Social and Community Service Management- Career Summary
Nonprofit management turns doing what I love into the job of my dreams. I love to imagine being able to help people and the world through my work as a nonprofit manager. I know that I will be able to use the skills that I have acquired through my business relationships and Internship thus far throughout college to ensure my success in my career.
What Social and Community Service Managers Do
Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise social service programs and community organizations. They direct and lead staff who provide social services to the public. They can be found working for a variety of different human service organizations. Organizations can be designed to help a certain demographic of people, such as children or those who are homeless. Social and community service managers are expected to show that their services are effective. In order to do this, they collect statistics and report them to administrators. Most managers must recruit, hire, and train new staff members. Job descriptions vary depending on the size of the organization. In larger organizations, mangers do not design programs. Instead, they supervise and implement such programs. Smaller organization managers often tend to play more roles within the agency.
It is important that a social or community service manager have a personable and outgoing personality in order to work with members of the community. They must also hold good leadership skills so that they can successfully supervise staff who provide service. Most importantly, they must be able to plan and manage community outreach efforts to advocate for increased awareness of programs.
Common Duties of Social and Community Service Managers:
Work Environment
Social and community service managers work for nonprofit organizations, private for-profit social service companies, and government agencies. Social and community service managers work in a variety of settings, including offices, clinics, hospitals, and shelters. Some of these managers work with a certain demographic of people of those with a particular challenge. Social and community service managers typically work a full time, which is approximately 40 hours per week. As stated earlier, social and community service work in a variety of different settings. Social and community service managers can work anywhere in the world depending on the targeted demographic.
How to Become a Social or Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers are required to have at least a bachelors degree and some job experience. However, candidates with higher education are usually preferred. Many employers prefer workers with a degree in social work, public or business administration, public health, or a related field. Coursework in statistics, program management, and policy analysis is considered helpful. A service or community service manger must have good analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
Pay
The median annual wage for a social or community service manager was $59, 970 in May 2012.
Job Outlook
Employment of social and community service managers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Much of the job growth in this occupation is the result of meeting the needs of an aging population. An increase in the number of older adults will result in a need for more social services. In addition, employment growth is projected as more people seek treatment for their addictions and as illegal drug offenders are increasingly sent to treatment programs rather than to jail. As a result, managers who direct treatment programs will be needed. Although this occupation is projected to have rapid employment growth, gains could be limited by budget cuts in state and local governments.
What Social and Community Service Managers Do
Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise social service programs and community organizations. They direct and lead staff who provide social services to the public. They can be found working for a variety of different human service organizations. Organizations can be designed to help a certain demographic of people, such as children or those who are homeless. Social and community service managers are expected to show that their services are effective. In order to do this, they collect statistics and report them to administrators. Most managers must recruit, hire, and train new staff members. Job descriptions vary depending on the size of the organization. In larger organizations, mangers do not design programs. Instead, they supervise and implement such programs. Smaller organization managers often tend to play more roles within the agency.
It is important that a social or community service manager have a personable and outgoing personality in order to work with members of the community. They must also hold good leadership skills so that they can successfully supervise staff who provide service. Most importantly, they must be able to plan and manage community outreach efforts to advocate for increased awareness of programs.
Common Duties of Social and Community Service Managers:
- Work with members of the community and other stakeholders to identify the types of programs and services that are needed
- Design and oversee programs to meet the needs of the target audience or community
- Establish methods to gather information about the impact of their programs
- Supervise staff, such as social workers, who provide services to clients
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of programs
- Suggest and implement improvements to programs and services
- Develop and manage budgets for programs and organizations
- Plan and manage community outreach efforts to advocate for increased awareness of programs
- Write proposals for social services funding
Work Environment
Social and community service managers work for nonprofit organizations, private for-profit social service companies, and government agencies. Social and community service managers work in a variety of settings, including offices, clinics, hospitals, and shelters. Some of these managers work with a certain demographic of people of those with a particular challenge. Social and community service managers typically work a full time, which is approximately 40 hours per week. As stated earlier, social and community service work in a variety of different settings. Social and community service managers can work anywhere in the world depending on the targeted demographic.
How to Become a Social or Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers are required to have at least a bachelors degree and some job experience. However, candidates with higher education are usually preferred. Many employers prefer workers with a degree in social work, public or business administration, public health, or a related field. Coursework in statistics, program management, and policy analysis is considered helpful. A service or community service manger must have good analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
Pay
The median annual wage for a social or community service manager was $59, 970 in May 2012.
Job Outlook
Employment of social and community service managers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Much of the job growth in this occupation is the result of meeting the needs of an aging population. An increase in the number of older adults will result in a need for more social services. In addition, employment growth is projected as more people seek treatment for their addictions and as illegal drug offenders are increasingly sent to treatment programs rather than to jail. As a result, managers who direct treatment programs will be needed. Although this occupation is projected to have rapid employment growth, gains could be limited by budget cuts in state and local governments.