Description:
The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Behind every Girl Scout and volunteer is a team of local staff ready to help them earn that next badge, embark on a camping adventure, or organize an impactful service project.
We are Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey (GSNNJ) serving girls in grades K-12 in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Northern Warren counties. We bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to 19,000 girls and 10,200 adult members. Are you passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for youth? We're seeking an energetic and collaborative Program Manager to lead engaging, hands-on programs, from robotics and travel experiences to leadership, STEAM, outdoor adventures, and special events, that empower girls to build courage, confidence, and character.
The Program Manager develops, manages, delivers, and evaluates high-quality Girl Scout Leadership Experience programs that help Girl Scouts discover their interests, build new skills, connect with others, and take action in their communities. This position is responsible for creating engaging, girl-led, hands-on, and age-appropriate programs aligned with GSUSA program resources, council priorities, badge requirements, highest awards alignment, and the needs of girls and families across GSNNJ.
They will oversee a diverse portfolio of council programs, including Robotics, travel and overnight experiences, GSUSA Destinations support, badge-earning programs, and special events. This role manages program logistics, volunteer and coach/facilitator engagement, vendor and partner relationships, safety and risk, registration goals, program evaluation, and financial performance to ensure programs are mission-driven, engaging, accessible, and fiscally responsible.
They support retention of girl/adult membership by ensuring that the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is accessible to all girls and qualified adults. The manager will develop and deliver high-quality programming focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), the outdoors, life skills development, entrepreneurial, career and college readiness and is responsible for reaching enrollment goals in council program activities.?
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
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Designs and delivers badge-earning and skill-building experiences that help Girl Scouts explore STEAM, leadership, outdoor skills, life skills, entrepreneurship, travel, civic engagement, career and college readiness, and other emerging skills & interests.
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Develops, implements, and evaluates innovative Girl Scout Leadership Experience programs that are girl-led, hands-on, cooperative, age-appropriate, and aligned with GSUSA program resources, badges, awards, and council priorities.
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Oversees the GSNNJ Robotics program, including coordination of multiple teams, recruitment and support of coaches and mentors, family communication, season planning, registration, meeting logistics, equipment and supply needs, competition preparation, and alignment with Girl Scout safety and participation standards.
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Plans and executes travel experiences, including itinerary development, vendor coordination, transportation, lodging, meals, participant communications, emergency planning, safety checkpoints, budget development, and on-site program leadership.
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Supports Girl Scouts and families participating in GSUSA Destinations and council travel opportunities by coordinating promotion, communication, preparation, application support, recruitment and program implementation.
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Recruits, trains, supports, and engages volunteers, coaches, facilitators, chaperones, and community partners to expand program capacity and strengthen the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
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Develops program budgets and manages revenue and expenses for assigned programs to meet participation, break-even, profitability, and fiscal responsibility goals.
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Monitors registration, attendance, waitlists, program expenses, revenue, evaluation results, and participant feedback; provides timely analysis and recommendations to the Director of Program.
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Ensures all assigned programs follow GSUSA Safety Activity Checkpoints, council policies, risk management procedures, volunteer ratios, insurance requirements, and emergency protocols.
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Works with council vendors to organize programming for our members.
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Collaborates with the Program team to assess existing programs, identify gaps and emerging interests, and create new programs that support membership recruitment, retention, family engagement, and girl leadership outcomes.
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Coordinates program logistics, including scheduling, site reservations, supply planning, registration details, rosters, participant communications, staffing plans, run-of-show documents, evaluations, and post-program reporting.
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Provides direct programming in which girls will have ample opportunities to lead and direct projects.
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Attends overnight programs as needed up to 5 per year.
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Performs program evaluations and timely reporting, ensuring that program events and activities have annual work plans with measurable outcomes.
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Represents GSNNJ at community meetings, partner meetings, volunteer gatherings, and events related to assigned program areas and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
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Serves as a program liaison, developing intentional collaborations with community organizations/businesses to enhance program services for girls.
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Works collaboratively with Membership, Marketing, Retail, Fund Development, Customer Care, Camp, and other council departments to promote programs, support the customer experience, secure resources, and strengthen council-wide goals.
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Provides the Director of Program with regular analysis of program participation, outcomes, and financial performance.
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Applies expert knowledge of girls, girl issues, and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to staff and volunteers in delivering high-quality program experiences to a growing number of diverse girls.
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Plans, designs and delivers innovative grant funded programs relevant for intended audience. Works collaboratively with staff colleagues to deliver and report on outcomes of grant funded programs.
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Fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment and supports GSNNJ’s commitment to serve girls and volunteers across diverse communities reflective of the area’s religious, racial, ethnic, social and economic diversity.
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Other duties assigned: As is the case with all our roles at the GSNNJ council, we are a small and passionate team of lifelong learners who jump in to support our staff across departments. As opportunities present, we expect our staff at all levels to participate in organizational initiatives and support our mission of serving girls. All staff are required to promote and assist with council-wide programs, activities, public relations, and fund development endeavors.
Staff members are accountable for achieving their performance goals that collectively enable GSNNJ to reach our council goals. Each staff member is expected to take an active role in all areas of operations, especially by being alert to opportunities to identify and engage potential volunteers, girl members, donors, vendors, collaborators, etc. and providing contact information to the appropriate staff person.
We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to support the health and overall well-being of our employees. Benefits for our full-time employees include medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401k retirement plan with an employer match; paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays with offices closed for winter holiday break; parental leave benefits, life, disability, accidental and critical illness insurance; legal and pet insurance; employee assistance program, professional development opportunities; flexibility and a supportive and inclusive work environment.
Requirements:
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Minimum of two years of education and/or experience in youth development, child psychology, education, social work, or related field preferred, working within youth, teen, or family programming. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
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Experience developing, managing, and evaluating youth programs, events, or educational experiences.
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Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, budgets, partners, and details simultaneously.
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Experience recruiting, supporting, and communicating with volunteers, coaches, facilitators, families, or community partners.
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A positive attitude, integrity, and interest in helping girls reach their fullest potential.
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Effective verbal and written communications skills; detail-oriented and organized.
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Strong community relationships, relationship management, effective outreach relationship skills, and problem-solving skills.
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Strong relationship building skills
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Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, follow-through, and ability to meet deadlines.
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Ability to be creative and flexible in responding to changing priorities and emerging needs.
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Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize and meet deadlines, and to manage several activities simultaneously.
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Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
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Ability to work nights and weekends.
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Ability to perform a variety of physical activities with program participants.
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Ability to travel occasionally throughout the jurisdiction to attend meetings during the day/evening/weekend.?
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Ability to support overnight programs and travel experiences as assigned.
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Valid driver’s license, reliable automobile and auto insurance.
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Membership in GSUSA is required upon employment and annually thereafter, cost covered by the council.
PREFERRED Qualifications
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Experience with Girl Scouts, youth-serving nonprofits, camp, travel programs, robotics teams, STEM programs, or volunteer-led programming.
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Familiarity with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, Badges, Highest Awards, Safety Activity Checkpoints, and girl-led programming.
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Experience coordinating multi-night trips, overnight programs, competitions, large events, or volunteer-supported programs.
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Comfort using registration systems, spreadsheets, budgets, evaluation tools, and participant data to inform program decisions.
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.
