Occupation · SOC 11-9151
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
3,780 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessService OrientationTime ManagementMonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningActive LearningWritingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisSpeakingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesInstructingPersuasionNegotiationOperations AnalysisMathematicsManagement of Financial ResourcesManagement of Material ResourcesScienceOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisOperation and ControlTechnology DesignProgrammingTroubleshootingRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguagePsychologyEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingPublic Safety and SecurityAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentCommunications and MediaEconomics and AccountingTelecommunicationsPhilosophy and TheologySales and MarketingProduction and ProcessingTransportationMedicine and DentistryGeographyForeign LanguageBuilding and ConstructionFine ArtsMechanicalDesignChemistryEngineering and TechnologyBiologyHistory and ArcheologyPhysicsFood Production
Technology & tools
Blackbaud The Raiser's EdgeClient information databasesCorel QuattroProCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteFileMaker ProFinancial accounting softwareHealthcare common procedure coding system HCPCSIBM Lotus 1-2-3Microsoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft Visual FoxProMicrosoft WordOracle ReportsPointClickCare healthcare softwarePresentation softwareWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkWorking with ComputersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming Administrative ActivitiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAssisting and Caring for OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesThinking CreativelyScheduling Work and ActivitiesDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicTraining and Teaching OthersProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleAnalyzing Data or InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoaching and Developing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Administrative procedures — follow and apply under supervisor guidance to support objectives established by senior management in a nonprofit or social services setting.Staff and volunteer activities — assist in coordinating daily tasks under the direction of an experienced program manager in a community service organization.Program quality indicators — recognize and document basic performance metrics while shadowing evaluation reviews conducted by senior staff.Organizational policy documents — read, interpret, and apply established eligibility and program-requirement guidelines when assisting with client intake processes.Personnel and budget records — prepare and maintain accurate files, spreadsheets, and reports using office suite and database software under supervisory review.Client referrals and needs assessments — support direct service delivery by gathering intake information and escalating complex cases to licensed staff.Community agency contacts — identify and begin building relationships with partner organizations by participating in outreach meetings alongside experienced managers.Recruitment processes — assist with posting positions, screening applications, and scheduling interviews for staff and volunteer openings in a supervised capacity.CRM and case management software — enter and retrieve client data accurately to support program tracking and reporting requirements.Active listening and social perceptiveness — demonstrate attentiveness to client and colleague concerns during team meetings and service interactions in a community setting.
developing
Administrative procedures — implement and monitor established protocols with reduced oversight to ensure program operations align with board-approved objectives.Professional and volunteer staff — direct day-to-day activities of a program team, providing clear task assignments and timely feedback in a social services environment.Staff performance evaluations — conduct routine appraisals of employees and volunteers, identifying resource gaps and recommending corrective actions to improve program quality.Policy application and interpretation — apply organizational policies on participant eligibility and program benefits consistently across varied caseloads and service contexts.Budget and training documentation — prepare, reconcile, and update budgets, personnel records, and training manuals using spreadsheet and accounting software on a recurring cycle.Client complaints and service needs — resolve moderate-complexity service issues, conduct needs evaluations, and coordinate referrals for clients such as those involved in child advocacy cases.Interagency partnerships — maintain active working relationships with community organizations to fill service gaps and minimize duplication of social service delivery.Hiring and onboarding — lead structured interviews, assess candidate qualifications, and onboard selected staff and volunteers into program roles.Data reporting and systems monitoring — compile and analyze program data using database and ERP tools to track service outputs and flag performance trends for leadership review.Coordination across program units — align schedules, priorities, and communication among multiple service teams to ensure timely and effective program delivery.
proficient
Administrative systems — design, implement, and continuously refine comprehensive administrative procedures that reliably meet strategic objectives across multi-program organizations.Multidisciplinary staff leadership — autonomously direct and develop professional, technical, and volunteer staff across diverse program areas, resolving personnel issues without escalation.Program quality assurance — lead rigorous evaluations of program outcomes and resource utilization, applying systems evaluation methods to recommend data-driven improvements.Policy development — contribute substantively to organizational policy deliberations on eligibility criteria, program requirements, and benefit structures in collaboration with boards and senior executives.Complex records and fiscal management — independently oversee budget planning, variance analysis, and compliance reporting using integrated accounting and ERP platforms.High-complexity direct service — handle sensitive referrals, facilitate needs evaluations, and resolve escalated complaints for clients with multifaceted social, legal, or behavioral health needs.Community systems navigation — cultivate and leverage a broad network of agency partnerships to coordinate community-wide service strategies and address emerging population needs.Talent acquisition strategy — lead full-cycle recruitment, including competency-based interview design and workforce planning, to build high-performing staff and volunteer pipelines.Critical problem solving — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to diagnose systemic service delivery failures and develop sustainable corrective solutions across program operations.Cross-sector communication — author high-quality reports, present program outcomes to stakeholder audiences, and represent the organization in professional and community forums.
advanced
Organizational strategy and governance — set organizational direction by translating board mandates and community needs into long-range program strategies and operational priorities at executive scale.Workforce culture and leadership development — build management capacity by mentoring emerging leaders, modeling integrity and empathy, and institutionalizing professional development across the organization.Sector-wide quality standards — establish and advocate for program quality benchmarks and evaluation frameworks that influence practice norms across the social and community services sector.Policy and regulatory influence — lead organizational participation in shaping public policy, funding regulations, and sector standards through coalitions, advocacy, and advisory board leadership.Enterprise financial stewardship — oversee multi-year budgets, capital planning, and financial risk management across a complex portfolio of social service programs serving diverse populations.Systems-level service innovation — design transformative service delivery models that integrate emerging research, technology, and cross-sector partnerships to address entrenched community challenges.Strategic alliance and ecosystem development — forge and sustain high-impact interagency alliances, public-private partnerships, and funder relationships that expand organizational reach and sustainability.Executive talent management — architect organization-wide hiring strategies, succession planning, and retention initiatives to ensure leadership continuity and mission-aligned staffing at all levels.Organizational learning and systems analysis — drive continuous improvement by institutionalizing data-informed decision-making, learning feedback loops, and adaptive management practices enterprise-wide.Stakeholder and public representation — serve as the primary organizational voice to legislators, funders, media, and community stakeholders, advancing mission credibility and public trust at a regional or national level.
Also known as
69 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adoption Services ManagerAdult Daycare CoordinatorBorough CoordinatorCase ManagerCase Services ManagerCasework Department DirectorCasework DirectorCasework Services DirectorChild Welfare DirectorChild Welfare Services DirectorChildren's Service SupervisorClinical Services DirectorClub ManagerCommunity Center DirectorCommunity Organization DirectorCommunity Outreach CoordinatorCommunity Service DirectorCommunity Service Organization DirectorCommunity Services DirectorContract Sheltered Workshop SupervisorCounseling Services ManagerFamily Service Center DirectorFamily Services CoordinatorField Coordination DirectorField Service DirectorFoster Care Case ManagerGroup Counseling Program DirectorGroup Home ManagerGroup Work Program DirectorHome Service DirectorMembership DirectorMulti-Share Program CoordinatorNeighborhood Service Center DirectorNon Profit DirectorNon-Profit DirectorNonprofit DirectorNonprofit ManagerOffender Workforce Development Program Manager (OWDPM)Outreach CoordinatorParole Director