What Do Directors of Social Services Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for directors of social services?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what directors of social services do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Directors of Social Services Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about directors of social services by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Directors of Social Services 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.
Popular Job Titles For Directors of Social Services
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Directors of Social Services
- Program Supervisors
- Case Managers
- Program Coordinators
- Foster Care Case Managers
- Program Managers
- Family Services Coordinators
- Volunteers
- Youth Care Professionals
- Service Directors
- Executive Directors
- Social Service Designees
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for directors of social services can be found.
Best Industries for Directors of Social Services
Directors of Social Services Jobs By Industry
- Individual and Family Services: 30.8%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 10.6%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 7%
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services: 6.5%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 6.5%
- Social Advocacy Organizations: 4.2%
- Other: 34.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of directors of social services can be found working in the Individual and Family Services sector. In 2022, about 30.8% of all jobs for directors of social services were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (10.6%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (7%), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6.5%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6.5%) and Social Advocacy Organizations (4.2%).
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Degree Options for Directors of Social Services
Learn the real-world management skills needed to be a leader in government and nonprofit organizations.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Identify opportunities to improve the quality of life for people with a customizable major intended to help you achieve your career goals.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Directors of Social Services Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what directors of social services do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work directors of social services do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that directors of social services tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of social services, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Social Services
Based on 65,482 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Social Services
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 25,531 | 39% |
| Human Services | 13,117 | 20% |
| Case Management | 12,686 | 19% |
| Psychology | 9,541 | 15% |
| Mental Health | 7,565 | 12% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Social Services
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 28,604 | 44% |
| Management | 19,611 | 30% |
| Planning | 17,480 | 27% |
| Leadership | 16,077 | 25% |
| Operations | 13,107 | 20% |
Based on 65,482 job postings related to directors of social services, social work was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 39% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for human services, case management, psychology, mental health and discharge planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of social services, followed by management, planning, leadership, operations and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 25,531 | 39% |
| Human Services | 13,117 | 20% |
| Case Management | 12,686 | 19% |
| Psychology | 9,541 | 15% |
| Mental Health | 7,565 | 12% |
| Discharge Planning | 4,154 | 6% |
| Crisis Intervention | 3,910 | 6% |
| Auditing | 3,840 | 6% |
| Marketing | 3,793 | 6% |
| Treatment Planning | 3,767 | 6% |
| Sociology | 3,766 | 6% |
| Project Management | 3,614 | 6% |
| Performance Appraisal | 3,482 | 5% |
| Trauma Care | 3,321 | 5% |
| Disabilities | 3,161 | 5% |
| Behavioral Health | 3,146 | 5% |
| Medication Administration | 3,073 | 5% |
| Child Welfare | 2,732 | 4% |
| Program Development | 2,697 | 4% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,696 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 28,604 | 44% |
| Management | 19,611 | 30% |
| Planning | 17,480 | 27% |
| Leadership | 16,077 | 25% |
| Operations | 13,107 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 12,394 | 19% |
| Advocacy | 10,074 | 15% |
| Writing | 9,769 | 15% |
| Customer Service | 9,630 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 8,022 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 7,826 | 12% |
| Program Management | 7,503 | 11% |
| Microsoft Office | 7,213 | 11% |
| Supervision | 7,144 | 11% |
| Microsoft Excel | 7,104 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 6,671 | 10% |
| Detail Oriented | 6,016 | 9% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,991 | 9% |
| Time Management | 5,562 | 8% |
| Coaching | 5,485 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Directors of Social Services
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Directors of Social Services | 18,496 | 26.6% |
| Program Supervisors | 15,332 | 22% |
| Case Managers | 8,780 | 12.6% |
| Program Coordinators | 3,106 | 4.5% |
| Foster Care Case Managers | 2,437 | 3.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was directors of social services, with 5,913 unique job postings. Program supervisors were second, with 2,540 postings, followed by case managers, program coordinators and foster care case managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to directors of social services.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Directors of Social Services | 18,496 | 26.6% |
| Program Supervisors | 15,332 | 22% |
| Case Managers | 8,780 | 12.6% |
| Program Coordinators | 3,106 | 4.5% |
| Foster Care Case Managers | 2,437 | 3.5% |
| Program Managers | 2,642 | 3.8% |
| Family Services Coordinators | 1,984 | 2.9% |
| Volunteers | 1,119 | 1.6% |
| Youth Care Professionals | 1,745 | 2.5% |
| Service Directors | 1,739 | 2.5% |
| Executive Directors | 1,710 | 2.5% |
| Social Service Designees | 1,509 | 2.2% |
| Family Coordinators | 940 | 1.4% |
| Family Case Managers | 1,090 | 1.6% |
| Outreach Educators | 1,848 | 2.7% |
| Program Support Supervisors | 1,769 | 2.5% |
| Social Services Managers | 977 | 1.4% |
| Social Services Supervisors | 854 | 1.2% |
| Housing Case Managers | 705 | 1% |
| Youth Leaders | 788 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for directors of social services? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of social services.
How much do directors of social services make?
Directors of Social Services: How do you become one?
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