Director of Social Work Services

Principal Responsibilities:

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization, and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan's Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming-now across 15 sites--focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement.

Manny Cantor Center's Community Programs and Social Services Department includes social work and case management, adult education and family programming, free clothing at ReLoved Boutique, volunteering and civic engagement opportunities, and special initiatives to help and empower our community. The department works to be responsive to the changing needs of community members, developing programs, initiatives, and interventions that meet people where they are, providing opportunities to be supported and come together.


We are seeking an experienced full-time Director of Social Work Services who will provide leadership and clinical oversight for the social work and casework team at MCC, with a primary focus on supporting children and families through a whole-person, trauma-informed, and relationship-centered approach. This leadership role will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative social work programs and services that address the emotional, behavioral, and practical needs of the community, particularly families with young children. Additionally, they will work closely with program staff to help develop programs and services that are responsive to trends in community needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee team of social workers and case managers to provide high-quality social services, ensuring delivery with fidelity, accuracy and confidentiality, while maintaining a compassionate and supportive environment for staff and clients.
• Provide clinical oversight for all social work services and initiatives, and support strategic goals and initiatives for social work services at MCC
• Supervise licensed clinical staff, including LMSWs and LCSWs, as well as social work interns, ensuring quality supervision and adherence to clinical best practices.
• Provide task supervision to Social Work team members and interns
• Manage the social work internship program at MCC, which houses several interns each year, building relationships with schools to source interns and ensuring a comprehensive and effective experience.
• Collaborate with early childhood education leaders to address mental health needs within the preschool and broader family population.
• Oversee short-term individual and group therapy interventions
• Plan, source and facilitate professional development for social workers, case managers and interns, both on your team and in partnership with other MCC departments
• Design and facilitate therapeutic workshops and support groups to address identified psychosocial and behavioural challenges in conjunction with program staff
• Manage crisis response efforts, including assessments and intervention planning.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with local agencies, mental health providers, and educational institutions to expand services and training opportunities.
• Ensure timely, accurate note-taking and documentation in accordance with agency and regulatory standards.
• Communicate and collaborate with MCC Directors to identify and address patterns and challenges across Manny Cantor Center (Older Adults, Teens, and Early Childhood
• Communicate and collaborate with other EA sites (especially Community Schools programs) to bridge gaps and open access to wide range of services offered across the agency
• Maintain data for Social Work team, ensuring timely input and information being collected is in line with agency needs and priorities
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York State required
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive clinical experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership capacity. required
• Expertise in working with families required
• Demonstrated success in program development, staff supervision, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Deep understanding of issues affecting families such as housing instability, domestic violence, and substance use.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience working in or with early childhood or other educational settings is highly preferred.
• Spanish speaking preferred.

Salary:

$85,000 - $95,000


Agency Information:

A nonprofit beacon of hope for over 130 years, as a historically Jewish organization Educational Alliance believes in the power of communities to lift up people of all ages and turn strangers into neighbors. We offer high-quality, affordable education programs, health services, and diverse cultural enrichment right where New Yorkers live and raise their families. We make the city a brighter, friendlier and more supportive place. Our community centers offer multi-generational programs that push boundaries and break barriers, sharing critical tools to foster relationships and advance the well-being of people in New York City.
Our pioneering educational programs--like 2Generation Head Start, and courses ranging from art to fitness, career readiness to citizenship--are carefully curated and developed with our city's residents in mind. We offer dozens of options and we never stop innovating to help people of all ages grow, connect, and engage.


Guided by Jewish values, Educational Alliance celebrates the differences and individuality every person brings when they walk through our doors because we know that there is more that connects us than keeps us divided. Today, our reach extends beyond the city as our innovative programs serve as models for other organizations to adopt and implement in their communities. We invite you to join us as we partner with our neighbors, strengthen our city, and pave the way for more generations of New Yorkers to live enriched and fulfilling lives - because you belong here.