Program Specialist

GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF NJ•Westfield, NJ

36d

About The Position

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) is one of four Girl Scout Councils supporting the New Jersey area. We service all of Hudson, Essex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, and portions of Middlesex and Warren counties. We operate offices in Westfield and North Branch, NJ; and maintain camp properties in Maplewood, Hillsborough, and Middleville, NJ. Building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Here at GSHNJ, we offer every girl a chance to do something amazing! We are looking for a talented and passionate individual to join our Mission Alignment team as Program Specialist who support the council’s mission by coordinating and delivering high-quality, relevant programs and events for Girl Scouts ages 5–17, informed by Girl Scout philosophy, funding requirements, market needs, and current trends. Working collaboratively with Mission Alignment, External Affairs, and other departments, the position helps ensure programs and events are successfully executed and aligned with the Girl Scouts’ mission. The role focuses on program execution and operational coordination and escalates policy questions, disputes, or structural concerns to the appropriate supervisor. The position offers the opportunity to directly impact girls’ leadership development by delivering innovative, mission-driven programs that help girls build confidence, explore new skills, and connect with their communities.

Requirements

B.A. or equivalent of two or more years of relevant experience.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and web-browsing software.
Ability to quickly learn new software applications as necessary.
Demonstrated experience with Canva.
Communicates effectively with diverse audiences, including youth (ages 5-17), volunteers, coworkers, and business partners.
Ability to speak passionately and with conviction about the Girl Scout Mission and its importance to the public.
Demonstrates strong facilitation and presentation skills, adapting content and delivery to suit various groups and environments.
Simplifies complex concepts to ensure clarity and engagement for all audiences.
Excels in organizational skills, efficiently managing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
Ensures program materials are detailed, accurate, and aligned with educational goals.
Proactively identifies execution challenges and communicates recommended solutions to the appropriate supervisor with a continuous improvement mindset.
Makes timely, informed decisions within assigned program responsibilities and escalates when necessary.
Works independently with reliability, responsiveness, and minimal supervision.
Aligns work to established goals and adjusts activities based on shifting priorities and organizational needs.
Balances competing priorities effectively, adapting to changing workloads.
Consistently meets deadlines in dynamic or high-pressure environments.
Identifies personal development needs and seeks opportunities for growth.
Actively incorporates feedback to improve performance and outcomes.
Promotes knowledge retention and skill development through effective delivery methods and appropriate technology use.
Flexibility to shift work hours as needed, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to lift and manipulate up to 30 pounds of Girl Scouting products, supplies, or materials.
A valid driver’s license is required if driving a council vehicle.
Reliable transportation, whether the employee’s own vehicle (with valid driver’s license) or public transportation, is necessary for travel between council properties and throughout the entire service area as needed.
Complete and pass the National Traffic Safety Institute (NTSI) SAFER Driver Course.
Become a registered member of Girl Scouts and maintain membership for duration of employment.

Nice To Haves

Youth leadership and development.
Event planning.
Familiarity with Salesforce software and applications.
Bi-lingual (English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

Program Delivery: Demonstrates understanding of and implements the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) philosophy while adhering to council policies, procedures, and standards.
Utilizes existing curriculum to deliver engaging, hands-on, and age-appropriate programs for Girl Scouts ages 5-17, ensuring alignment with GSLE methodologies and desired outcomes across a broad range of topics.
Collaborates with Program Managers to create innovative and visually engaging program materials and activities using platforms such as PowerPoint, Canva, and Publisher that break down complex concepts into accessible learning experiences for youth of all backgrounds.
Works collaboratively with cross-functional teams, community partners, and volunteers to deliver high-quality programs and events, including mobile classroom and concierge-style programs.
Confirms venue, sets up and breaks down event. Verifies registration rosters, tracks attendance. Inventories, collects, and transports all necessary equipment and materials.
Safely operates the council’s mobile classroom vehicle (Ford Transit 350 High Top van) to deliver programs throughout the service area.
Addresses routine program delivery concerns within established guidelines and escalates matters outside defined role expectations.
Supports candidates pursuing the highest awards in Girl Scouting through mentorship and resource coordination as assigned by the Mission Support Specialist.
Escalates disputes or exception requests related to GSUSA Highest Awards standards and council procedures to the Mission Alignment Operations Manager.
Uses required council systems and tools to support event management, budgeting processes, customer service, and record keeping related to assigned programs.
Follows established workflows and escalates system or process concerns appropriately.
Contributes to program evaluation efforts by documenting outcomes, sharing delivery insights, and supporting assessment of program effectiveness in meeting desired outcomes, participant satisfaction, adherence to GSLE principles, and funding guidelines.
Maintains accurate and timely documentation in accordance with council reporting requirements.
Ensures Girl Scouting is open to all appropriate youth and adults by actively participating in the development of environments that foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and access through words, actions, and attitude.
Complies with GSHNJ’s Charter of Values, and uses it as the basis for personal conduct, conflict resolution, and correspondence with customers and coworkers.
Remains current on GSUSA’s and GSHNJ’s initiatives and national and local trends affecting our membership demographic and is able to correspond with team members and customers accordingly.
Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.