Community Engagement Specialist

Position Summary

The Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for developing and executing effective recruiting strategies to increase awareness and participation in Girl Scouting through a variety of in person meetings, presentations, and networking opportunities with community organizations, corporations, schools, educators, faith-based institutions, and other community constituents. They are responsible for securing adult volunteer participation through community cultivation, lead generation and follow-up in assigned geographical area.

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.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for achieving key recruitment targets critical to the attainment of the council’s goals for girl and adult membership through implementing membership strategies in assigned areas.
• Designs and implements a comprehensive plan for girl and adult membership growth in targeted areas by researching market data, membership trends, and other pertinent information relevant to designated geographic areas.
• Creates and implements membership recruiting marketing strategies relevant to the council’s strategic plan and annual business plan including cultivating and organizing communities to result in increased girl and volunteer leads.
• Prepares action plans and schedules to identify specific targets and to project the number of contacts to be made to result in meeting membership goal. Prepares a variety of status reports, including activity, follow-up, and adherence to goals.
• Plans and implements recruitment activities/events. Represents Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles at local events, fairs and festivals.
• Utilizes the council’s customer relationship management system to support pursuance and conversion of leads throughout the recruitment process.
• Follows-up on new leads and referrals resulting from field activity in a timely fashion.
• Tracks and follows up on progress of potential leaders, through completion of onboarding process.
• Seeks new opportunities and maintains relationships with area schools, school districts, community organizations, agencies and leaders, educators and faith-based institutions to increase awareness of and participation in Girl Scouting.
• Cultivates relationships with appropriate community leaders, organizations, and businesses to support recruitment efforts within targeted areas to positively impact membership growth.
• Provide and ensure professional, superior customer service is provided to all internal and external customers.
• Recruits Service Unit Recruiters and school organizers to maximize recruitment efforts in assigned areas.
• Works with troops to recruit members to ensure that minimum girl capacity is met.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications (Minimum Education and Experience)

To perform effectively in this position, the incumbent is required to have:

Outstanding Interpersonal and Communication Skills. Expresses ideas and facts in a clear and understandable manner appropriate for the individual or group; listens to and comprehends what others are saying; prepares organized and structured presentations; has demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of sensitive and confidential issues and communicate effectively with a diverse group of girls, volunteers, and staff. Excellent selling, communication, and negotiation skills.

Customer Responsiveness. Seeks and acknowledges the views and ideas from customer (internal and external); identifies, prioritizes, and balances customer issues; takes time to answer questions and explain decisions; follows through on commitments to customers in a timely manner; maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

Project Management. Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects while managing conflicting priorities and deadlines, formulate short- and long-term project goals, objectives, schedules, and priorities in line with council goals; anticipate issues, obstacles, or opportunities that may impact plans or actions; establish courses of action for accomplishing goals while attending to and incorporating information obtained during day-to-day administrative tasks.

Excellent independent decision-making skills and strong resourcefulness. Proven record of functioning as a self-starter who can work independently with minimal oversight and take initiative; demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, self-management, and organization.  Highly motivated and target driven with a proven track record in sales.

Additional Organizational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in lieu of education
• English/Spanish bilingual oral and written communication (required)
• Knowledge of the basic principles of marketing (for example, market identification and segmentation, interpretation and use of market data).
• Experienced in sales process and management of leads. Proven experience in setting ambitious goals with energy and confidence to drive to achieve those goals.
• Ability to create and deliver presentations tailored to the audience needs.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends
• Volunteer experience preferred
• Ability to adapt to changing situations
• Ability to use technology and learn new technology applications
• Must successfully complete a criminal background check
• Must be able to commute an average of 400- 600 miles a month
• Valid California driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and proof of insurance
• 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.
• Develop and maintain sensitivity to employee diversity in the workplace.
• Compliance with State-mandated reporter requirements is an essential function of this position.
• Abide by a duty of loyalty to GSGLA and give preference to the business and mission of GSGLA over that of other organizations and your own business interests. 

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 throughout the region.
  • May lift to 15 lbs. periodically.  If more, the incumbent must request assistance. 
• 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 People & Culture 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.