Director of Programs

Job Description

About Girl Scouts San Diego

As part of the largest girl-serving nonprofit in the country, Girl Scouts San Diego (GSSD) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. With the help of more than 8,000 volunteers, GSSD serves nearly 15,000 girls in grades K-12 in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

For more than a century, Girl Scouts San Diego has engaged and inspired generations of leaders. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, the proven program that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); the outdoors; life skills; and entrepreneurship, as well as the support of caring volunteers, girls learn to empower themselves for a lifetime of leadership and success.

Position Overview

The Director of Programs will report to the Chief Mission Delivery Officer and have leadership responsibility for the development and execution of strategic goals and initiatives of the program pillars (STEM, Entrepreneurship, Outdoor, and Like Skills), including oversight of and business decisions for high-profile, complex programs such as summer camp and the Girl Scout outreach programs.

The Director serves as a leader on the Mission Delivery Team and is also a key member of the Senior Management Team; as such, they align with and champion Girl Scouts San Diegos strategic priorities and initiatives.

Success in this position requires the ability to understand and effectively lead multiple complex programs through direct and in-direct reports, support and build high functioning program teams, and provide opportunities for cross-functional teaming across the organization.

Essential Responsibilities

General

• Direct the design, implementation, and assessment of high quality, relevant, well-executed, outcomes-based programs and effective delivery systems to meet the needs and interests of girl members and adult volunteers from diverse ages, communities and backgrounds.
• Develop and implement long- and short-term innovative program strategies and initiatives that help retain and attract new members and develop leadership skills in girls and adult volunteers.
• Achieve council goals in support of strategic business objectives, while ensuring programs are consistent with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), safety, and risk management guidelines.
• Develop, administer, monitor, and meet complex annual operating budgets inclusive of revenue generation, expense management, and budget forecasting.
• Directly, and through teams, partner with accounting and operations leadership to ensure timely reporting and forecasting of financial and department metrics.
• Evaluate programs (e.g., program offerings, staffing, budget, properties) on an ongoing basis to ensure the needs and interests of girls ages 5-17 are met.
• Lead the development of programming goals that support revenue generation and increase participation levels and membership retention.
• Network to build contacts and collaboration in the community. In partnership with the advancement team, oversee program collaboration with external partners and serve as a liaison to community initiatives that align with program priorities and increases organizational support.
• Oversee staff teams in recruiting, managing and training volunteers to manage programs.
• Ensure safety and risk management of program delivery in compliance with council, GSUSA, ACA, ACCT, and regulatory standards. Manage camp accreditation process.
• Support, mentor, develop, and retain high performing program staff teams, supervising multiple managers who oversee approximately 25 regular staff and 150 seasonal staff; ensuring effective operations in support of strategic priorities in a decentralized environment (across multiple properties and two counties) through managers, staff, and volunteers in the field.
• Lead teams to develop strategies and processes to support programmatic implementation in multiple membership pathways (troop, camp, after school, and alternative program deliveries) that are accessible and attractive to both current members and non-members.
• Ensure teams use outcome measurement and evaluation tools for all programs; implement assessments, report results, and adapt program curriculum and delivery based on results.
• Work in partnership with the councils marketing and communications team to disseminate (often time-sensitive) information to members and the community.
• Oversee the writing and editing of all council program resources, including periodic event guides, regular website program updates, and volunteer support materials.
• Exemplify and model professional and quality customer service to members, volunteers, staff, and other community contacts.
• Partner with other departments to meet shared goals for the recruitment, retention and support of Girl Scout members and volunteers.
• Partner with property department to ensure safe and effective use of facilities with the needs of the membership in mind.
• Develop and maintain innovative, rich, and relevant portfolio of programming for after-school delivery, outdoor (including day and overnight summer camps), and through program pillars.
  
  

Required Experience

Attributes and Work Style

• Mission-focused: sincere belief in and dedication to the mission of GSSD
• Collaborative: relationship builder and creative thinker with the ability to manage through others to achieve results, foster a respectful, transparent and collaborative work environment
• Leader: can coach and mentor individuals and build effective teams to drive an inclusive and positive workplace culture; maintains a servant leadership approach
• Decisive: able to accomplish goals through motivation and delegation, effective planning, evaluation, and accountability; makes timely, data-driven decisions
• Emotionally Intelligent: utilizes strong interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively and tactfully with a wide variety of people and sensitive situations
• Strategic: excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to proactively identify problems and develop viable solutions; can develop long-term plans to drive results
• Creative: enjoys finding new solutions to existing opportunities; welcomes new ideas
• Direct: employs a communication style that is diplomatic yet straightforward and focused; not afraid of having difficult conversations
• Analytical: strong critical thinking skills; uses facts, data, and performance metrics to support program and business outcomes
• Adaptive: able to manage multiple (and sometimes conflicting) priorities, projects and deliverables; enjoys working both independently and in teams
• Business Acumen: strong organizational, administrative, and financial management and presentation skills
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in education, business, nonprofit management or related education and experience required. Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven years management experience, with a professional history of increased leadership responsibility.
• Volunteer management experience preferred.
• Excellent analytical skills and proficiency in working with data and complex budgets.
• Strategic thought partner and able to execute deliverables in a timely manner.
• Strong project management skills with an ability to manage and execute multiple diverse projects and deliverables.
• Superior presentation skills and ability to deliver effective presentations to a variety of stakeholders (e.g., volunteers, staff, Board of Directors, community partners, etc.).
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Superior conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Marketing, sales, and vendor management experience a plus.
• Track record of successfully developing leaders in manager or supervisor roles.
• Strategic planning and financial management experience. Demonstrated ability to create effective plans to deal with business situations and implement strategies to reach council goals.
• Financial literacy and ability to understand processes related to reporting, budgeting, forecasting and other financial skills.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office programs (e.g., Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Value diversity and have sensitivity to the multi-cultural communities served by Girl Scouts San Diego.
• Valid drivers license, proof of insurance, and access to reliable transportation. Daily and/or occasional travel may be required.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Must have belief in (and ability to speak about passionately and with conviction) the mission and values of Girl Scouts, be willing to subscribe to the principles expressed in the Promise and Law, and aware of the needs of girls in our pluralistic society.
  
  

Pay range: $95,000 - $103,000 per year

To learn more about Girl Scouts San Diego programs, visit sdgirlscouts.org.

Keyword: Director of Programs