social service agencies. In many agencies, they also work directly with clients.

Social and community service managers create policies and define the scope of services offered. They gather information by researching community needs. They also consult with individuals and other agencies in the community.

Managers interview and hire new staff. They train staff in the skills needed to provide services. They also assign duties to and supervise staff. If the agency uses volunteers, managers may also recruit and train these workers. In order to ensure the quality of services and the best use of resources, managers evaluate all staff and volunteers on a regular basis.

In private agencies managers report to and consult with the board of directors. In large organizations that have more than one manager, they report to the agency director.

In addition, managers prepare records and reports. For example, they:

• Develop budgets
• Keep staff records
• Write training manuals

Many social and community service managers speak to community groups and explain the purpose of their agency and the services they offer. They may also plan and direct fundraising activities.

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Education Administrators
• Health Services Administrators
• Human Resources Managers
• Public Health Educators
• Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• School Counselors
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• Social Workers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to social and community service managers.

• Determine agency policies and define the scope of services.
• Consult with individuals and committees to determine needs. Plan and set up agency programs.
• Establish relationships with other community agencies to prevent duplicating services.
• Prepare and maintain records, reports, and budgets.
• Recruit, interview, and hire agency staff or volunteers. Assign duties to and supervise staff and volunteers.
• Observe workers to evaluate performance and ensure work meets standards.
• Report to and consult with the director or board of directors.
• Review regulations or rule changes. Determine how agency could be impacted by changes.
• Speak to community groups to explain agency purpose, programs, and policies.
• Represent organizations to the government and media.
• Plan and direct fundraising activities.
• Participate in program activities to serve agency clients.

Common work activities

Social and community service managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Get information needed to do the job
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Use computers
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Perform administrative tasks
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Evaluate information against standards
• Assist and care for others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Develop goals and strategies
• Think creatively
• Schedule work and activities
• Document and record information
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Develop and build teams
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Teach others
• Process information
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Analyze data or information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, social and community service managers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with agency staff.
• Are responsible for the work done by their staff.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of their staff and the community.
• Often work with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals from the community.
• Communicate with coworkers and the public daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors. May on rare occasions work outdoors, such as when attending outdoor fundraisers or field trips.
• Work in a vehicle when traveling between agencies.
• Work somewhat close to other people, such as when sharing office space.

Work performance

• Must be sure their work is exact. Errors could affect the safety or security of clients.
• Must repeat the same mental activities some of the time.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact coworkers and clients. They rarely consult with directors before making decisions.
• Rarely consult with directors before setting tasks and goals for the day.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a daily basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Usually work 40 hours a week.
• May sometimes work evenings or weekends to meet with clients or community groups.
• May work overtime to meet budget or funding deadlines.
• May travel to speaking engagements or professional conferences.

Physical demands

Social and community service managers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for social and community service managers to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for social and community service managers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

Social and community service managers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Business Management and Administration
• Community Services
• Human Services
• Nonprofit Management
• Public Administration
• Social Work

Other programs of study to consider

• Addiction Counseling
• Business, General
• Education, General
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Environmental Health
• Family Resource Management
• Gerontology
• Health Services Administration
• Long Term Care Administration and Management
• Mental Health Counseling
• Organizational Leadership

Training

To work as a social and community service manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have one to five years of related work experience.

Education after high school

Most social and community service managers have a bachelor's degree or higher. Common fields of study are counseling, social work, education, and management. Many managers have a college degree in the area in which they provided service before becoming managers. For example, the manager of a mental health center might have a master's degree in counseling.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's and master's degree programs in service fields, such as counseling and social work.

Work experience

Social and community services managers often have experience as social service workers. Many managers work first as welfare workers, social workers, counselors, or assistant managers before becoming managers.

On-the-job training

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

Some agencies have in-house training programs. They may also pay for college courses you take to improve your skills.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Ethnic and Gender Studies
• Legal System
• Psychology
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Some employers prefer to hire social and community service managers who have an advanced degree in their field. Managers are often hired from experienced staff within the agency. Some employers will hire social and community service managers who do not have any work-related experience. Other employers prefer to hire social and community service managers who have up to six years of experience.

Employers prefer social and community service managers with excellent verbal and written skills. They look for applicants who inspire trust and confidence in others. Managers must also be able to work independently with little supervision.

Some employers look for applicants who are bilingual. For jobs in some parts of the state, the ability to speak Spanish may be necessary.

Tips

Internships or volunteer work in direct human services or planning is helpful. Double degrees in social planning and in the field covered by the agency may be desirable. Experience working with social program clients and program management skills are helpful. Talk with people who work in this field.

Costs to workers

Many pay professional association dues.

Licensing/certification

A license may be required for social and community service managers who work in the mental health field. For example, social workers or psychologists may work as social and community service managers. Many states require these workers to have a license.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Social and Community Service Managers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary among agencies and by area of the country. Wages also vary based on the social service manager's level of education and responsibility.

Most full-time social service managers receive benefits. These include vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. They may also receive a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Social services agencies
• Local and state government agencies
• Religious organizations
• Nursing and residential care facilities
• Vocational rehabilitation agencies
• Community relief organizations

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be strong. Several factors will affect growth in social service fields. One is the aging population and its need for services. Another is increasing concern about crime and juvenile delinquency. A third is the continuing need for services for those who are mentally ill, have physical disabilities, or are in need of long-term health care. There is also a growing need for drug and alcohol treatment programs.

Despite the expected growth, government funding determines the number of jobs in this occupation. Funding is likely to be affected by the economy and by the popularity of social programs.

Other resources

Alliance for Children and Families 
1825 K St. N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
800.221.3726
414.359.1040

American Public Human Services Association 
1101 Wilson Boulevard, 6th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
202.682.0100

American Society for Public Administration 
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
202.393.7878

National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials 
630 Eye Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
877.866.2476
202.289.3500

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Social and Community Service Managers (11-9151.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Administrator, Social Welfare (195.117-010) 
• Coordinator, Volunteer Services (187.167-022) 
• Director, Community Organization (187.167-234) 
• Director, Field (195.167-022) 
• Director, Service (187.167-214) 
• Director, Volunteer Services (187.167-038) 
• District Adviser (187.117-022) 
• Executive Director, Red Cross (187.117-066) 
• Executive Director, Sheltered Workshop (187.117-026) 
• Program Director, Group Work (187.117-046) 
• Rehabilitation Center Manager (195.167-038) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Community Service Director

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Social/Conventional

COPSystem

• Business Professional