Social Services Director

Description

Full-time Exempt | 40 hrs./week | Flex schedule - some evenings and weekends required | $70,000/yr | Full-Time Benefits

Help families move from housing instability to long-term stability. As a Social Services Director at St. Vincent de Paul – Madison, you will walk alongside newly housed families as they build financial security, strengthen life skills, and move toward independence. This is meaningful, relationship-based work with measurable community impact.

Job Summary

Social Services Director oversees all aspects of the organization's longer-term support programs. This pivotal role involves guiding initiatives aimed at fostering the sustained well-being of community members in need. The Director actively engages in outreach within the community and may provide assistance to program participants either in their homes, at various community venues, or at the program's designated location. Specifically, this position assumes direct responsibility for the comprehensive management of key programs, including the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program catering to newly housed families, the Microlending Program, and overseeing the Port St. Vincent de Paul Program until its conclusion.

What a Typical Week Might Include:

• Meeting with newly housed families (in-home, onsite, or in the community) to review goals, update case plans, and provide ongoing support around housing stability, budgeting, employment, and family well-being 
• Supervising and supporting  Social Services Case Manager, including regular check-ins, coaching, and cross-training to ensure continuity of services 
• Managing a caseload of up to ~20 families, documenting interactions, tracking progress, and maintaining accurate, confidential records 
• Reviewing microlending applications, conducting client interviews, coordinating with lending partners, and communicating approval or denial decisions 
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to connect clients with resources such as financial literacy programs, education opportunities, employment services, and mental health support 
• Facilitating or coordinating workshops (e.g., budgeting, parenting skills, job readiness) to help clients build long-term stability 
• Analyzing program data and metrics to evaluate outcomes (e.g., housing stability, financial progress), and identifying opportunities for program improvement 
• Recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers to provide additional support and mentorship to program participants 
• Representing the organization in community meetings (e.g., local coalitions or service networks) and advocating for client needs 
• Handling operational responsibilities such as coordinating housing transitions, ensuring units are ready for new occupants, and addressing facility or program needs 
• Participating in leadership activities, including budgeting, strategic planning, and aligning program goals with organizational priorities

Requirements

What You Can Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field. 
• Minimum 3 years of related work experience serving people coping with poverty. A master’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related fields may substitute for work experience. 
• Training and experience with Trauma Informed Care. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences, both publicly and privately. 
• Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program success, goal progress, member engagement, community needs, or other related areas. 
• Ability to use computer programs within the Microsoft Office and Google suites and effectively navigate digital communication platforms. 
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, ethnicities, and races. 
• Demonstrate the implementation of best practices as required by the SVdP Safeguarding policy when interacting with children and vulnerable adults. 
• For the safety of the clients SVdP serves, as per the Safeguarding Policy, this position requires the successful completion of a criminal background check. 
• Must have reliable personal transportation to visit various locations throughout Dane County, with mileage reimbursed. 

Preferred

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Experience working with volunteers.

What You’ll Love!

• Relationship-centered work that creates visible impact
• A mission-driven team grounded in dignity and belonging
• Supportive leadership and collaborative problem-solving
• Opportunities to shape program effectiveness through data and innovation
• Generous PTO and comprehensive benefits

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The requirements described below are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, talk and hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to climb stairs
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds without assistance
• Ability to travel to varying locations to meet with staff and/or partners.
• Ability to work independently and follow instructions
• Vision requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Valid driver’s license and current vehicle insurance required
• This position occasionally may work outdoors in all types of weather conditions

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul does not and shall not discriminate in our employment, services and volunteerism on the basis of age, race, color, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, military service, or use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer’s premises during nonworking hours, or any characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal law. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, and vendors. Although the District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul does not generally consider religion in either hiring or the services it provides, because we are a Catholic charity, requiring liaison with the Catholic Church and its members, certain positions involving such liaisons are reserved for members of the Catholic Church. The District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul reserves the right to consider whether the conduct reflected in a criminal conviction demonstrates an incompatibility with the responsibilities of the specific job for which an applicant is applying.

EQUITY

St. Vincent de Paul has a vision for a deeply inclusive environment for our membership, staff, and volunteers. To foster a culture of belonging while providing equitable service delivery above and beyond Equal Opportunity requirements, SVdP candidates must be committed to cultural competency growth and work within diverse teams. SVdP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply, even if you do not meet every preferred qualification.