Chief Executive Officer - youth-serving nonprofit

Opportunity to work from large service centers such as Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Marquette and Schofield

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) announces a search partnership with Evergreen Executive Source, LLC to identify candidates and advise on selection of a new CEO. Evergreen is a retained search firm with depth of experience in nonprofit executive sourcing and selection, and has conducted searches nationwide for over a decade serving the interests of Girl Scout councils across the entire country. All information provided to Evergreen will be treated with the utmost courtesy and confidentiality.

THE ORGANIZATION

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is the preeminent girl-focused leadership development organization serving 58 counties across northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Council offers every girl a chance to prepare for a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success, with current membership of more than 9,300 girls, 4,000 valued adult volunteers, and a staff of 79 full- and part-time employees. The Council has an annual operating budget of $7.2 million, and operates service centers in Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Marquette, and Schofield, as well as seven camps. At Girl Scouts, girls unleash their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ through a collection of engaging, challenging, and fun activities like earning badges, going on awesome trips, selling cookies, exploring science, getting outdoors, and doing community service projects. All Girl Scouting programs and activities are designed to challenge and prepare girls for a future of leadership and achievement.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The CEO will act in partnership with the Board of Directors to enhance the outcomes of all council functions to be one of the nation’s leaders in membership services and innovation. The CEO will direct the corporate strategic plan through the formulation and implementation of short to long range strategic objectives and actions needed to achieve the Council’s goals. The new CEO will hire, inspire, align, and lead a high performing team, ensuring that diversity is a core value within the Council’s activities and functions, promoting opportunities for participation in every aspect of Girl Scouting.

Responsible for stewardship of the Council’s human, material and fiscal assets, the CEO provides oversight for policies and practices that enhance the participation of members and leverage the roles of staff and volunteers to effectively engage girls, families, and volunteers in the Council’s large service area. The CEO’s important outward-facing responsibilities are to expand the Council’s visibility and create opportunities for significant strategic partnerships and financial support by ensuring that investing in girls is a priority. The CEO will build relationships with corporate, nonprofit, government and funding communities by representing the Council at strategic functions and influential speaking opportunities.

CRITICAL GOALS

Key Objectives for the incoming CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes

1. Continue to stabilize the organization (membership; finances; program; property; staffing) as the Council continues to transition from the previous year of pandemic operations to a new and unknown post pandemic year in 2021-2022. Membership currently at a 27 percent loss over previous year.
2. Continue to work in close partnership with the Board of Directors on their journey to evolving into a strong Governance board structure.
3. Continue working with the property ad hoc committee to make recommendations to the Board on the status of properties by end of FY21.
4. Focus on establishing a robust fundraising program and structure (staffing and Board) to begin to lessen the reliance on the product sale programs.
5. Work closely with staff and volunteers through the Service Area networks to establish contacts and support from key community members and leaders.

CEO QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess outstanding dedication to the nonprofit sector, with emphasis on youth-serving programs. In addition, this individual’s strengths will include broad based business skills with a minimum of seven years’ comparable executive-level experience including P&L, and ten or more years in leadership roles of progressive responsibility. The new CEO will have demonstrated ability in fundraising and/or direct sales skills and experience, and fiscal management of significant budgets demonstrating the ability to manage the Council’s budget. The ability to model leadership skills in the management and development of paid staff and volunteer leaders is essential.

The CEO will be a person of strong ideals and integrity who has a combination of vision, strategic, and operational planning abilities to lead the Council. The CEO will possess a style of leadership that is transparent, embraces partnerships, is collaborative, and empowers stakeholders to achieve their highest potential, all the while satisfying accountability measures mutually agreed upon by the CEO and the Board. The CEO will be recognized as a community and business leader in the region, or have the personal and executive presence to achieve this quickly after appointment. It is essential that the CEO have a strong commitment to serving girls from all family, community, and economic backgrounds. We are seeking an individual who will bring optimism, collaboration and solutions to the role of CEO.

Additional desired qualifications include nonprofit board relations, marketing, financial acumen, and volunteer relations leadership. The CEO is expected to possess a minimum of an earned bachelor's degree, with advanced education and training desired.

Skilled executives from the world of Girl Scouting, corporate, nonprofit, or other professional backgrounds who are dedicated to providing world-class development opportunities for the young women and girls in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are encouraged to apply. If this is your background, and you share a passion for advancing the lives of girls in this service area, we want to speak with you.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

The Council offers a competitive compensation and benefits plan with annual pay commensurate with experience. It provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, as well as a 403(b) Thrift Plan and Flex Spending and Dependent Care. Other features include an Employee Assistance Program and attractive personal time off. Benefits are subject to change at the discretion of the Council. Relocation support will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is an equal opportunity employer.

Evergreen is experienced in conducting executive search responsibilities in a contact-free environment, observing COVID-19 restrictions for the safety of all individuals involved in the process.

We encourage expressions of interest as early as possible to accommodate the Council's need to fill this important position. For consideration, please e-mail your cover letter and resume to:

Bob Perodeau, Principal
Evergreen Executive Source, LLC
E-mail: evergreen.source@att.net
Voice (800) 286 4009 

Providing executive recruiting services to Girl Scouts of the USA since 2001