Chief Experience Officer

Who We Are
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young girls and helping them develop into confident, capable leaders of the future? If so, we invite you to become a dynamic part of the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland team. At Badgerland Girl Scouts, we believe in the power of every girl to change the world, and we are looking for dedicated individuals who share our commitment to fostering courage, confidence, and character in the next generation of female leaders. Join us in creating a brighter future for girls, where they can discover their potential, embrace diversity, and build a better world.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Experience Officer (CXO) provides strategic leadership and oversight for the programs, camp, outdoor experiences, and Girl Scouts in Action after-school initiatives that bring the Girl Scout mission to life across Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland.

The CXO leads and develops the teams responsible for high-quality council programs, camp, outdoor experiences, and works closely with the CEO to identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement. This leader ensures programs are relevant, innovative, accessible, financially responsible, and responsive to the interests and needs of today’s Girl Scouts.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CXO works collaboratively across the council to advance Badgerland’s strategic priorities, increase participation and engagement, and strengthen the connection between Girl Scout experiences and youth retention.

Job Type:  Salary/Exempt
Salary Range: $70,000-$90,000/year
Expected hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Madison, WI  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program and Girl Experience Leadership

· Provides strategic leadership and direction for council delivered Girl Scout programs, camp, and troop experiences.

· Ensures programs support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) and provide relevant and engaging opportunities in areas including STEM, outdoors, life skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, travel, Highest Awards, and experiences for older Girl Scouts.

· Provides strategic leadership for Girl Scouts in Action, expanding opportunities to bring Girl Scout experiences to youth through schools and community-based partnerships and strengthening pathways to continued Girl Scout participation.

· Leads the development and evaluation of the council’s annual program portfolio to increase participation, provide meaningful experiences across age levels and communities, and respond to the interests of Girl Scouts and families.

· Ensures programs are delivered in a high quality and cost effectiveness consistent with council, GSUSA standards, and the National Program Portfolio.

· Develops collaborative relationships with community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and other partners that expand experiences available to Girl Scouts.

· Keeps current on trends affecting girls and youth development and on GSUSA program priorities, standards, and requirements.

Camp and Outdoor Experience Leadership

· Provides strategic leadership for Badgerland’s camp and outdoor experience portfolio, including resident camp, day camp, troop camping, outdoor adventure, challenge course experiences, and other outdoor opportunities.

· Develops strategies to increase participation and ensure camp and outdoor experiences remain relevant, inclusive, financially responsible, and responsive to the interests of Girl Scouts and volunteers.

· Provides leadership and oversight for camp and adventure programming, including appropriate training, risk management, and compliance with council and GSUSA safety standards, American Camp Association standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.

· Works closely with the Property team to ensure council camps and facilities support current and future program needs and provide safe, welcoming, and engaging environments.

· Provides program expertise, participation and utilization data, and anticipated future needs to inform property planning, improvements, and capital priorities.

People, Performance and Financial Leadership

· Leads, coaches, and develops managers and staff responsible for programs, camp, outdoor experiences, and Girl Scouts in Action, establishing clear expectations, priorities, decision making authority, and accountability.

· Builds a strong management team and a culture of collaboration, communication, trust, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

· Holds department leaders accountable for achieving annual goals, managing budgets, improving program quality, and delivering measurable results aligned with the council’s strategic priorities.

· Develops annual operating plans, budgets, and measurable goals for assigned areas aligned with the council’s strategic priorities.

· Monitors participation, satisfaction, program outcomes, revenue, expenses, and other performance measures and adjusts strategies when results are not meeting expectations.

· Uses Girl Scout Voices Count, program evaluations, participant feedback, and other available data to evaluate and continuously improve Girl Scout experiences.

· Ensures council resources are used effectively to achieve program, participation, and financial goals.

Organizational Leadership and Collaboration

· Serves as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team and contributes to council-wide strategy, planning, budgeting, culture, and decision making.

· Works collaboratively across departments to ensure strong coordination among Program, Membership, Marketing, Advancement, Customer Care, Finance, Operations, and Properties.

· Communicates opportunities, challenges, risks, results, and recommendations clearly and directly to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team.

· Connects program and camp strategies with broader organizational goals for membership engagement, retention, visibility, and growth.

· Represents Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland with volunteers, community partners, donors, Girl Scouts of the USA, and other stakeholders.

· Demonstrates commitment to the Girl Scout mission, vision, values, Promise, and Law.

· Belief in the mission and values of Girl Scouting; be willing to subscribe to the principles expressed in the Promise and Law and Wisconsin Badgerland Girl Scouts mission, vision, and values.

Education or Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in education, recreation, youth development, nonprofit management, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Advanced degree preferred.

· Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience with demonstrated success in program development, growth, and staff leadership, preferably in a youth serving or nonprofit organization.

· Experience with camp operations, outdoor recreation, adventure programming, experiential education, or youth programming strongly preferred.

· Experience developing community partnerships and working collaboratively with volunteers and external organizations.

Demonstrated executive judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead teams, make timely decisions, and achieve organizational goals.

· Demonstrated ability and sensitivity working with youth and persons of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles.

· Ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, manage competing demands, and follow through on commitments.

· Strong project management, problem-solving, and financial management skills, with an entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented approach.

· Proven ability to build relationships, develop managers, and work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and partners across the organization.

· Leads with integrity, discretion, curiosity, and a commitment to learning and continuous improvement.

· Exceptional written and verbal communicator.

· Strong work ethic with a high degree of curiosity and a learning orientation; someone who leads and operates with a high level of integrity, confidentiality and discretion.

· Spanish/Bilingual skills a plus.

· Be or become a registered member of the Girls Scouts of the United States of America, have a working knowledge of Girl Scout philosophy and programming, and be committed to the Girl Scout mission. Prior Girl Scout experience is preferred.

Other Requirements

· Must be able to occasionally work irregular hours, including nights and weekends.

· Anticipated time away from office is 20%.

· Possess a valid drivers’ License and proof of insurance.

· Must be able to work both in an office setting and independently off-site.

Physical Requirements

· The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to withstand:

a. Must be able to work in an outside environment, where you have the ability to walk/hike daily, at various grades, elevations, and on uneven terrain.

b. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

c. Operate office equipment manually.

d. Occasional lifting or moving of materials as required for assigned duties.

e. Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds at times.

Individual Core Competencies

· Business Acumen: Aligns work with strategic goals, conducts cost-benefit analyses, demonstrates knowledge of market and competition, displays orientation to profitability, understands business implications of decisions

· Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others, inspires respect and trust, motivates others to perform well, r eacts well under pressure, shows courage to take action

· Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, includes appropriate people in decision making process, makes timely decisions, supports and explains reasoning for decisions

· Planning & Organization: Integrates changes smoothly, plans for additional resources, prioritizes and plans work activities, sets goals and objectives, uses time efficiently, works in an organized manner

· Strategic Thinking: Adapts strategy to changing conditions, a nalyzes market and competition, develops strategies to achieve organizational goals, identifies external threats and opportunities, understands organization's strengths & weaknesses

· Innovation: Develops innovative approaches and ideas, d isplays original thinking and creativity, generates suggestions for improving work, meets challenges with resourcefulness

Other Duties

P lease note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland is an equal opportunity employer.