What career opportunities are available after studying social management?

„And what will you do with that later on?“ – that’s one of the first questions students of social management are asked. The answer is broader than many expect.

The social economy: an underestimated labour market

The social economy is one of the largest employers in Germany. The six major welfare organisations alone – Caritas, Diakonie, AWO, DRK, Paritätischer and Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle – together employ over 1.7 million people. In addition, there are local authority organisations, hospitals, care homes, charitable associations and social enterprises.

Those who study social management do not apply for jobs in this sector as social workers – but as people who can take on roles at the coordination, organisational and management levels.

Typical career paths

Centre management

The classic career goal: you run a social care organisation – a care home, a nursery, a residential home for people with disabilities, an addiction support centre or a food bank. You are responsible for staff, the budget, quality and liaising with public authorities and funding bodies. Many graduates start out as assistants, deputy managers or department heads, and take over as managers of the organisation after a few years.

Project coordination for charitable organisations and NGOs

Caritas, Diakonie, AWO, DRK and many smaller organisations in the social sector are constantly implementing projects – aimed at the integration of refugees, the prevention of addiction, supporting older people or promoting education. Project coordinators plan these projects, coordinate teams, apply for funding and report to donors. The degree programme specifically prepares you for these tasks – through modules on project management and fundraising.

Social planning in local authorities

Cities and districts have their own social planning departments. These departments analyse which social services are needed in the region, how they are funded and how they interact with other services. Social planners work at the interface between politics, administration and social service providers – a field of work that bridges the gap between expertise in social work and public administration.

Human Resource Management in Social Organisations

Care homes, hospitals and charitable organisations are labour-intensive organisations. HR managers are responsible for recruitment, working time arrangements, staff development and staff retention – whilst dealing with the specific challenges of the social sector, such as shift work, skills shortages and voluntary structures.

Quality management

Social care organisations are inspected by public authorities and funding bodies and must provide evidence of quality. Quality managers develop and document quality management systems, oversee internal audits and ensure that processes comply with legal requirements. This is a growing field of work – because the demands placed on social care organisations are increasing.

Fundraising and Communications

Charities need people who can write grant applications, develop fundraising campaigns and promote the organisation to the outside world. Graduates of the Social Management programme bring with them the necessary expertise in funding structures within the social economy – and combine this with communication skills that are explicitly taught as part of the degree programme.

Health management

Hospitals, rehabilitation centres and healthcare organisations are increasingly looking for managers with a background in the social economy. The overlap between the healthcare and social sectors is growing – and with it, the demand for graduates who understand both fields.

Where exactly do graduates work?

• Caritas, Diakonie, AWO, Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, DRK
• Local social services departments, youth welfare services, public health departments
• Care homes and home care services
• Hospitals and rehabilitation centres
• Nursery schools and youth support services
• Charitable organisations and foundations
• Social enterprises and co-operatives

Straight after a bachelor’s degree, or only after a master’s?

Many entry-level roles – such as project coordinator, HR officer or deputy head of department – can be accessed with a Bachelor’s degree. For senior positions in larger organisations, a Master’s degree is often an advantage. Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences offers a Master’s programme that builds directly on this, entitled „Human Resources and Change Management in Non-Profit Organisations“.