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Social and Community Service Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Other titles employers use
Adoption Services Manager · Child Welfare Services Director · Children's Service Supervisor · Clinical Services Director · Community Services Director · Psychiatric Social Worker Supervisor · Social Services Director · Transitional Care Director
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
- Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
- Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, helping and organizing work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.7 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.5 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 51%
- A master's degree 24%
- A two-year degree 8%
- A doctorate or professional degree 8%
- High school or less 7%
- A certificate or some college 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Project management software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 33,700
- Job openings each year
- 2,890
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 17.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 33,700 | 2,890 | 17.0% |
| New York | 17,860 | 330 | 22.6% |
| Texas | 12,850 | 1,120 | 19.3% |
| Florida | 9,070 | 770 | 16.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,160 | 660 | 6.4% |
| Minnesota | 6,880 | 560 | 8.5% |
| New Jersey | 6,630 | 540 | 9.4% |
| Illinois | 6,600 | 540 | 7.3% |
| Washington | 6,260 | 620 | 15.9% |
| Maryland | 5,380 | 450 | 12.6% |
| Ohio | 5,350 | 430 | 7.2% |
| Michigan | 5,240 | 430 | 7.4% |
| Connecticut | 4,930 | 410 | 11.0% |
| Oregon | 4,870 | 420 | 15.1% |
| Georgia | 4,170 | 350 | 9.7% |
| Wisconsin | 3,990 | 320 | 6.1% |
| Colorado | 3,940 | 330 | 14.2% |
| Arizona | 3,820 | 340 | 24.0% |
| Iowa | 3,720 | 320 | 17.7% |
| North Carolina | 3,660 | 310 | 16.6% |
| Virginia | 3,570 | 300 | 13.3% |
| Massachusetts | 3,380 | 280 | 8.7% |
| Alabama | 3,220 | 260 | 5.9% |
| Missouri | 3,060 | 250 | 7.0% |
| Tennessee | 2,920 | 250 | 18.7% |
| Indiana | 2,740 | 230 | 12.3% |
| Arkansas | 2,610 | 230 | 21.4% |
| Louisiana | 2,470 | 200 | 7.4% |
| South Carolina | 2,370 | 210 | 20.9% |
| Oklahoma | 1,980 | 160 | 10.6% |
| Utah | 1,770 | 150 | 18.8% |
| Kansas | 1,690 | 140 | 9.0% |
| Nebraska | 1,680 | 140 | 9.8% |
| Mississippi | 1,620 | 140 | 15.7% |
| Kentucky | 1,590 | 130 | 8.2% |
| Vermont | 1,370 | 120 | 14.2% |
| New Mexico | 1,350 | 110 | 14.4% |
| Maine | 1,330 | 100 | — |
| Nevada | 1,260 | 110 | 15.6% |
| New Hampshire | 1,220 | 100 | 14.0% |
| Idaho | 1,150 | 100 | 16.2% |
| Delaware | 1,080 | 90 | 10.2% |
| Rhode Island | 1,040 | 90 | 13.0% |
| Montana | 860 | 80 | 17.8% |
| West Virginia | 830 | 70 | 13.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 810 | 70 | 15.7% |
| District of Columbia | 800 | 70 | 12.7% |
| Alaska | 700 | 60 | 6.1% |
| North Dakota | 480 | 40 | 9.1% |
| Wyoming | 400 | 30 | 11.1% |
| South Dakota | 330 | 30 | 6.5% |
| Virgin Islands | 60 | 0 | −14.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 6,181
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 2,505
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,187
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,422
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,788
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,753
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,523
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
California State University-Long Beach
- Degrees each year
- 1,428
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000