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Social & Community Service Managers

Also called: Program Director, Social Services Director, Program Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation Administrator

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
  • 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.
  • Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.

Knowledge

Business
  • customer service
  • management
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology
Health
  • therapy and counseling

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Math
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Leadership

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Corel QuattroPro
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
Data base user interface and query software
  • Client information databases
  • FileMaker Pro software
Word processing software
  • Corel WordPerfect software
  • Microsoft Word

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$58,660
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about social and community service managers.