Social and Community Service Managers
Career Overview
Career Description: Plan, organize, 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.
Industry: Management
Other Job Titles for Social and Community Service Managers:
- Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
- Food Service Managers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Recreation Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Training and Development Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Animal Husbandry and Animal Care Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- Fishers and Related Fishing Workers
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
Personality Profile
- Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
- Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
- Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
Common Work Tasks
- Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- 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.
- Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Research and analyze member or community needs to determine program directions and goals.
- Speak to community groups to explain and interpret agency purposes, programs, and policies.
- Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
- Represent organizations in relations with governmental and media institutions.
- Plan and administer budgets for programs, equipment and support services.
- Analyze proposed legislation, regulations, or rule changes to determine how agency services could be impacted.
- Act as consultants to agency staff and other community programs regarding the interpretation of program-related federal, state, and county regulations and policies.
- Implement and evaluate staff training programs.
- Direct fundraising activities and the preparation of public relations materials.
- Direct foreign sales and service outlets of an organization.
- Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
- Produce films and other video products, regulate their distribution, and operate film library.
- Observe and report on social, economic and political trends that might affect employers.
- Meet with boards of directors and committees to discuss and resolve legal and environmental issues or disputes between neighbors.
- Confer with legal authorities to ensure that renting and advertising practices are not discriminatory and that properties comply with state and federal regulations.
- Clean common areas, change light bulbs, and make minor property repairs.
- Meet with clients to negotiate management and service contracts, determine priorities, and discuss the financial and operational status of properties.
- Negotiate short- and long-term loans to finance construction and ownership of structures.
- Contract with architectural firms to draw up detailed plans for new structures.
- Negotiate with government leaders, businesses, special interest representatives, and utility companies to gain support for new projects and to eliminate potential obstacles.
- Analyze information on property values, taxes, zoning, population growth, and traffic volume and patterns to determine if properties should be acquired.
- Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.
- Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
- Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.
- Harvest crops, and collect specialty products such as royal jelly, wax, pollen, and honey from bee colonies.
- Install and shift irrigation systems to irrigate fields evenly or according to crop need.
- Herd cattle, using horses or all-terrain vehicles.
- Destroy diseased or superfluous crops.
Emerging Tasks
- Implement and evaluate staff, volunteer, and community training programs.
- Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, and resolving complaints.
- Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
- Oversee facilities management for the university, including construction, repair, and maintenance projects.
- Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events/meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
- Write grants to procure external funding, and supervise grant-funded projects.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
- advise volunteers or leaders to ensure program quality or effectiveness
- analyze financial data
- assign work to staff or employees
- conduct fund raising activities
- conduct or attend staff meetings
- conduct training for personnel
- consult with customers concerning needs
- determine social service program status
- develop budgets
- develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
- develop records management system
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- establish and maintain relationships with community organizations
- evaluate information from employment interviews
- evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
- hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
- interview job applicants
- maintain administrative services procedures manual
- maintain cooperative working relationships within community service
- maintain records, reports, or files
- make presentations
- orient new employees
- oversee execution of organizational or program policies
- prepare financial reports
- prepare or maintain employee records
- provide customer service
- use agency mission as a guideline in social services delivery
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use public speaking techniques
- write employee orientation or training materials
- use knowledge of written communication in sales work
- use product knowledge to market goods
- use public speaking techniques
- use sales techniques
- write sales or informational speeches
- prepare rental or lease agreement
- prepare reports of property or facility status
- purchase property management or maintenance equipment or supplies
- reconcile or balance financial records
- resolve customer or public complaints
- review insurance policies to determine appropriate coverage
- schedule facility or property maintenance
- select tenants for rental properties
- sell real estate property to clients
- solicit support from officials or public
- understand property documents
- use building or land use regulations
- use conflict resolution techniques
- use facility management techniques
- use government regulations
- use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
- use knowledge of fire, building or other codes
- use marketing techniques
- use negotiation techniques
- prepare or maintain employee records
- prepare reports for management
- present information on human resource management issues
- recommend action to ensure compliance
- recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
- recruit employees
- resolve personnel problems or grievances
- resolve worker or management conflicts
- seek out applicants to fill job openings
- use conflict resolution techniques
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use interviewing procedures
- use knowledge of employee classification system
- use negotiation techniques
- use project management techniques
- write employee orientation or training materials
- schedule activities, classes, or events
- schedule employee work hours
- slaughter animals, fish, or poultry
- study production records
- transport passengers or cargo
- understand second language
- use animal disease control techniques
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- use fish culturing techniques
- use hand or power tools
- use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use plant disease control techniques
Tools & Technology Used on the Job
- Avidian Technologies Prophet
- Borland Delphi
- Contact management software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Data entry software
- Desktop computers
- Eden Sales Manager
- Email software
- FrontRange Solutions Goldmine
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Maximizer Software Maximizer Enterprise
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office Visio
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Word
- NetSuite NetCRM
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Sage Sofware ACT!
- Salesforce.com CRM
- Scanners
- Scheduling software
- Software on Sailboats Desktop Sales Manager
- Tablet computers
- Vanguard Software Vanguard Sales Manager
- Web browser software
- Workforce management software
- Scheduling software
- Spreadsheet software
- Web browser software
- Word processing software
- NDCLytec software
- Nuance PaperPort Professional
- Personal computers
- Relative Values for Physicians software
- Scanners
- SPSS software
- Structured query language SQL
- TeleTracking PreAdmit-Tracking
- Web browser software
- Yost Engineering CodeSearch Pro
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Front Page
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office Visio
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro
- Microsoft Visual Studio
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Windows NT
- Microsoft Windows Server
- Microsoft Word
- Mid-range computers
- Minicomputers
- Mobile wireless network infrastructure software
- Netscape Navigator
- Netware servers
- Network interface cards NIC
- Novell Linux
- Novell network software
- Oracle E-Business Suite
- Oracle JD Edwards OneWorld
- Oracle software
- Pegasus software
- Performance monitoring tools
- Performance Solutions Technology ManagePro
- Personal computers
- PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
- Plumtree software
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- Print servers
- Provisioning software
- QUALCOMM Eudora
- Robot automation tool
- Routers
- Ruby on Rails
- Samba
- Scripting languages
- Siebel Server Sync
- SOX COBIT
- Storage servers
- Structured query language SQL
- Sun Microsystems Java
- Switches
- Symantec Veritas File System
- Symantec Veritas Volume Manager
- Teleconferencing equipment
- Telnet programs software
- Tk software
- Unix
- Web authoring software
- Web browser software
- Web servers
- Workstations
- Zephyr EXTRA! Terminal Emulation
Education, Training & Experience
Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.
Salary & Wages
- Average hourly wage (2007) -$26.22
- Average annual wage (2007) - $54,530.00
Projected Employment Growth
- Projected growth (2006-2016): 24.70%
- Projected need (2006-2016): 32,120
- Employment (2006): 130,018
Related Occupations
- Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Food Service Managers
- Recreation Workers
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
- Range Managers
- Storage and Distribution Managers
- Fishers and Related Fishing Workers
- Treasurers and Controllers




