Chief Belonging Officer at Girl Scouts of the USA - Axis Talent Partners

About Girl Scouts of the USA

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls and the leading authority on their healthy development. Millions of Girl Scout alums across the country and the world have gone on to achieve incredible things and make a tremendous impact in fields ranging from public policy, medicine, journalism, and athletics to international relations, science, technology, art, and entertainment. 

As a mission-driven organization, Girl Scouts of the USA champions girls as they explore their worlds, try new things, and develop the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. From stargazing during a first overnight camping trip to building robots, navigating a rocky hiking trail, working together on a community project, and learning about the importance of environmental stewardship, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can unapologetically be themselves as they rise to meet new challenges and discover the issues that matter most to them. Along the way, they learn the power of friendship, connection, and teamwork. 

Girl Scouts are doers, innovators, problem-solvers, creators, and dreamers, and the GSUSA team is here to center, support, and inspire them, working with 111 local councils across the country and USA Girl Scouts Overseas to deliver our life-changing Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

About the Opportunity

Girl Scouts of the USA is seeking our first ever Chief Belonging Officer (CBO) to spearhead our effort to reach more girls, and more communities nationwide. The CBO joins the organization at a critical inflection point and at the start of an ambitious new strategic plan and energized leadership. The CBO will partner with the CEO, Executive Management Team and current and future Girl Scouts communities to foster a deep feeling of inclusion for all girls, volunteers, staff, and alumni, of all identities, abilities, and orientations. 

The CBO will report to the CEO, work closely with the Chief Experience Officer, and collaborate with the broader executive team as well as our 111 councils and USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO), to shape the belonging and diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice (DEIRJ) vision and strategy of the organization, while driving impactful initiatives, and developing national partnerships that support membership growth. This visionary and highly effective CBO will play a crucial role in contributing thought leadership to the current belonging and DEIRJ work for Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and across our Movement – for girls, volunteers, councils, national staff, the CEO and executive leadership team, Board of Directors, and our employees. 

The CBO oversees a staff of 4 DEIRJ professionals, which includes a Vice President, Director, Manager, and Coordinator while managing an annual budget of approximately $1.3MM.

This is an opportunity for a mission and values-aligned professional to join the executive management team at one of the largest and most established social impact organizations and to partner with a world-class leadership team and board.

Areas of Leadership

Executive Leadership, Vision, and Strategy for Belonging: 

In partnership with the CEO, executive team, councils, and GSUSA community, and in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan, execute the belonging and DEIRJ strategy to increase membership of girls nationwide. Collaborate across GSUSA, councils, and current and potential communities to identify and address barriers to attracting and retaining more girls from diverse communities. Provide leadership and support to the DEIRJ team to deliver outcomes outlined in the national DEIRJ strategy. Champion strategies to ensure Girl Scouts culture, systems, and processes support an environment that speaks to our values, is inclusive for all, and where employees feel able to contribute their fullest.

• Key qualifications: 
  • Demonstrated mission and values alignment with GSUSA
  • Significant executive leadership experience, including a proven ability to envision, develop, and effectively implement comprehensive strategies in national, complex organizations and achieve stated goals, particularly during times of significant evolution or growth
  • Ability to hold and balance perspectives and priorities across scope and context, including enterprise, departmental, and team levels and corresponding goals
  • Outstanding people leader, excellent at coaching, mentoring, and developing individuals and teams
  • Ability to translate complex strategies into actionable, relatable steps for diverse stakeholders
  • Comfort in fast-paced environments

DEIRJ Expertise, Leadership, and Implementation: 

Contribute thought leadership to the development and implementation of innovative ideas, policies, processes, practices, trainings, educational programming, and systems to advance and support belonging and DEIRJ initiatives across the movement with the result of increasing membership of diverse girls. Ensure transparency and accountability in DEIRJ efforts, including regular reporting to stakeholders on best practices, lessons learned, and successes, and adjusting strategies based on feedback and outcomes. Promote and nurture an organizational culture that prioritizes inclusivity, equity, and belonging.

• Key qualifications: 
  • Demonstrated understanding of industry benchmarks, legislation, leading practices, and innovations in belonging and DEIRJ
  • Deep understanding of DEIRJ work, including data-driven approaches to measure and communicate impact in national, complex organizations
  • Proven ability to generate and implement innovative ideas with measurable outcomes and tangible impact, bridging the gap between ideation and implementation

Change Leadership: 

Actively and strategically promote and nurture an organizational culture that prioritizes inclusivity, equity, and belonging at all levels of the organization, and across the field. Consult with cross-functional teams during the development and implementation of major initiatives to ensure equitable and inclusive practices are put into place. Design and develop best-in-class change management strategies, tailored to GSUSA’s goals and context, to build a pipeline of diverse leaders across the movement. 

• Key qualifications: 
  • Collaborative leader with a demonstrated ability to build strong relationships in order to co-create and drive strategies
  • Significant experience designing and leading change initiatives at scale
  • Demonstrated success with implementing effective change management strategies in a complex organizational structure

Community and National Partnerships and Collaboration: 

Build and maintain national strategic partnerships with external organizations, community groups, and stakeholders to advance social equity and inclusion goals. Leverage these partnerships to advance the organization’s objectives and extend its influence and resources. Represent the organization in external forums, conferences, and community engagements to promote DEIRJ efforts and gather insights. Serve as a Movement-wide spokesperson.

• Key Qualifications:
  • Outstanding relationship builder with a community-centered approach to partnership 
  • History of identifying, cultivating, and developing innovative and mutually beneficial partnerships among social impact and other organizations
  • Comfortable with and a track record of externally representing an organization’s mission to a variety of audiences

Impact Assessment and Reporting: 

Design and implement metrics to measure the effectiveness and impact of belonging and DEIRJ programs. Provide regular, transparent reports on progress and outcomes to the executive team, board, and stakeholders. Collaborate with the Analytics & Insights Team to use data-driven insights to refine strategies and enhance the overall impact of the DEIRJ strategy and its outputs.

• Key Qualifications:
  • Track record of data-informed decision-making and leadership
  • Experience translating data and analytics to inform strategy, monitor progress, develop insights, tell stories, drive decisions, and measure impact

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation and Location

This hybrid role is based in New York City, with the expectation that the CBO will be in the office at least two days a week. The salary range for this position is $325,000-$375,000, contingent upon experience. 

Benefits

Girl Scouts is powered by people, and we encourage our team members to be their best selves in and out of the office. We place a high priority on flexibility and offer a competitive employee salary and benefits package that includes: 

Paid Time Off:  

GSUSA offers 20 days of paid time off, 2 floating holidays, as well as 9 workplace holidays per year. GSUSA staff also enjoy a paid holiday year-end office closure between Christmas and New Year's.

Other Benefits: 

• Medical and Behavioral Health Coverage 
  • Plan options with individual and family coverage which includes wellness, hospitalization, and fertility assistance 
  • Both plans include GSUSA partial subsidy of premium costs
  • Dental and vision coverage 
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) including Health, Dependent Care, and Limited FSA for those with Health Savings Accounts 
• Company-paid life insurance 
• Flexible work arrangements 
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave 
• 401(K) with company match 
• Short- and Long-Term Disability for salary continuation 
• Health and Wellness Classes and Activities throughout the year 
• Access to Employee Engagement Groups 

How to Apply 

This search is being managed by Axis Talent Partners, a talent strategy and executive search firm that partners with social impact organizations and centers equity and inclusivity in search. Interested candidates should apply, detailing their qualifications for the position and their interest in Girl Scouts’ mission HERE.

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