Senior Manager, Outdoor Experience

Position Information

Full-time, Exempt

Position Summary

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) is seeking a savvy team player who thrives in a collaborative, innovative work environment.  The candidate who fills this position will be managing at an exciting and pivotal time as we find innovative ways to engage and support our membership in Outdoor Experiences who delivers exceptional experiences to our members and to fulfill the Girl Scout mission.

The Sr. Manager, Outdoor Experience is a full-time employee of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) and reports to the Senior Director of Girl and Volunteer Experience. They will oversee the Outdoor Experience team, including overnight camp, day camps and year-round outdoor programs and experiences. In this role, they will be responsible for the full portfolio of the outdoor programmatic operation. They will ensure sound hiring, training, and management practices are in place for permanent and seasonal staff and adhered to, and uphold all policy, procedures, and safety standards. They will oversee multi-year vendor contracts and maintain good working relationships. They will ensure that the team is developing relative and intentional outdoor programming to bring exceptional experiences to our members and to fulfill the Girl Scout mission.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to staying on top of the most current practices in this growing field. We are looking for a solution-oriented individual who thrives on social interaction and puts practices in place to nurture and grow the Outdoor Experience and girl experience team.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and implement systems, processes, and procedures for the strategic direction of the Outdoor Team to include all overnight and day camp programs and year-round Outdoor Experience and programming to ensure relevance and consistency with the Girl Scout Outdoor Progression model and strategic plan.
• Oversees outcomes measurement for all Outdoor Experience and programming using data effectively to achieve results.
• In conjunction with the Outdoor Managers, s/he oversees the hiring, training and supervision of permanent and seasonal staff engaged in the delivery of Outdoor Experiences and programs at the council's program centers and camps.
  • Develop a comprehensive succession plan to include staffing models and department playbooks.
• Ensures that experiences and programs are high quality, cost effective, and operated in a manner that meets Council, Girl Scouts of the USA, and when appropriate, American Camp Association health and safety standards.
• Interpret and promote the GSUSA Outdoor Progression model in the greater Los Angeles community, to enhance the understanding and appreciation of its programs and its status as the premier organization for girls.
• Collaborate with business leads in all appropriate GSGLA departments.
• Responsible for maintaining relationships with funders and subject matter experts that provide programming and experiences to our members.
• Ensure that the team is providing data and information to complete grant reports.   
• Collaborate with staff and volunteers to expand the emphasis on getting girls and families outdoors throughout the year.
• Develops alongside the Outdoor Managers, an Outdoor Experience annual operating budget, including revenue and expense projections. Monitors financial reports to ensure allocations are in line with Outdoor Experience goals.
• Manage the Outdoor Team; to include assistance in hiring outdoor program staff, provide training, coaching and supervision. Conduct performance reviews in-line with GSGLA procedures. Ensures that staff follow all policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Council Overview

Established in Los Angeles in 1922, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles ("GSGLA"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, serves 33,000 girls in partnership with nearly 16,000 adult members and volunteers throughout the communities of Los Angeles County, and parts of Kern and San Bernardino Counties. GSGLA is the largest girl-serving nonprofit agency in Los Angeles, with programs in entrepreneurship, life skills, outdoor, and STE(A)M, building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.   

GSGLA Values

Our core values represent how we behave on a day-to-day basis. These values are the specific behaviors that are expected, encouraged, and rewarded within our GSGLA culture. 

INTEGRITY:  We do what we say we are going to do. We strive for our highest quality work and commit to doing what's right even when it's difficult. 

CLARITY OF PURPOSE: We commit to and stay focused on the goals and priorities of GSGLA and hold ourselves responsible for keeping the girl at the center of everything we do. 

ACCOUNTABILITY: We accept personal responsibility for our work, and we hold others accountable. We can be relied upon and can rely on others. We commit to mutual understanding and mutual problem solving and embrace the necessary tough conversations. 

RESPECT: We practice respect by caring for the worth of ourselves, others, the environment, property, and policies. We listen well and honor diversity in ideas without judgements.  

Qualifications (Minimum Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in outdoor education, and a minimum of at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in developing and managing youth outdoor programming to include overnight and day camp with diverse populations.
• Experience in the development and administration of work plans, budgets, and program evaluation.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams.
• Demonstrated success with managing volunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating complex information with clarity to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated strong presentation skills and great networking skills.
• Strong human relationship skills. Ability to motivate people in small and large groups.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with members and the public and provide prompt and courteous customer service to all customers in person, via phone, written note, and email.
• High accountability and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Creative problem-solver and consensus-builder who can deftly manage competing expectations and creatively uses resources to deliver.
• A demonstrated commitment to service excellence and customer satisfaction
• Technical computer skills Microsoft Office Suite and customer relationship management systems, preferably Salesforce.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Valid California driver's license, the vehicle in working condition, proof of insurance, and the ability to fulfill travel requirements across a large geographical area.
• Must successfully complete a criminal background check.

Additional Organizational Requirements

• Subscribe to the principles of the Girl Scout Movement. 
• Possess a positive attitude with strong work ethic, integrity, and honesty.
• Must be flexible, adaptable, and willing to thrive in an ever-changing/fast-paced environment.
• Attend GSGLA signature events and certain other activities/events (including cookie cupboards, etc.) as assigned.
• Develop and maintain sensitivity to employee diversity in the workplace.
• Behave in ways that demonstrate respectful treatment of other employees, volunteers, and girls.
• Practice pluralism and be inclusive with the services provided.

Physical Requirements

• The incumbent is in a non-confined office-type setting in which he or she is free to move about at will. The environment for this position is mostly clean and comfortable but may include some minor annoyances such as noise, odors, drafts, etc. while performing this work, the incumbent:
  • Will spend time sitting, utilizing the computer.
  • Will spend time standing/walking throughout the facilities.
  • Must travel via personal vehicle or public transport to various facilities and properties throughout the region.
  • May lift to 50 lbs. periodically.  If more, the incumbent must request assistance. 
  • Will spend time at properties with increased elevations of up to 6,700 feet.
• The incumbent must be able to perform this job safely, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others. 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits / Other

GSGLA and its employees support an inclusive environment and values the individual traits, skills and talents of all staff, volunteers, girls, prospects, and donors. Employees of GSGLA receive a competitive slate of benefits and paid time off, including the closure of its offices the second and fourth Monday of every month.  Full time staff are eligible to opt into plans that cover Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and even Pet Insurance, as well as a 403(b) plan.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access & Advocacy Statement

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles is committed to building a diverse staff that reflects the communities we work alongside, and we value equity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from individuals in all groups and communities, different walks of life, and those belonging to communities historically excluded. As an organization committed to making the world a better place, it is essential that we incorporate a diverse, equitable and inclusive lens into all aspects of our work. We encourage applicants with a global perspective and a commitment to values around diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Vaccination Policy

Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles requires its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to certain exemptions as required by law. New hires working at Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles must be fully vaccinated upon hire. Please contact the Human Resources Department for a copy of the vaccination policy.

The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind work assignments.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.