Social Services Program Supervisor

Sacramento Public Library; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sacramento Public Library seeks a leader to plan, organize, and supervise the Library Social Services Program, guiding referrals to local, state, and federal resources and mentoring interns who assist with outreach.

The role emphasizes equity and collaboration, coordinating with colleges, public agencies, and staff, ensuring compliant, trauma-informed service delivery while building partnerships to expand access.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in social services, community-based programs, or public sector service delivery.
• At least two (2) years of experience supervising staff, interns, or volunteers.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations

Responsibilities

• Design, coordinate, and oversee the library’s social work internship program.
• Serve as a field instructor for social work interns in accordance with academic program requirements and professional standards.
• Interview, hire, and provide orientation, training, structured learning plans, and ongoing supervision to interns.
• Establish, develop, and maintain formal partnerships with colleges, universities, and accredited social work and related educational programs to support student placements.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the library and academic institutions, ensuring alignment between internship experiences and curriculum requirements.

Skills

Knowledge of social service systems

Supervision and coaching

Communication and organizational

Program design and management

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW)

Job description

Plans, organizes, and supervises the Library Social Services Program. Ensures the library provides community members referrals to local, state, or Federal social service resources. This position mentors college interns providing direct referral services to community members and provides standards, training, and guidance for staff in providing these services. Reports to a Public Service Manager.

Functions listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

LEADERSHIP

• Works collaboratively with the Library Director and members of the management and executive teams to Develop, implement, and manage a systemwide social services program aligned with the library’s strategic priorities and Board adopted policies.
• Assist the Chief Equity and Strategy Officer in establishing, articulating, and modeling the values and vision of the library, its services, staff, programs and initiatives.
• Acts with the highest ethical and moral leadership, integrity, honesty and professionalism in all interactions.
• Model behaviors that foster trust, mutual respect and a commitment to serving the community.
• Fosters an organizational culture that embodies and values equity, diversity, and inclusion and reflects the community.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm, commitment to high standards and a willingness to perform all tasks necessary for successful operations.
• Possesses a strong vision and desire for the future of connecting social services to community members and can successfully plan, resource, and execute that vision to a sustainable course of action.
• Inspires others to be resilient, strategic, and able to develop solutions to challenges.
• Leads through collaboration, team building, and consultation; mentors, coaches and models these behaviors for others.
• Builds and maintains effective professional relationships with the Library Authority Board, local, state and federal government agencies, legislative bodies, staff, professional and institutional organizations, and most especially the community.

OPERATIONS

Social Work Internship Program (Field Instructor)

• Design, coordinate, and oversee the library’s social work internship program.
• Serve as a field instructor for social work interns in accordance with academic program requirements and professional standards.
• Interview, hire, and provide orientation, training, structured learning plans, and ongoing supervision to interns.
• Establish, develop, and maintain formal partnerships with colleges, universities, and accredited social work and related educational programs to support student placements.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the library and academic institutions, ensuring alignment between internship experiences and curriculum requirements.
• Coordinate placement agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and affiliation agreements as required by partner institutions.
• Collaborate with faculty, field education coordinators, and program directors to design internship experiences that meet educational competencies and learning objectives.
• Evaluate intern performance, complete required academic documentation, and ensure compliance with institutional, professional, and Library standards.
• Participate in recruitment, selection, and on boarding of interns in partnership with educational institutions.

Community Resource Coordination

• Develop and maintain partnerships with local service providers, including housing, behavioral health, workforce development, and social service agencies.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources and referral pathways.
• Facilitate connections between patrons and external service providers.

Staff Support and Training

• Provide guidance and consultation to Public Services staff regarding patron needs and appropriate referral strategies.
• Develop and deliver training on topics such as trauma-informed service, de-escalation, and community resource navigation.
• Support staff in responding to complex patron situations in a manner consistent with Library policies.

Collaboration with Public Services

• Work closely with Public Services leadership to align social service support with branch operations and programming.
• Assist in identifying service gaps and opportunities to improve access for underserved populations.
• Coordinate service delivery approaches that complement, but do not replace, core library services.

Risk Management and Policy Compliance

• Ensure that all program activities operate within defined non-clinical scope of practice.
• Develop protocols for appropriate referrals and boundaries of service.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and executive leadership on policy, liability, and risk considerations.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in social services, community-based programs, or public sector service delivery.
• At least two (2) years of experience supervising staff, interns, or volunteers.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience serving as a field instructor or supervising social work interns.
• Experience in a public library, government agency, or nonprofit organization.
• Experience developing partnerships with community-based organizations.

Licenses, Certifications, Bonding and/or Testing Required

• Possession of a valid Class C California Drivers' License and proof of satisfactory Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) clearance will be required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Personal transportation for job-related travel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of social service systems, community resources, and public sector service delivery.
• Knowledge of field education standards in social work (e.g., MSW internship requirements).
• Ability to design and manage programs in a public service environment.
• Ability to provide supervision, coaching, and evaluation of interns.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with community organizations and educational institutions.
• Ability to train and support staff in handling complex patron interactions.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with diverse populations.
• Ability to plan, organize, assign, direct, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Ability to select and motivate staff and provide for their training and professional development.
• Ability to evaluate financial and other data and programs and provide recommendations for improvements.
• Ability to represent the library effectively in contacts with governmental and regulatory agencies, outside consultants and counsel, and business and professional groups.

Working Conditions

Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This position will primarily be an indoor office environment.

Physical/Mental Abilities:

• Mobility - Ability to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time while operating a keyboard; occasional movement about the inside of the office to access file cabinets, books, office machinery, etc.
• Move - Occasional movement of items weighing 10 pounds or more.
• Perception - Ability to observe details at close range; frequent need for use of color perception, reading and/or close-up work.
• Communication - Constant communication in person and on the telephone; occasionally speaking in front of large groups of people.
• Special Requirements - Requires occasional weekend or evening work, including on-call during weekend and nights for emergencies.
• Emotional/Psychological - Constant concentration, decision-making and public contact; ability to exercise sound judgment, especially under stressful situations; and working alone; and
• Environmental Conditions - Occasional exposure to noise.

Hazards:

Remaining stationary and viewing a computer monitor for extended periods of time.