Job Title: Program Manager – Adventures on the Go

Department: Program & Inclusion

Reports to: Program & Inclusion Director

Location: Based anywhere in the council; ideally, centrally located.

This position requires travel 60-80% of the time, residing in the trailer’s living quarters as needed.

Classification: Exempt

Salary Grade: S6 / SH1 ~ (Scale starts at $47,000)

GSNWGL will consider extra compensation for bilingual speakers (Spanish or Hmong).

Job Summary:

The program manager is responsible for providing management oversight of Adventures on the Go (AOTG) within the program department and the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL). The program manager is a professional position responsible for developing and administering outdoor programming and support systems that meet the needs and interests of Girl Scouts and potential Girl Scout members throughout GSNWGL’s 58 counties in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The AOTG program manager is responsible for developing innovative strategies and effective services to support Girl Scout membership and increase access to outdoor experiences. The AOTG program manager works closely with other operational and organizational functions to support the mission, goals, and strategic priorities. Due to the on-the-road commitment of the AOTG program manager, families and partners may travel alongside the employee upon approval and pending the completion of a background check.

Through Adventures on the Go, GSNWGL can deliver outdoor programming and experiences to current and potential Girl Scouts, no matter where they are in our council. AOTG will remove barriers and hardships that may keep girls from spending time in nature and embarking on their next adventure. Help GSNWGL deliver adventure in a whole new way!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide direction and leadership for outdoor programming “on the go” throughout council limits as determined annually. These include but are not limited to Girl Scout program safety, budgeting, program development, marketing, recruitment, scheduling, and overseeing day-to-day operations.

2. Collaborating with the program team, create a new needs-based, data-driven, comprehensive council-wide offering of programs. Programs include, but are not limited to, specialized outdoor programming events, i.e., archery, canoeing, low ropes courses, and badge workshops.

3. Implement outdoor programming, through effective planning and coordination, to provide fun and engaging participation options for all girl members, supporting council program revenue.

4. Cultivate and maintain relationships with appropriate community partners to support program and event efforts. Solve problems quickly and efficiently, following Girl Scout principles and policies.

5. Prepare and administer the budget. Prepare reports as needed for grants in cooperation with staff.

6. Manage and support volunteers for the effective delivery of outdoor programming.

7. Ensure the appropriate materials, supplies, and reservation spaces are available for outdoor programming experiences in all council areas.

8. Stay abreast of all outdoor program opportunities coming from GSUSA.

9. Supports council events and Reaching Out programming as needed.

10. Possesses the ability to live in small quarters for extended periods, depending on the distance from home and programming needs throughout the council.

11. Ensures Girl Scouts is open to adults and youth who identify with the girl experience by delivering the Girl Scout message of pluralism, diversity, and inclusion.

12. Promotes and assists with council-wide programs, activities, public relations, and fund development endeavors, including the United Way.

We welcome applications from people of any gender, age, or religion, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), people with disabilities, veterans, and anyone who wishes to make a positive impact on our movement. The outdoors is for everyone. We’re committed to making sure it’s accessible and inclusive for everyone too.

• Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc. requires staff members to become Girl Scout members

Competencies and areas of expertise:

• Driving & Maintenance
  • Must be able to drive a larger vehicle and tow a trailer with equipment on all road surfaces and weather. General maintenance knowledge is helpful.

• Project Management

o Formulate short- and long-term goals, objectives, and schedules per council priorities.

o Anticipates issues, obstacles, or opportunities that may impact plans or actions.

o Establishes courses of action for accomplishing goals while attending to and incorporating information obtained during day-to-day administrative tasks.

o Identifies outcome measures of each project, allowing for thorough evaluation upon completion.

• Interpersonal Relations

o Creates and maintains a positive rapport with others at all organizational levels.

o Respects others and considers and responds to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.

o Establishes and maintains an open dialogue and demonstrates the ability to market the Girl Scout value proposition through various communication venues, including in person, email, phone, and online.

• Self-management and Self-assurance

o Accepts constructive feedback, assesses own skills and abilities and identifies areas for improvement.

o Sets and achieves goals and seeks developmental opportunities.

o Works independently and is self-motivated.

o Has the confidence to prepare for conversations and visits with potential members/customers by gathering essential information and setting vital objectives to achieve successful outcomes.

• Customer Responsiveness

o Seeks and acknowledges the views and ideas of customers (internal and external).

o Identifies, prioritizes, and balances customer issues, answering questions and explaining decisions.

o Promptly follows through on customer commitments.

o Maintains a commitment to continuous self-improvement and learning.

o Demonstrates comfort in presenting the value behind solutions in a way that resonates with what is most important to the members/customers of the organization.

