Senior Social Worker

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

The Senior Social Worker is an Uncommon Schools social worker with a proven track record of high performance and leadership. In addition to maintaining core responsibilities, the Senior Social Worker plays a critical role in driving programmatic alignment, professional development, and data-informed practices across campuses.

The Senior Social Worker leads strategic initiatives, supports team development, and ensures consistency of best practices across campuses through the following:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of social work initiatives across all grade spans

• Plan and facilitate PD sessions in August and throughout the year

• Oversee the creation and distribution of McKinney-Vento support bags to ensure students experiencing housing instability have access to essential resources

• Collaborate regularly with the Director of Social Work and Social Work Manager

• Develop and maintain resource directories to support student and family needs

• Monitor implementation fidelity and escalate concerns to the Director of Social Work

Responsibilities:

• Lead the creation and implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives and ensure consistency across all NSA-CP campuses

• Plan and facilitate PD sessions in August and throughout the year

• Oversee McKinney-Vento bag creation and inventory management/restocking, with direct support from the Director of Social Work/McKinney-Vento Liaison

• Maintain regular communication with the Director of Social Work and Social Work Manager, elevating trends, challenges, and successes

• Oversee the implementation of quarterly initiatives, including meeting with social workers to review planning and expectations in advance, and conducting campus visits during implementation to provide support, reinforce engagement, and offer real-time feedback.

Quarterly Initiative Scope & Sequence:

Quarter 1 (August–October):

• Plan and execute Week of Respect in collaboration with the Dean of Students

• Launch beginning-of-year SEL initiatives (e.g., community-building activities, expectations setting, attendance awareness)

• Establish systems and routines for initiative tracking and campus alignment

Quarter 2 (November–January):

• Plan and execute winter-focused initiatives (e.g., Winter Wellness/Winter Wonderful, gratitude initiatives, stress-management workshops before exams/holidays)

• Implement family engagement initiatives to support student well-being during the holiday season

• Monitor initiative participation and adjust based on campus needs

Quarter 3 (February–April):

• Plan and execute a Social Work team outing/celebration in alignment with Social Work Awareness Month, focused on staff recognition, team building, and appreciation of the social work profession

• Implement additional initiatives such as kindness campaigns, conflict resolution programming, peer support groups, or restorative practices circles

• Analyze mid-year data to refine SEL and intervention approaches

Quarter 4 (May–June):

• Lead Mental Health Awareness Month (May) programming, including student and staff wellness initiatives

• Support end-of-year transition initiatives (e.g., coping skills for transitions, summer resource planning)

• Evaluate effectiveness of yearly initiatives and develop recommendations for the upcoming school year

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization.

• Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.

• Exceptional time and task management skills.

• Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles.

• Strong advocacy within the social work profession.

• Relentless drive to empower students academically and personally.

• Self-motivation, desire to be a great teammate, and a strong sense of personal responsibility.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills with school leaders, students, parents, colleagues, and community members.

• Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues.

• Requirements:

  • 3+ years of experience as a Social Worker at Uncommon Schools

  • Master’s degree in Social Work

  • Valid School Social Worker Certification from NJDOE

  • License preferred

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $63,000 to $83,000. Most candidates who meet job description requirements will receive an offer of $63,000 - $77,000.

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional development, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer).

• Extensive, best-in-class training and development

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)

• Financial Planning

  • New Jersey Pension program

• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)

• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.