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Career Exploration

Social and Community Service Managers

Also called: Child Welfare Services Director, Social Services Director, Transitional Care Director, 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:
  • Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • psychology
  • sociology and anthropology

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Basic Skills

  • figuring out how to use new ideas or things
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

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

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems

Enterprising

People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.

  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Initiative
  • Self Control

Spreadsheet software

  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Data base user interface and query software

  • FileMaker Pro
  • Microsoft Access

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $74,240

Education

Bachelor's degree or master's degree is usually needed.