Social and Community Service Managers

Social and community service managers plan and direct social service programs.

Social and community service managers work in public and private agencies. These agencies provide services such as mental health counseling, job training, or housing.

Social and Community Service Managers are in the Human Services career cluster and the Counseling and Mental Health Services pathway.

Quick Facts

Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and CareerOneStop.

Wages & Outlook

Wages

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.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Social and Community Service Managers

 

Employment

In Minnesota, about 2,442 social and community service managers work in this small occupation.

Major employers:

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

Outlook

The demand for social and community service managers is related to the demand for services from counselors and social workers. The need for such services is expected to 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.

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.

Employment Outlook for Social and Community Service Managers

	Employment		Employment Change
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
U S	134,100	169,900	35,800	26.7%
Minnesota	2,694	3,266	572	21.2%
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
Central Minnesota	201	249	48	23.9%
Northeast Minnesota	214	269	55	25.7%
Northwest Minnesota	332	412	80	24.1%
Southeast Minnesota	219	282	63	28.8%
Southwest Minnesota	147	172	25	17%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	1,590	1,895	305	19.2%

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.

On the Job

Overview

Social and community service managers plan and direct social service programs.


Some social service programs are locally-based, and might not always be well-known to the public. Others are national, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. This organization, with 3,400 local chapters across the U.S., aims to provide safe, fun, and educational activities for kids, especially during the critical after-school hours. To the kids who participate, it simply may look like somebody decided to teach an art class or start a basketball league. However, it takes a lot of work to organize and sustain a club, from finding the location to hiring trained counselors. This is the job of a social service manager.Social and community service managers work in public and private agencies. These agencies provide services such as mental health counseling, job training, or housing. In large organizations, managers may oversee only one area or department. In small agencies, managers often have a wide variety of duties.

Social and community service managers direct the overall operation of an agency. They interview and hire new staff. They train staff in the skills needed to provide services. Managers also assign duties to and supervise staff. In many agencies, they work directly with clients. If the agency uses volunteers, managers may also recruit and train these workers. In addition, managers observe staff in order to evaluate their performance. They also observe volunteers and advise them how to improve their skills. This ongoing evaluation and advising helps ensure the quality of services and the best use of resources.

Social and community service managers create policies and define the scope of services to be offered. To do this, they must first gather information. They research community needs and review local reports. Managers also consult with individuals and committees in the agency or the community. They 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, and write training manuals.

Many social and community service managers are in charge of agency public relations. For example, they establish contacts with other agencies to ensure that services are not duplicated. Managers also speak to community groups. They explain the purpose of their agency and the services they offer. In addition, managers may plan and direct fundraising activities.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

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

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Establish and maintain relationships.
• Assist and care for others.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Get information needed to do the job.
• Work with the public.
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people.
• Document and record information.
• Provide advice and consultation with others.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Guide, direct, and motivate subordinates.
• Develop goals and strategies.
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others.
• Think creatively.
• Communicate with people from outside the organization.
• Use computers.
• Develop and build teams.
• Process information.
• Schedule work and activities.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

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.
• Write letters and memos on a daily basis.
• 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

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Sit when doing paperwork.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

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

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career 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.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Education & Training

Preparation

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

• have a high school diploma or GED;
• 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.

Related Programs (Current training programs available)

• Human Services, General
• Community Organization and Advocacy
• Public Administration
• Social Work
• Youth Services/Administration
• Social Work, Other
• Business/Commerce, General
• Business Administration and Management, General
• Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
• Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
• Business, Management, Marketing, & Related Support Services, Other

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Addiction Counseling
• Clinical Psychology
• Community Services
• Counseling Psychology
• Environmental Health
• Family Resource Management
• Family Studies and Human Development
• Fire Services Administration
• Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies
• Genetic Counseling
• Gerontology
• Health Services Administration
• Human Services
• Nonprofit Management
• Public Administration
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Urban Studies

Level of Education

The table below lists the level of education attained by a subset of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44.

