Social Services Manager

ACD seeks a thoughtful and dedicated Social Services Manager to manage the day-to-day operations, staff needs, and challenges in the provision of the organization’s case management and social services.

ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color. ACD’s foundation of civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration achieves and inspires justice and equitable outcomes for people throughout the St. Louis region and beyond.

ACD envisions a society liberated from systems of oppression where the promise of justice and racial equity is realized; communities where our approach to public safety prioritizes investment in well-being, health, and transformation without relying on criminalization and incarceration; and people living freely in their communities, thriving regardless of their race or income.

ACD and its partners in the organizing and advocacy community are at the center of efforts in the St. Louis region to:

• Re-envision public safety, promote community well-being through policy change, and hold public actors and institutions accountable for misconduct through litigation and zealous holistic representation.
• Challenge a system of policing, courts, and jails designed to meet municipal financial needs rather than the needs of those they purport to serve. Such practices attracted national spotlight during the 2014 Ferguson Uprising and remain widespread throughout our region.
• Engage in litigation and collaborative advocacy designed to bring abusive practices to an end and empower those communities that have been targeted by such practices.

Role Overview

ACD seeks a dynamic, creative, committed individual with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff of attorneys, paralegals, social workers, community organizers, and media and communication advocates who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of poverty and involvement with the legal system.

We seek a skilled professional to lead and manage our Social Services team; lead ACD’s efforts to provide holistic case management to legal clients; facilitate internal and external supportive services; and maintain their own caseload as well. This individual will also lead and support a team that includes two skilled case managers. They will work alongside ACD’s managing attorneys and paralegals and liaise with ACD’s Development, Partnerships and Organizing, and Communications teams.

Job Responsibilities

• Primarily responsible for overseeing the program's day-to-day operations, staff needs, and challenges as well as supervising, developing, and implementing the expansion of the organization's case management and social services.
• Ensure the social services program meets the standards set by the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as NASW Values and Ethics to the extent possible.
• Supervise Case Managers through the provision of weekly supervision
• Routinely assess caseload, capacity, and client needs to inform staff assignments and maintain manageable workloads.
• Ensure that staff maintain files, utilize LegalServer, work in accordance with ACD case-handling standards, and meet goals set for case management.
• Conduct regularly scheduled team meetings and ensure creation of agendas for meetings.
• Ensure that communication within the team is flexible, collaborative, and dynamic.
• Meet regularly with program staff to facilitate training, ongoing support, and opportunities for growth.
• Manage all aspects of internships and fellowships, including recruitment, training, and supervision of bachelors and masters-level social work and public health students to meet the needs of clients and increase program capacity.
• Participate in, provide feedback, and assist with hiring decisions for new staff as directed by management.
• Provide supportive, holistic case management to clients withing caseload.
• Maintain a caseload commensurate with abilities, case difficulty, and management obligations.
• Assist clients in accessing ACD community resources, including: affordable housing, public transportation, employment assistance, affordable childcare, legal assistance, state benefits, utility assistance, employment assistance, case difficulty, and management obligations.
• Provide psycho-education and coping/regulation practices to clients related to mental health, trauma, and the impact of poverty, over-policing, incarceration, and proximity to violence
• Complete or ensure completion of all documentation including intake, assessment, case notes, grant-specific documentation, and evaluation metrics for social services program clients.
• Lead organizational efforts to serve as a trauma-informed provider of holistic services.
• Support and maintain partnerships with external social services providers to meet the needs of case management clients.
• Comply with all applicable regulations, policies, and grant requirements.
• Prepare reports to funding organizations, government entities, and senior leadership, as needed.
• Monitor program budgets and resources.
• Support, promote, and participate in community education, outreach and develop good public relations with the client community and other community groups.
• Participate in monthly management of cohort meetings and projects.
• Participate in and coordinate team representatives for special cross-team projects as directed by management.
• Facilitate positive working relationships between legal and social services teams, including by maintaining consistent communication and effective referral procedures and facilitating regular joint meetings.
• Work with the communications and/or development teams to create promotional, fundraising, and/or educational materials as needed.
• Work with Grant Writing Lead, Development Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Executive Director to apply for and report on grants to support all initiatives withing the social services program.
• Embrace and support ACD's overall mission, standards, policies and procedures, and confidentiality guidelines as well as adhere to the legal professional responsibilities that underpin the organization.
• Prepare written annual evaluation and conduct annual evaluation meetings with members of team in conjunction with the Deputy Executive Director.
• Review and assist with preparation of annual written professional development plans withing team.
• Perform other duties and projects as required by ACD Leadership.

Skills and Qualifications

• Masters degree in Social Work or related field
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills: able to work well with a wide range of people and cognizant of how identity dynamics inform and shape interactions with clients, partners, and colleagues
• Understanding of local, state, and federal benefits and resources
• Experience in working with clients experiencing housing crises or homelessness
• Experience in program management, design, execution, and research
• Experience and/or training in navigating public benefits (e.g. Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid) is preferred
• Knowledge of the criminal legal system in St. Louis and Missouri is preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing a team
• Ability to manage team members while also managing personal caseload
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently
• Self-starter with a passion for racial and economic justice
• Willingness to engage in critical reflection and create a team dynamic of feedback and learning
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrate dependability through good attendance and adherence to timelines and schedules
• Good follow-through related to client needs, grant compliance, and social services projects
• Good problem-solving skills
• Demonstrate resourcefulness and ability to take initiative in development and completion of projects
• Able and willing to continue professional development
• Knowledge of the St. Louis region is a plus

Cover Letter and Writing Sample Instructions

• Please submit your cover letter as a single PDF file that includes your cover letter followed by a writing sample.
• Your writing sample should illustrate your professional writing ability. While we're not looking for a specific “type” of sample or number of pages, it is ideal to submit a sample that is relevant to the role you are applying for. You may attach an existing piece of work or something newly drafted to the end of your cover letter.

Additional Information

• This is a full-time position with benefits, including health/dental/vision coverage, 401(k) with partial match, YMCA membership, parental and sick leave, subsidized parking, paid continuing education or professional development opportunities, and 26 days of PTO plus holidays. The salary for this position is $73,000 with annual salary review or cost-of-living adjustment.
• ArchCity Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA+, and gender non-conforming applicants.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled with priority given to applicants submitting materials by August 15, 2025.

To apply, please visit: https://careers.hireology.com/archcitydefenders/2446002/description

Benefits

• Four healthcare plans to choose from—one fully paid by ACD
• 100% match up to 3% 401k
• 100% paid ACD dental
• 100% paid ACD vision
• 100% paid ACD life insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan*
• CHUBB supplemental insurance plans*
• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance**
• Dependent care flexible spending account**
• FSA and HSA Accounts**
• Administered by a third party
• *Optional coverage, EE paid

Paid Time Off

• 26 days of PTO
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid 6-week sabbatical after every 6 years of employment
• Paid sick leave
• Parental leave after birth or placement of a child
• 2-hour window available for doctors’ appointments (don’t have to take PTO)

Other Benefits

• Professional development funds, on-site trainings, workshops, conferences, and continuing education credits
• Prorated parking
• Mileage reimbursement

Perks

• Hybrid in-office work schedule
• Flex start and end time schedule
• Funded professional development
• Emergency salary advances
• Paid YMCA membership for employees (discounted rates for families)
• Donated tickets to local events
• Social events — staff mixers, lunches
• Ben & Jerry’s ice cream + snacks & soft drinks in the office