Director of Social Services & Intake Leadership

Ark Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No-Cost health insurance

Vision and dental coverage

PTO and holidays

Retirement plan

Collaborative workplace

Job summary

The Ark Chicago is seeking a Director of Social Services to lead the Social Services and Intake & Eligibility teams. You will supervise a team, manage calendars, PTO, and coverage, and oversee performance, coaching, and budgets while maintaining a client-centered approach rooted in empathy and accountability.

You will also carry a small client caseload, collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and Assistant Director, and help coordinate care across Economic Stability, Housing, Medical, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, human services, counseling, nonprofit management, or related field or a bachelor’s degree with substantial leadership experience.
• 5–7+ years in social or human services, including at least 3 years supervising staff.
• Direct case management experience and experience leading a case management or client-service team.
• Strong administrative skills, including calendar management, scheduling, and coverage planning for a large team.
• Familiarity with Chicago’s social service landscape and community resources is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise the Social Services and Intake & Eligibility teams and lead hiring and onboarding with HR.
• Manage calendars, PTO, coverage, and cross-location operations.
• Lead performance management, staff evaluations, and coaching with clinical input.
• Oversee intake/eligibility processes to connect clients to services quickly and fairly.
• Provide regular visibility into department performance, risks, trends, and capacity to the Chief Program Officer.
• Manage department budgets for Social Services and Intake & Eligibility.

Skills

Staff supervision

Calendar management

Coaching & performance

Data-driven operations

Budget oversight

Education

Master's degree in social work or related field

Bachelor's degree with leadership experience

Tools

Salesforce

Case management system

Job description

The Ark Chicago is seeking a Director of Social Services to lead the Social Services and Intake & Eligibility teams. You will supervise a team, manage calendars, PTO, and coverage, and oversee performance, coaching, and budgets while maintaining a client-centered approach rooted in empathy and accountability.

You will also carry a small client caseload, collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and Assistant Director, and help coordinate care across Economic Stability, Housing, Medical, and