Education level attained	Percentage of workers in this occupation*
Less than high school diploma	2
High school diploma or equivalent	9
Some college, no degree	15
Associate degree	7
Bachelor's degree	37
Master's degree	26
Doctoral (Ph.D.) or professional degree	5

* National data for social and community service managers (SOC 11-9151).

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 occupation include:

• Computer Applications
• Ethnic and Gender Studies
• Keyboarding
• 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.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
• Read and understand written information.
• Express ideas clearly when speaking or writing.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Identify problems and review information. Develop, review, and apply solutions.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
• Think of new ideas or original and creative ways to solve problems.
• Identify ways to measure and improve system performance.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Use Math and Science

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.
• Use math skills to solve problems.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with People

• Be aware of others' reactions and change behavior in relation to them.
• Teach others how to do something using several methods.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.

Work with Things

• Analyze needs and requirements when designing products.
• Test and inspect products, services, or processes. Evaluate quality or performance.

Perceive and Visualize

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

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Administration and Management: Knowledge of managing the operations of a business, company, or group.
• English Language: Knowledge of the meaning, spelling, and use of the English language.
• Psychology: Knowledge of people, their actions, and mental processes. This may include knowledge of how to treat emotional and behavioral problems.
• Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of the effect of diseases and injuries. Knowledge of how to give advice on social or personal problems. Also includes the knowledge of setting up a plan for treatment.
• Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of the department that is in charge of the relationship between a company and its employees. In particular, includes knowledge of the activities performed by the department.
• Education and Training: Knowledge of teaching and the methods involved in learning and instruction.
• Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of the behavior, customs, and origins of groups of people.
• Clerical: Knowledge of general office work such as filing and recording information.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.
• Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of computer hardware and software.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.
• Consider good working conditions important. They like jobs offering steady employment and good pay. They want employment that fits their individual work style. They may prefer doing a variety of tasks, working alone, or being busy all the time.
• Consider achievement important. They like to see the results of their work and to use their strongest abilities. They like to get a feeling of accomplishment from their work.
• Consider recognition important. They like to work in jobs which have opportunities for them to advance, be recognized for their work, and direct and instruct others. They usually prefer jobs in which they are looked up to by others.
• Have enterprising interests. They like work activities that involve starting up and carrying out projects, especially in business. They like to lead and persuade others, make decisions, and take risks for profit.
• Have social interests. They like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They like to communicate with others: to teach, give advice, help, or otherwise be of service to others.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Tools & Technology for Social and Community Service Managers

Tools

Calculators or accessories 10-key calculators Desktop computers Notebook computers Laptop computers

Personal computers Special purpose telephones Multi-line telephone systems

Technology

Accounting software Financial accounting software Data base reporting software Oracle Reports Data base user interface and query software Client information databases FileMaker Pro software Microsoft Access Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook Internet browser software Object oriented data base management software Microsoft Visual FoxPro

Office suite software Microsoft Office software Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint Spreadsheet software Corel QuattroPro IBM Lotus 1-2-3 Microsoft Excel Word processing software Corel WordPerfect software Microsoft Word

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.

Certification Details

Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession.

There are 15 certifications related to this career.

Licensing Details

No State of Minnesota license requirements are found for this career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and CareerOneStop.

Jobs

Find Jobs

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Hiring Practices

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.

Advancement Opportunities

Prospects for advancement for social and community service managers vary by field. Managers often obtain their jobs by advancing from within the agency. Experienced managers may advance to director. Other managers move on to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay in larger agencies. Some social and community service managers become consultants.

Job Title Examples

Community Services Block Grant/Outreach Social Worker (CSBG/Outreach Social Worker),  Personal Care Attendant/Independent Living Services Coordinator (PCA/ILS Coordinator),  Program Director,  Director of Child Welfare Services,  Director of Social Services,  Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator 

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Related Industries

Below are industries related to Social and Community Service Managers you may be interested in reading about. Employers in these industries typically hire Social and Community Service Managers. Click on the names to link to their industry profile.

Business Management And Support Services
Education
Hospitals
Social Services And Counseling

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.