Managing Social Worker

ABOUT THE SOCIAL WORK TEAM

Public Counsel’s Social Work Team works alongside attorneys and legal advocates through an interdisciplinary model that integrates social work perspectives and trauma-informed practices into legal advocacy. Staff social workers and MSW interns are embedded within legal teams and provide services in furtherance of the legal work, operating within the scope of attorney-client confidentiality. Their work focuses on addressing barriers that may prevent clients from meaningfully participating in their legal cases, strengthening client engagement, and supporting clients in achieving their legal goals. The Social Work Team also provides consultation and training to strengthen interdisciplinary advocacy throughout the organization. The MSW Internship Program, which currently supports approximately seven students each academic year, plays an important role in expanding this interdisciplinary model by creating opportunities to integrate social work across Public Counsel’s legal practice areas.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Director of Social Work, the new Managing Social Worker provides leadership and oversight of Public Counsel’s MSW Internship Program, professional social work volunteer initiatives, training implementation, and program operations. The Managing Social Worker will be responsible for growing the MSW Internship Program by increasing internship placements, developing new partnerships with schools of social work, and supporting legal teams in meaningfully integrating MSW interns into their work. The Managing Social Worker will work closely with the Director of Social Work to strengthen and advance Public Counsel’s interdisciplinary advocacy model, expanding and sustaining social work integration across Public Counsel’s legal teams.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

MSW Internship Program

Serve as the primary administrator and Practicum Instructor for Public Counsel’s MSW Internship Program
Maintain and expand partnerships with MSW programs, develop and update MSW internship outreach and recruitment materials, and represent Public Counsel at student recruitment events and activities
Oversee MSW intern placement, onboarding, evaluation, and ongoing support, including required practicum activities and documentation in accordance with university and CSWE requirements
Provide weekly individual supervision to MSW interns and fulfill Practicum Instructor responsibilities as required by their respective schools of social work
Partner with, support, and train preceptors and legal teams to develop meaningful learning plans and assignments, integrate MSW interns into interdisciplinary advocacy, and monitor student progress toward social work education competencies
Oversee MSW interns’ work to ensure compliance with Public Counsel’s policies, documentation and timekeeping requirements, and use of organizational systems
Gather feedback from MSW interns, preceptors, and legal teams, evaluate program outcomes, and collaborate with the Director of Social Work to identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement
Develop and implement strategies to grow Public Counsel’s MSW Internship Program, expanding student placement opportunities across practice areas and strengthening the program’s capacity to support interdisciplinary advocacy
Volunteer and Pro Bono Partnerships

Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing management of Public Counsel’s professional social work volunteer program in collaboration with the Director of Social Work and the Director of Pro Bono
Recruit, onboard, train, support, and retain professional social work volunteers while matching volunteers with organizational and team needs
Develop and maintain an MSW internship alumni network to foster lasting connections with Public Counsel, encourage continued engagement, and create opportunities for alumni to contribute to social work and volunteer initiatives
Collaborate with the Director of Social Work and the Director of Pro Bono to expand opportunities to integrate social work into pro bono representation, including partnerships between social workers and pro bono legal teams
Develop and implement training, consultation, and resources that strengthen pro bono attorneys’ trauma-informed practices, cultural humility, client communication, and interdisciplinary advocacy
Track volunteer participation, outcomes, and program effectiveness
Training, Learning & Professional Development

Coordinate, develop, facilitate, and evaluate social work, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary training and learning initiatives for staff, interns, volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and community partners in collaboration with the Director of Social Work
Collaborate with the Director of Social Work to develop and maintain training curricula, case studies, educational resources, onboarding materials, and learning tools
Plan and facilitate Social Work Team Meetings, communities of practice, guest speaker events, intern learning opportunities, and professional development activities
Manage training logistics, participant communications, continuing education requirements, and training repositories
Program Operations, Data & Communications

Maintain systems, records, and administrative processes that support social work programs and initiatives, including oversight of NetDocuments files and other organizational systems
Support consistent documentation practices and data integrity, including LegalServer timekeeping, case documentation, and reporting in collaboration with legal teams and the Director of Data, Systems & Innovation
Collect and analyze program data to support grant reporting, program evaluation, and recommendations for program improvement and collaborate with the Director of Social Work to support organization-wide client feedback collection and evaluation efforts
Collaborate with the Communications Team to maintain and update Public Counsel's Social Work webpage, develop social media content, and identify opportunities to highlight social work integration, program accomplishments, and interdisciplinary advocacy efforts

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
Minimum ten years of post-MSW professional social work experience, including experience in nonprofit, advocacy, legal services, community-based, educational, governmental, or other mission-driven settings
Demonstrated experience working across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice, including direct work with individuals, families, or communities and experience with organizational, community, policy, or systems-level initiatives, and the ability to translate social work approaches into practical guidance and interdisciplinary collaboration
Experience supporting social work practicum education as a Practicum Instructor, Preceptor, Practicum Faculty member, or in a similar role, including providing educational supervision, facilitating student learning, and supporting the development and application of social work education competencies in professional practice
Experience managing programs and projects, including developing systems and processes, coordinating stakeholders, balancing priorities, and independently overseeing initiatives with strong organizational skills, accountability, and follow-through.
Creativity, initiative, and innovative problem-solving, with the ability to identify opportunities, develop practical solutions, and continuously improve and expand programs
Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, with knowledge and application of trauma-informed principles, cultural humility, professional social work ethics, and community-centered approaches to advocacy
Strong interpersonal, communication, relationship-building, and facilitation skills, with the ability to foster trust, navigate differing perspectives and difficult discussions, build interdisciplinary partnerships, and support collaborative decision-making
Experience facilitating trainings, presentations, group learning experiences, or professional development activities
Strong emotional intelligence and reflective practice, including self-awareness, recognition of personal biases, compassion, and the ability to adapt, manage uncertainty, and respond thoughtfully to changing circumstances, with a growth mindset and openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback
Experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching interns, volunteers, or staff using a supportive approach that fosters autonomy, skill development, and accountability preferred
Experience working in legal services, community or movement lawyering, community organizing, policy advocacy, or systems change initiatives, particularly with communities disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities strongly preferred
Experience using data, feedback, and evaluation findings to strengthen programs and inform decision-making preferred
Spanish-language proficiency is a plus
Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and must work all additional time necessary to accomplish job duties in a timely and professional manner. They must be flexible in work hours so as to provide superior quality and timely service to clients consistent with the position and professional responsibility obligations.