• Active Listening

o Ability to skillfully use a variety of questions and other active listening techniques to promote a robust discussion with members/customers and identify needs.

• Conflict Management

o Ability to anticipate, prevent, and resolve conflicts while maintaining productive working relationships (with customers, vendors, or coworkers).

o Distinguish disruptive conflict from constructive differences and identify common interests for solutions.

• Oral and Written Communication Skills (In person, verbal, written, and phone)

o Prepares organized presentations to express ideas and facts clearly and understandably for the audience.

o Listens to and comprehends what others are saying.

o Demonstrates the ability to work with a wide range of sensitive and confidential issues and communicate effectively with a diverse group of girls, volunteers, and staff.

• Volunteer Relations

o Understands the functions of volunteers and demonstrates flexibility to meet with volunteers.

o Effectively delegates responsibility.

o Monitors the use of volunteers within existing constraints and guidelines.

o Works effectively with volunteers and recognizes volunteer accomplishments.

• Judgment and Decision-Making

o Recognizes when action is required and when sufficient information is available to make a decision.

o Supports decisions or recommendations with data and reasoning.

o Outlines and implements solutions to problems.

• Program Facilitation

o Effectively delivers programming to those from a variety of backgrounds and varying abilities.

Collaborative & Leadership Competencies:

• Model high levels of motivation, performance, dedication, and commitment.
• Creates, implements, and supports council initiatives, policies, and strategies.
• Inspires, guides, and gains support for accomplishing individual, team, council, and GSUSA goals.
• Adapts leadership style to manage a variety of situations.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality when required.
• Collaboration with staff, volunteers, and community partners to co-deliver programming efforts.
• Delivers results by maximizing organizational effectiveness and sustainability.
• Ensures people have the support and tools they need and that the assigned workforce has the capacity and diversity to meet current and longer-term organizational objectives.
• Align people, work, and systems with the business strategy to harmonize their work.
• Conscientiously assigns performance goals, offers year-round performance feedback, and conducts timely performance discussions and reviews.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and personal/work experience required.
• Experience working with volunteers is preferred.
• Maintain certifications required for program delivery (i.e., lifeguard, first aid, low ropes, archery, etc.).
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Travel is required. Maintain a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and reliable transportation.
• Manage a multi-faceted workload with minimum supervision while functioning well as a team member.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Experience with database programs preferred.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Pluralistic in actions and attitude.
• The physical demands described represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to sit, stand, and walk for prolonged periods. The employee must regularly be able to lift and move up to 75 pounds. The position requires the employee to be able to set up and tear down camp, portage canoes or kayaks, set up and tear down archery, low ropes, and additional programming.

We welcome applications from people of any gender, age, or religion, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), people with disabilities, veterans, and anyone who wishes to make a positive impact on our movement. The outdoors is for everyone. We’re committed to making sure it’s accessible and inclusive for everyone too.

• Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc. requires staff members to become Girl Scout members

When you work for Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, you have a unique opportunity to use your professional skills toward a worthwhile mission. The satisfaction of knowing that your contributions make a real difference in the lives of girls and their families in your community brings true workplace enjoyment.

Benefits

GSNWGL offers a generous benefit program. As a human service organization, we recognize that our staff benefits from flexibility, generous paid time off, and the ability to occasionally work from home.

GSNWGL’s basic benefits for full-time staff include:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• 403(b) plan

Paid time off is also available for all GSNWGL staff working more than 20 hours per week, and our offices are closed on major holidays. Each summer, we amend our hours to have half-day Fridays, and we close our offices between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day to allow staff to spend time with their families.

Organizational Culture

Girl Scouts is an organization with a solid history and a growing future. To work with GSNWGL means reaching your full potential in a dynamic and diverse environment. We value flexibility, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. With our large geography, we communicate in person and through phone, computer, and video conference technology.

Diversity & Inclusion

GSNWGL and GSUSA have a policy of inclusion and acceptance, which promotes diversity in all its categories. Diversity has been a core value of the organization since its founding in 1912. Girl Scouts of the USA and GSNWGL value diversity and inclusiveness and do not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical, social, emotional, or developmental disability. Girl Scouts provides settings that enable us to serve girls in an emotionally and physically safe environment, allowing them to learn leadership skills and develop the confidence and character to serve as examples to their community.