Managing Social Worker

Public Counsel•Los Angeles, CA

13d•$100,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice through direct legal services, education and outreach, litigation, and policy advocacy. Its Social Work Team works alongside attorneys and legal advocates, integrating social work perspectives and trauma-informed practices into legal advocacy. The team addresses barriers to clients’ participation in legal cases, strengthens client engagement, supports clients in achieving legal goals, and provides consultation and training across the organization. Reporting to the Director of Social Work, the Managing Social Worker leads and oversees the MSW Internship Program, professional social work volunteer initiatives, training implementation, and program operations. The role is responsible for growing internship placements, developing partnerships with schools of social work, and supporting legal teams in integrating MSW interns into their work. In collaboration with the Director of Social Work, the Managing Social Worker strengthens and advances Public Counsel’s interdisciplinary advocacy model and expands and sustains social work integration across legal teams. This is a full-time, exempt position. Exempt employees must work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and any additional time necessary to complete duties in a timely and professional manner, with flexibility in work hours to provide timely, high-quality client service. Public Counsel is generally office-based, and employees are required to work in the office at least one day per week, with additional in-office days potentially required depending on the position and department. The target start date is May 2027, though an earlier start may be possible. The salary range is $100,000–$120,000, commensurate with abilities and experience.

Requirements

MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
At least 10 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 across micro, mezzo, and macro social work practice, including direct work with individuals, families, or communities and organizational, community, policy, or systems-level initiatives; 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 educational supervision, facilitating student learning, and supporting the development and application of social work education competencies in practice.
Experience managing programs and projects, 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, including identifying opportunities, developing practical solutions, and continuously improving and expanding 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, including fostering trust, navigating differing perspectives and difficult discussions, building interdisciplinary partnerships, and supporting 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, adaptability, thoughtful responses to changing circumstances, a growth mindset, and openness to constructive feedback.
Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and any additional time necessary to accomplish job duties, and must be flexible in work hours to provide timely, high-quality client service.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching interns, volunteers, or staff using a supportive approach that fosters autonomy, skill development, and accountability.
Experience in legal services, community or movement lawyering, community organizing, policy advocacy, or systems change initiatives, particularly with communities disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities.
Experience using data, feedback, and evaluation findings to strengthen programs and inform decision-making.
Spanish-language proficiency.

Responsibilities

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 internship outreach and recruitment materials; and represent Public Counsel at student recruitment events and activities.
Oversee intern placement, onboarding, evaluation, ongoing support, and required practicum activities and documentation in accordance with university and CSWE requirements.
Provide weekly individual supervision to MSW interns and fulfill Practicum Instructor responsibilities required by their schools of social work.
Partner with, support, and train preceptors and legal teams to develop learning plans and assignments, integrate interns into interdisciplinary advocacy, and monitor progress toward social work education competencies.
Oversee intern compliance with organizational policies, documentation and timekeeping requirements, and organizational systems.
Gather feedback from interns, preceptors, and legal teams; evaluate program outcomes; and work with the Director of Social Work on program growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Develop and implement strategies to expand internship placements across practice areas and strengthen the program’s capacity to support interdisciplinary advocacy.
Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the professional social work volunteer program in collaboration with the Director of Social Work and Director of Pro Bono.
Recruit, onboard, train, support, retain, and match professional social work volunteers with organizational and team needs.
Develop and maintain an MSW internship alumni network and create opportunities for alumni to contribute to social work and volunteer initiatives.
Collaborate with the Directors of Social Work and Pro Bono to expand social work integration into pro bono representation, including partnerships between social workers and pro bono legal teams.
Develop and implement training, consultation, and resources to strengthen pro bono attorneys’ trauma-informed practices, cultural humility, client communication, and interdisciplinary advocacy.
Track volunteer participation, outcomes, and program effectiveness.
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.
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.
Maintain systems, records, and administrative processes supporting social work programs, including oversight of NetDocuments files and other organizational systems.
Support consistent documentation 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 for grant reporting, program evaluation, and improvement recommendations; collaborate with the Director of Social Work on organization-wide client feedback collection and evaluation.
Work with the Communications Team to maintain and update the Social Work webpage, develop social media content, and highlight social work integration, program accomplishments, and interdisciplinary advocacy.

Benefits

Medical coverage, including an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent children’s premiums; buy-up options for other HMO and PPO coverage.
Dental and vision coverage.
Flexible Spending Account option.
Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans.
15 accrued vacation days per year, increasing to 20 days after three years of employment.
12 accrued sick days per year, usable for physical and mental health needs.
Two personal observance days.
11 paid holidays and two one-week office closures during summer and winter.
Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year for exempt staff.
403(b) retirement plan with elective employee contributions and a discretionary employer contribution after one year of employment.
Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement.
$45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties.
Up to six months of parental leave.
Organizational and team wellness activities.
Professional development support and opportunities.
Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization.
Centrally located headquarters in Koreatown, with access to public transportation, dining, and cultural attractions.