Social and community service manager career

Kaiwhakahaere ratonga pāpori, hapori hoki

Social and community service managers oversee social service programmes and community organisations. They may manage community social services staff.

Social and community service managers oversee social service programmes and community organisations. They may manage community social services staff.

What would you do as a Social and community service manager?

Social and community service managers

  • usually work regular business hours
  • usually work in offices and community centres and may travel locally or nationally
  • need to be responsible, organised and communicate well

Tasks

  • manage social service programmes and teams
  • create plans to support communities
  • check how well services are working
  • supervise and support staff
  • develop rules and policies for services
  • create budgets and financial reports
  • keep records of services and activities
  • solve problems and complaints
  • find out what communities need
  • work with other community organisations

How can you become a Social and community service manager?

You usually need experience to become a social and community service manager and a qualification may be useful.

You may need

  • experience in similar work
  • an intermediate certificate in community client care
  • to do an apprenticeship in community client care
  • a relevant tertiary qualification in human welfare or similar area
  • a master's degree in social work
  • a driver licence
  • to pass a police check

If you're in school

You usually need NCEA Level 3 or University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Studying this at the University of Waikato

View all qualifications

Study Sociology, Anthropology or Human Rights in our Bachelor of Social Sciences to understand the communities and social issues this career works with. Like all our undergraduate degrees, it includes work-integrated learning.

Once you've gained experience, our Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Practice in Social and Community Services helps you build your professional practice in the sector.

View all qualifications

Social and community service manager FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

Find a scholarship

QS rankings

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.

QS Ranking - Social Sciences & Management

Waikato is ranked 287th in the world by QS for Social Sciences & Management in the QS World University Rankings.

Contact us

International Enquiries

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School of Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences, The University of Waikato, Ground Floor, J Block, Gate 1, Knighton Road, Hamilton