Boy Scouts of America Reviews

Pros

Different things every day, flexibility, the people

Cons

management, huge time investment, bad communication

Advice to Senior Management

Learn other management skills than you did in the Boy Scouts of America and be a little more friendly to your employees

Pros

There is something different every day; One day you could be in a school talking to boys about Cub Scouts, another you could be sitting in a meeting with the CEO of a major company hearing about his personal experiences in scouting. You have opportunities every day to meet new people from all over a geographic area, and from all different backgrounds. You create your own future and destiny when you work for the Boy Scouts; your promotions are based upon your job performance and ability to be a team player - if you do well at your job, and work well with your team mates, you can go anywhere in the country to work for the Boy Scouts. There is no limit to the opportunities out there! If you are someone who likes change, not sitting at a desk eight hours a day, talking to and meeting new people, and helping to instill values in the youth of America - the Boy Scouts of America could be the right occupation for you.

Cons

There are only downsides of working at the Boy Scouts of America if you create them.

Advice to Senior Management

I would advise Senior Management to always praise your "Stars", build up your "Satisfactories", and provide help for your "Strugglers".

Pros

Opportuny to travel and serve in different parts of the nation. Working with a board cross section of society. Helping to improve the outcomes for young people.

The people that make up the Scouts are truly the same people that appear to make so many other things happen in our communities. Wonderful people and families are found daily when working for the BSA!

Cons

Time for family. Balance between work and personal life. Although the pay is above the norm for a not for profit organization really high speed people have to sit and wait to be promoted. It would be nice if there were additional experiences that could be had in a 30 year career other than Money, Membership, and Manpower.

Advice to Senior Management

Open communications between the national office and local councils. Opportuny to work at the national office sooner in ones career and then able to return to local council operations. Input from the men and women that run districts in the planning of new programs.

Pros

You can make a difference in the lives of young people. A lot of jobs might promise that, but the BSA can really deliver and it relies on young professionals to get that job done. You meet tons of people and tons of important people, mayors, business leaders, etc. And as the person from the Boy Scouts you have almost instant access to meetings with them.

Cons

There are complicated policy issues that can at times be hard to deal with, personally and professionally. Working with lots of different people, it can sometimes be a weird under current. Some council's might not be the best, others are much better to work for.

Advice to Senior Management

It's hard, hard work sometimes and long hours with little recognition. Sometimes, things can't happen, membership and money might not come in.

Pros

New senior leadership is credible,competent, and allows us to feel as though we are truly making a difference it has not been this way for some time. We operate under the primary assumption that we truly make a difference in the lives of Young People. Now we can truly see this impact!! I have never worked for a more passionate, focused inspiring,comitted group of staff members. they inspire me to Do My Best every day. Todays impact will influence the leaders of tomorrow. You need to see these kids when they attain the rank of Eagle Scout, truly powerful and motivating.

Cons

Its all Consuming, People think that we as executives just Go Hiking and Camping, The for Profit sector does not understand what we do or percieve the value of non profits. This is a major concern, Most non Profit executives work twice as hard as there for profit counterparts. For less Money and less recognition. I find it arrogant and disconcerting that this exists. I think we will find as we move through our next 100 years that the true best CEO's will come from Not for profit leadership. These are individuals that thrive on Challenge, Live every day trying to do more with less, and motivate people to accomplish what they did not think was possible.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the great work!!

Pros

They pay well....salary's have been higher than industry standards. This seems to be changing though with the new reorganization that McKinsey helped create. Of course, they took a few million bucks for the consulting work and then delivered a poor plan.

Cons

Poor leadership. I think Bob Mazzuca has the right ideas...but the execution of those ideas aren't being handled right. People at national are more worried about their little empires than doing what is right for the Boy Scouts.

Advice to Senior Management

Get back to the basics. The Boy Scouts of America is about the kids, parents and volunteers...not about how much power someone can grab at National.

Pros

It is a great organization, with plenty of opportunity to be promoted. There are over 300 Local Councils that make up the National Council. If you are willing to move, there is always a promotion available.

Cons

Starting pay is not great. Working for a non-profit is sometimes tough. Money can get tight and expenses are highly scrutinized. Working with volunteers is hard. Most of them expect you to put in 40 hours plus volunteer like they do. You will always have someone who is critical of your job performance, and everyone thinks they can do your job better.

Advice to Senior Management

My Local Council Executive dosen't treat us fairly nor does he compensate us fairly. The National Coucil does a good job keeping us informed of things going on and new processes.