Chief Executive Officer

Scion Executive Search has been retained to lead the search for a Chief Executive Officer on behalf of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC), one of the largest councils in the Girl Scout Movement. Serving girls and families across Southeast Texas, GSSJC is dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Following more than three decades of respected executive leadership, the Council seeks an accomplished, mission-driven executive to guide its next chapter. This on-site, Houston-based position is an opportunity to build on a strong institutional foundation while strengthening membership, expanding philanthropy, and advancing the Council’s long-term organizational and financial sustainability. ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO COUNCIL: Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council serves girls and families across a geographically and demographically diverse region of Southeast Texas. Through STEM education, entrepreneurship, outdoor adventure, and community service, the Council equips girls with the confidence, skills, and connections to become leaders in their communities and beyond. In addition to a strong volunteer-led model where girls are guided by trained adults, its longstanding staff-led outreach programming brings these experiences to girls who might otherwise face barriers to participation. Supported by dedicated staff, an extensive volunteer network, donors, and community partners, GSSJC combines deeply rooted local relationships with the reach and resources of the national Girl Scout Movement. Its camps, outdoor experiences, and broader property portfolio provide meaningful opportunities for girls to explore their interests, develop independence, and build lasting connections. Grounded in disciplined financial stewardship and an engaged Board of Directors, GSSJC is poised for its next chapter of leadership and growth. The incoming CEO will build on this foundation by strengthening membership recruitment and retention, expanding philanthropic support, and guiding strategic investments in the people, programs, and properties that sustain the Council’s mission. POSITION OVERVIEW: The Chief Executive Officer will serve as the strategic and operational leader of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council and the chief steward of its mission and the broader Girl Scout Movement, reporting to the Council President and Board Chair. In partnership with the Board and executive leadership team, the CEO will assess and advance the Council’s strategic direction, translating priorities into measurable progress in membership, philanthropy, organizational effectiveness, and financial sustainability. The incoming CEO will lead a thoughtful executive transition, building independent relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, board members, and community partners while retaining institutional knowledge and sustaining organizational momentum. Success will require listening carefully, understanding the Council’s strengths, and exercising sound judgment about where continuity, investment, or change will best serve girls and families. Central priorities include expanding major gifts and corporate partnerships; strengthening girl recruitment, retention, and access; developing executive talent and succession plans; and advancing decisions about the Council’s operating model, headquarters, camps, and broader property portfolio. The CEO will connect these priorities through disciplined planning, clear accountability, and a sustained focus on mission impact. As the Council’s primary ambassador, the CEO will cultivate relationships across Houston’s philanthropic, corporate, and community sectors while representing GSSJC within the national Girl Scout Movement. The ideal leader will bring warmth, humility, and executive presence, paired with the confidence to make difficult decisions and deliver results. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership & Organizational Vision Assess, refine, and execute the Council’s strategic plan in partnership with the Board, aligning organizational capacity and resources with clear priorities and measurable outcomes. Establish a shared direction across the Board, executive leadership team, and staff, translating long-term goals into actionable plans and organizational accountability. Guide a thoughtful leadership transition that retains institutional knowledge, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and creates space for new ideas and continued improvement. Use financial, membership, program, and operational insights to evaluate progress, identify emerging opportunities, and adapt organizational priorities. Board Partnership, Governance & Movement Leadership Build a trusted, collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors, supporting effective governance, strategic alignment, and fiduciary oversight. Equip the Board with timely financial reporting, performance insights, and clearly framed options to support informed decisions. Draw on board members’ expertise and community relationships while maintaining clear governance boundaries and executive accountability. Represent GSSJC within Girl Scouts of the USA and among sister councils, contributing to Movement priorities while advocating for the needs of the Council and the communities it serves. Navigate diverse stakeholder perspectives and regional sensitivities with diplomacy, sound judgment, and a consistent commitment to the Girl Scout mission. Fundraising, Revenue Generation & External Leadership Lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that expands major gifts, planned giving, corporate partnerships, grants, and other philanthropic support. Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and corporate partners, ensuring thoughtful relationship transitions and building a sustained pipeline of support. Partner with development leadership and the Board to strengthen fundraising capacity, communicate a compelling case for investment, and establish clear goals and accountabi