The Executive Source

 

This position has been filled.

Congratulations to Loretta Graham!

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

Glen Carbon Headquarters

Position to be filled January 2018

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois 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 confidentiality.

THE ORGANIZATION

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is the preeminent organization serving the interests of girls in the region, seeking to bring out the greatness in every girl, empowering her to pursue her dreams, and make the world a better place.  The Council has current membership of more than 11,300 girls, over 4,500 valued adult volunteers, and a staff of 51 full- and part-time employees.  It has an annual operating budget of $3.6 million, and operates a corporate service center in Glen Carbon, a regional service center in Mt. Vernon, and four camp properties to provide year-round engagement opportunities for girls, families, adult members, and community partners.  All Girl Scouting programs and activities – from camping to computing, arts to engineering, service projects to field trips – are designed to challenge and prepare girls for a future of leadership and achievement.  Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is proud of its very strong STEM and robotics presence.

 

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 objectives and actions needed to achieve the Council’s goals.  In addition, the CEO will ensure that pluralism 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

Under the incoming CEO, focus will continue on the following three objectives for the coming year: 

1) Connectivity -- Strengthening council communications and connections with outlying, less populated areas in the region served; building relationships with those affected by camp closing decisions in post-merger years,

2) Membership – Growing the Council’s girl and adult membership numbers, and

3) Finances -- Leading the charge to be financially healthier; standing firm on fiscal responsibility with regard to income, expenses, and fundraising.

Successful measures of accomplishment will be determined in the following areas.

• Providing volunteers with an enhanced opportunity to serve girls of all populations and backgrounds.
•  Making increased use of technology to manage processes and engage staff, volunteers, members, and community stakeholders, and continued implementation of the CEI – Customer Engagement Initiative program.
• Ensuring effective use of facilities and properties, and creating an environment where stakeholders can come together and share ideas.
• Demonstrating the highest personal qualities of integrity, judgment, adaptability and self-awareness.
•  Inspiring others to be high performers by demonstrating leadership and courage, and by fostering a culture that encourages partnership between staff and volunteers.

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 five years’ comparable executive-level experience including P&L, and eight 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, fiscal management of budgets in excess of $2-million and the ability to provide leadership skills in the management and development of paid staff and volunteer leaders.   

The CEO will be a person of strong ideals and integrity who has a combination of vision, strategic, and operational planning abilities and who can serve as a role model of best management practices and effective decision-making.  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 southern Illinois, 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.  

Additional desired qualifications include nonprofit board relations, marketing, financial acumen, and volunteer relations leadership.  It is expected that candidates will possess a minimum of an undergraduate degree, with advanced degree 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 Southern Illinois 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, long-term disability and life insurance, as well as attractive personal time off.  Other features include a 403(b) thrift plan with matching contribution after one year, and a flexible spending account.  Benefits are subject to change at the discretion of the Council.  Relocation support will be considered.

COUNCIL JURISDICTION

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois serves girls in 40 and one-half counties in southern Illinois.  From rural to suburban to urban, Girl Scouting is strong and growing stronger throughout southern Illinois.  This jurisdiction includes numerous small cities and rural areas including the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis, the Rt. 57 corridor from central to the southern state borders, and the Rt. 64 corridor from St. Louis to the Illinois suburbs of Evansville, Indiana.  There are numerous universities and small colleges located through the council area.  The area is well recognized for its strong family orientation and work ethic, cultural opportunities and outdoor recreational activities, as well as affordable housing and lifestyle.



COUNCIL WEBSITE:  http://www.gsofsi.org/

HOW TO APPLY

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is an equal opportunity employer.

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 along with salary requirements to: 

Bob Perodeau, Principal

Evergreen Executive Source, LLC

E-mail:  evergreen.source@att.net

Voice (800) 286 4009    www.egreensource.com

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