Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (GSEIWI)
Location : Bettendorf, Iowa
Position Summary
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (GSEIWI) seeks a dynamic and forward thinking Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to serve as a leader of leaders and a catalyst for mission impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will set and execute the Council’s strategic direction with passion, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to empowering EVERY girl.
The CEO provides overall leadership and oversight of the organization, including community engagement, fundraising, membership growth, program development, operational excellence, and fiscal stewardship. This role requires an inspiring and visible leader who can effectively balance internal operations with external partnerships, cultivate trust across diverse communities, and guide the Council with strategic clarity, thoughtful leadership, and a bold, future focused mindset.
Reports to: GSEIWI Board of Directors
GSEIWI Visibility & Impact
- Maintain consistent visibility and meaningful engagement across the Council’s footprint, modeling an accessible and approachable leadership presence.
- Ensure a strong understanding of issues affecting girls today, advancing relevant, high impact programming and positioning GSEIWI as a leading advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Strengthen connections throughout the Council to grow awareness, expand access, and increase volunteer and membership participation.
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with staff and the Board to lead transformational change, identify innovative opportunities, and position GSEIWI as a trusted leader in youth development.
- Execute the strategic plan with discipline and transparency, monitoring progress, evaluating outcomes, and ensuring accountability.
- Use data and emerging trends to inform decision?making and translate insights into actionable strategies that enhance operations, efficiency, and mission impact.
Fundraising & Financial Management
- Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to implement a comprehensive, multi channel fundraising strategy including corporate, individual, and grant support, while exploring new revenue opportunities.
- Support the Board in the development and execution of sustainable fund development strategies aligned with long term organizational health.
- Provide fiscal leadership and oversight, ensuring responsible budgeting, strong financial controls, and stewardship of resources consistent with mission priorities.
Program & Product Development
- Evaluate programs, camps, products, and membership engagement using data driven analysis to fuel growth and maximize impact.
- Partner with staff to integrate girl and volunteer feedback into the ongoing development of innovative, mission aligned programming.
- Identify and reduce barriers to participation to expand inclusive access to Girl Scouting across communities.
- Cultivate strategic corporate and community partnerships to broaden program offerings and shared outcomes.
Team, Culture & Organizational Development
- Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and empowerment through consistent communication at all levels of the organization.
- Lead, mentor, and inspire a high performing Senior Leadership Team while ensuring clarity, accountability, and professional growth for all staff.
- Provide thought leadership on volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies.
- Ensure that Human Resources systems, policies, and practices are modern, mission aligned, and supportive of organizational goals and performance.
Candidate Qualifications & Experience
The ideal candidate will bring:
- A bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive executive leadership experience, with a strong preference for nonprofit or mission driven organizations.
- Demonstrated success partnering with boards, senior leaders, funders, and community stakeholders.
- A collaborative, results driven leadership style with a proven ability to lead change, address organizational challenges, and build resilient teams.
- A deep passion for youth development, equity, and expanding opportunities for girls.
- Willingness and enthusiasm to travel throughout the Council’s region to connect with staff, volunteers, and community partners.
Application Process
To explore this opportunity further, qualified candidates are encouraged to connect directly with our search lead:
Kristy Lysik – ky****@*gp.com
(Search Lead)
Kristy can provide additional details about the role, timeline, and next steps in the process. All inquiries will be handled with discretion and confidentiality.
