How to hire a human services manager

How to hire a human services manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step human services manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a human services manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new human services manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a human services manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The human services manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A human services manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, human services managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of human services managers.

   Type of Human Services Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Human Services Manager	Social and human service assistants provide client services, including support for families, in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. They assist other workers, such as social workers, and they help clients find benefits or community services.	$17-48
   Advocate	An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause... Show more	$12-27
   Liaison	A liaison is a middle person responsible for collaborating different institutes, managing professional relationships to create benefiting results that would help a business' meet its goals and objectives. Duties of a liaison include facilitating communications, establishing partnership contract plans and procedures, managing conflicts, providing immediate resolution for concerns, and evaluating collaboration parameters... Show more	$14-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Human Services
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Social Work
   • Social Services
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Community Resources
   • Human Capital
   • DHS
   • Medicaid
   • Performance Management
   • Payroll
   • Background Checks
   • Service Delivery
   • HIPAA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
   • Act as a liaison between clients, guardians, medical facilities resolving financial issues and questions regarding Medicaid cases.
   • Calculate budgets in reference to Medicaid programs
   • Monitor and ensure proper payroll setup including coordination of common paymaster with university paycheck to ensure savings on FICA taxes.
   • Identify barriers and challenges that veterans are facing and utilize a solution-base approach to effectively resolve issue that threaten housing stability.

   More human services manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your human services manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A human services manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, human services managers' average salary in alabama is 55% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level human services managers 63% less than senior-level human services managers.
   • Certifications. A human services manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a human services manager's salary.

   Average human services manager salary

   $61,593yearly

   $29.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level human services manager salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average human services manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$109,014	$52
   2	California	$95,244	$46
   3	Washington	$89,874	$43
   4	Minnesota	$87,643	$42
   5	Massachusetts	$76,076	$37
   6	Ohio	$76,048	$37
   7	Illinois	$74,477	$36
   8	Colorado	$71,766	$35
   9	Virginia	$70,712	$34
   10	Pennsylvania	$69,748	$34
   11	Oregon	$68,457	$33
   12	New York	$67,275	$32
   13	Florida	$66,398	$32
   14	Maryland	$63,139	$30
   15	North Carolina	$61,192	$29
   16	Michigan	$61,158	$29
   17	Kentucky	$61,029	$29
   18	Mississippi	$55,983	$27
   19	Missouri	$54,940	$26
   20	Texas	$52,984	$25

   Average human services manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$112,808	$54.23	16
   2	Guidehouse	$82,486	$39.66	136
   3	One Brooklyn Health	$78,503	$37.74
   4	Minnesota State Fair	$76,376	$36.72	24
   5	Grant Thornton	$75,441	$36.27	5
   6	ICF	$72,727	$34.96
   7	Oakland Public Library	$71,843	$34.54	1
   8	KPMG LLP	$71,081	$34.17	59
   9	Deloitte	$70,492	$33.89	294
   10	City & County Of San Francisco - Police Department (sfpd)	$63,697	$30.62	18
   11	Known Quantity	$63,665	$30.61
   12	DTE Energy	$62,320	$29.96
   13	Ramsey County	$61,853	$29.74	1
   14	Denver Public Schools	$60,122	$28.90	2
   15	Wake County	$58,914	$28.32
   16	Prince William County	$49,771	$23.93	1
   17	State Of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission	$49,633	$23.86	10
   18	The State of Oregon	$45,721	$21.98	13
   19	State of West Virginia	$41,987	$20.19	80
   20	Caring Companions	$40,838	$19.63

4. Writing a human services manager job description

   A good human services manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a human services manager job description:

   Human services manager job description example

   Opportunity Enterprises is currently hiring for a full-time Assistant Group Home / Human Services Manager in the Portage, IN area. This position working with individuals with developmental disabilities at our nonprofit organization earns a competitive wage of $17 per hour .

   In addition to competitive pay and our exceptional culture , we offer our Assistant Group Home / Human Services Managers the following benefits:

   • Medical, dental, & vision

   • Paid time off (PTO)

   • A 401(k) with 5% company match

   • Health savings accounts (HSA)

   • Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

   • An employee assistance program

   • Supplemental insurances

   • 8 paid holidays

   • Paid mileage

   • Employee discounts on cell phones

   • Employee recognition events

   • Casual Fridays

   So, now that you've learned the who, what, where, and why, you may be wondering HOW? It's easy! Just fill out our initial mobile-friendly online application . We hope to meet you soon!

   
   

   DAY-TO-DAY

   As an Assistant Group Home / Human Services Manager at our nonprofit organization, you play an essential role in supervising our direct support professionals (DSPs) to ensure our residents with developmental disabilities receive the services they need. You monitor the implementation and maintenance of individual plans (ISPs) and all related programming as well as help in the planning of instructional activities that are designed to meet ISP goals and objectives. Alongside other members of management, you also assist in the planning and implementation of federal regulations, Medicaid, and fire marshall activities to ensure the safety of our residents, which includes active treatment, emergency evacuations, and administering medical care.

   In addition, you maintain all necessary documentation in electronic and paper records as well as oversee the property that is assigned to you, which includes indoor, outdoor, and vehicle maintenance. Along with other members of the interdisciplinary team, you participate in case conferences. You also supervise the medical needs of our residents with developmental disabilities which includes monitoring surgeries, emergency procedures, and medication administration. In order to stay informed on what's happening throughout our nonprofit, you regularly attend program, agency, and other organizational meetings as well as complete the number of required hours of in-service training annually.

   At times, you ensure accountability for all cost center expenditures. You serve as a role model for other members of staff and strive to maintain a supportive team-centered atmosphere to encourage your staff to put forth their best work each day. Because of your dedication, you make sure that you are available whenever an emergency situation arises even outside of traditional working hours. Having a job where you serve in such an important role brings you great fulfillment, which is why you thrive as our Assistant Group Home / Human Services Manager!

   
   

   ABOUT OPPORTUNITY ENTERPRISES

   Founded in 1967, we are a nonprofit organization that strives to help individuals with developmental disabilities reach their fullest potential and live full, enriching lives. Recognized as one of the premier agencies serving those with disabilities, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide a supportive environment where individuals can learn, increase their skills, and reach their maximum potential. We understand that every one of our clients has their own unique strengths and challenges. As such, our staff works one-on-one with each client and their family members to develop a comprehensive plan for care, support, and growth.

   Our staff members are the lifeblood of our organization. We couldn't provide the exceptional services we do without them. To show our appreciation, we strive to create a positive team-oriented environment where our employees feel valued and are proud of the work that they do !

   
   

   OUR IDEAL ASSISTANT GROUP HOME / HUMAN SERVICES MANAGER

   • Career-minded - Looking for more than just a job

   • Dependable - Reliable, shows up on time and prepared

   • Takes pride in your work - Pays close attention to detail and goes above and beyond

   • Team player - Works well with others

   • Respectful - Treats others with kindness and dignity

   If this sounds like you, keep reading!

   
   

   REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ASSISTANT GROUP HOME / HUMAN SERVICES MANAGER

   • High school diploma or equivalent

   • At least 18 years old

   • Experience, education, or training relevant to the position

   • Ability to pass a background check, drug screening, and TB test upon hire

   • Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record

   • Leadership skills

   If you meet the above requirements, we need you. Apply today to join our nonprofit team as an Assistant Group Home / Human Services Manager!

   Location: 46368

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   To find human services managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any human services managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level human services managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your human services manager job on Zippia to find and recruit human services manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit human services managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new human services manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect human services manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new human services manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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