Organization: Boy Scouts of America (BSA)

Position Title: Executive, Youth Protection

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Irving, TX

Search Contact: Prodigy Search

BACKGROUND

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

SUMMARY

The Youth Protection Executive will lead the BSA nationwide advancement for effective child abuse prevention strategies and serve as the BSA expert regarding all aspects of the organization's youth protection programs and initiatives. They’ll provide expertise and leadership to BSA National and Local Council professionals, the National Operations Leadership Committee, the National BSA Youth Protection Committee, assigned Task Forces, Chartered Partners, and the BSA National Executive Board. This position is an active, boots-on-the-ground role that results in actions and tangible outcomes that better the BSA’s youth protection program.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for setting and implementing BSA’s youth protection strategic plan
• Subject to evaluating BSA’s standards and measures that define effective child safety practices, including the identification of vulnerabilities and risk mitigation strategies at all levels
• Ensure that BSA’s youth protection standards are clearly communicated to National BSA staff, Local Councils, Chartered Organizations, volunteers, programs, and camp operations affiliated with the BSA
• Establish BSA’s youth protection standards are properly funded, communicated, and supported through policies, programs, training, and initiatives so that Local Councils, including all camp operations affiliated with the BSA, can implement, and sustain compliance with the standards
• Adapt the BSA youth protection strategy on an ongoing basis to ensure the BSA remains at the forefront of youth protection

• Review and analyze data from the enterprise incident reporting software through a collaborative team approach and devise/implement risk minimization strategies
• Develop a youth protection audit program for National Operations and Local Councils to certify that their performance meets or exceeds the BSA standards
• Effectively communicate the status of the BSA’s youth protection incidents and the on-going steps being taken to improve upon the BSA’s youth protection safety record
• Coordinate engagement of outside youth protection experts to assist in regular reviews of BSA’s youth protection program to ensure compliance with existing standards and ensure BSA’s standards continue to meet or exceed all legal and industry standards

• Act as the expert representative who can speak internally and externally on youth protection for the BSA
• Manage youth protection communication and materials in collaboration with existing Youth Development & Marketing/Communications teams
• Serve as the Staff Advisor to the Youth Protection Committee and be responsible for ensuring it complies with all required communication and reporting obligations to Committee
• Actively develop relationships and partnerships with other national-level child sexual abuse prevention networks to maintain knowledge of the latest best practices
• Responsible to build out a framework that provides a safe environment for participants. This will encompass building out policies and standards that promote safe participation
• Coordinate with senior leadership team regarding policy decisions, legal matters, internal training programs, quality control, and other issues, as needed
• Foster relationships with external organizations concerning policies and procedures

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as primary BSA internal expert in youth protection; apply expertise and leadership to BSA programs, initiatives, training, and communication necessary to ensure high quality youth protection effectiveness in Scouting
• Work with BSA colleagues and outside experts to assess youth protection risks through incident analysis and implement appropriate changes in policies, training, and programs through collaborative teamwork, work collaboratively with National Operations, Program, Safety staff and Local Councils on child safety and quality assurance initiatives.
• Serve as Staff Advisor to the National BSA Youth Protection Committee, garnering input and making recommendations to the National Operations Leadership Committee and the CEO
• Educate, motivate, and influence all areas of the organization to improve youth protection practices and instill a desire to own child abuse prevention by everyone in Scouting. Work collaboratively with the training team to develop and deliver continuing education for staff and volunteers on child abuse risk management
• Assess, modify, and use methodologies, practices, and processes to evaluate effectiveness and ensure compliance with youth protection policies and procedures nationally and within Local Councils
• Serve as a liaison and representative for the BSA with other national-level organizations and governmental agencies that work on youth protection issues, legislation, and child abuse prevention as well as to elevate BSA’s safety profile and commitment

COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge
  • Industry standards, practices, and training in Youth Protection
  • Federal & local laws pertaining to child abuse prevention. Relevant legislation and regulation
  • Youth development and impact of child abuse
  • Child Protective Services & related agencies
  • Experience developing, and implementing training/education programs and evaluating/improving educational processes
• Skills
  • Demonstrated team player with results-based implementation skills
  • Politically savvy with the ability to manage conflict constructively as well as ability to build effective partnerships internally and externally
  • Must demonstrate empathy but be able to make tough decisions under tight timelines in emotional circumstances
  • Strong verbal & written communication
  • Significant experience conducting risk assessments within multiple categories of risks (i.e. operational, governance, strategic, external and outsourcing)
• Abilities
  • Earning trust, handling confidential information, getting things done with limited resources
  • Working with diverse groups, including survivors of abuse
  • Action-oriented yet flexible. Ability to think on the fly, utilizing a deep and thorough knowledge of the field of youth protection and BSA standards, policies, and procedures
  • Demonstrated skill in writing training, policies, procedures etc.
  • Passion for and ability to convey the mission and vision of Boy Scouts of America to a diverse group of volunteers, participants, and donors

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree, or PhD preferred, in Social Work, Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, Family & Child Development, or related field. Flexibility depending on experience.
• 8+ years in related human services field with youth protection responsibilities or extensive work related to child sexual abuse
• Credentials in child sexual abuse prevention or youth protection preferred

CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. Simply, Prodigy Search is Where the Best Brands Come for the Best Talent.

No phone calls please. For any additional questions, please email info@prodigysearch.net.

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