Managing Social Worker

Public Counsel•Los Angeles, CA

13d•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. Social workers and MSW interns are embedded within legal teams and provide services within the scope of attorney-client confidentiality, addressing barriers to clients’ participation in legal cases, strengthening engagement, and supporting clients in achieving their legal goals. The team also provides consultation and training to strengthen interdisciplinary advocacy throughout the organization. Reporting to the Director of Social Work, the Managing Social Worker leads and oversees Public Counsel’s MSW Internship Program, professional social work volunteer initiatives, training implementation, and program operations. The role will grow internship placements, develop school partnerships, and support legal teams in integrating MSW interns into their work. Working closely with the Director of Social Work, the Managing Social Worker will advance and sustain social work integration across Public Counsel’s legal teams. The role administers the MSW internship program, including recruitment, placements, onboarding, supervision, evaluation, student learning plans, and compliance with university, CSWE, and organizational requirements. It also develops and manages professional social work volunteer and alumni initiatives, expands social work participation in pro bono representation, and coordinates training and professional development for staff, interns, volunteers, pro bono attorneys, and community partners. Program operations include maintaining records and systems, supporting documentation and data integrity, analyzing program data, contributing to grant reporting and evaluation, and collaborating on communications about the Social Work Team’s work. This is a full-time, exempt position. Exempt employees are expected to work at least 37.5 hours per week and any additional time necessary to complete their duties. Work hours must be flexible to provide timely, high-quality client service. Public Counsel is generally office-based; all employees must work in the office at least one day per week, with additional in-office days possible depending on the position and department. The target start date is May 2027, with an earlier start 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 work in nonprofit, advocacy, legal services, community-based, educational, governmental, or other mission-driven settings.
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 social work education competencies in professional practice.
Program and project management experience, including developing systems and processes, coordinating stakeholders, balancing priorities, and independently overseeing initiatives.
Strong organizational skills, accountability, and follow-through.
Creativity, initiative, and innovative problem-solving skills, including identifying opportunities, developing practical solutions, and improving and expanding programs.
Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice; knowledge and application of trauma-informed principles, cultural humility, professional social work ethics, and community-centered 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.
Emotional intelligence and reflective practice, including self-awareness, recognition of personal biases, compassion, adaptability, managing uncertainty, responding thoughtfully to changing circumstances, and openness to constructive feedback.
Flexible work hours and ability to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week plus additional time necessary to accomplish job duties.
Compliance with Public Counsel’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, subject to reasonable accommodations under applicable law.
Ability to work in the office at least one day per week; some positions may require additional in-office days.

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 decisions.
Spanish-language proficiency.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary administrator and Practicum Instructor for the MSW Internship Program.
Maintain and expand partnerships with MSW programs; develop and update internship outreach and recruitment materials; and represent Public Counsel at recruitment events.
Oversee intern placement, onboarding, evaluation, support, 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.
Support and train preceptors and legal teams to create learning plans and assignments, integrate interns into interdisciplinary advocacy, and monitor student progress toward social work education competencies.
Oversee interns’ compliance with organizational policies, documentation and timekeeping requirements, and systems.
Gather feedback, evaluate program outcomes, and collaborate with the Director of Social Work on program improvement and growth strategies.
Develop strategies to expand internship placements across practice areas and strengthen the program’s capacity.
Develop, implement, and manage the professional social work volunteer program in collaboration with the Director of Social Work and Director of Pro Bono.
Recruit, onboard, train, support, match, and retain professional social work volunteers.
Develop and maintain an MSW internship alumni network and create opportunities for continued engagement in social work and volunteer initiatives.
Work with the Director of Social Work and Director of Pro Bono to expand social work integration into pro bono representation and partnerships with pro bono legal teams.
Develop training, consultation, and resources for pro bono attorneys on 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.
Develop and maintain training curricula, case studies, educational resources, onboarding materials, and learning tools with the Director of Social Work.
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, evaluation, and program improvement recommendations; support organization-wide client feedback collection and evaluation with the Director of Social Work.
Collaborate with the Communications Team to maintain and update the Social Work webpage, develop social media content, and highlight social work integration and program accomplishments.

Benefits

Medical coverage, including an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums, with buy-up options for other HMO and PPO coverage.
Dental and vision coverage.
Flexible Spending Account enrollment 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 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 in their 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.