Girls on the Run Berks County - Executive Director

Job Title: Executive Director

Location: Reading, PA (Hybrid)

Reports To: Board of Directors

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Organization Summary

Girls on the Run® of Berks County is a dynamic local nonprofit proudly affiliated with Girls on the Run® International. Our mission is to empower every girl to recognize and activate her limitless potential, encouraging her to pursue her dreams with confidence and courage. Through a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running, we inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. Our transformative program serves communities across Berks and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania. In fiscal year 2024, over 700 girls participated in our empowering, life-changing program, each taking a step toward a stronger, brighter future. To learn more, visit:

https://www.gotrberks.org/.

At Girls on the Run®, we believe that every girl, regardless of her background or circumstances, deserves access to our programs. We are committed to breaking down barriers to participation, designing inclusive programming that reflects and engages all communities, and fostering a culture where every voice is valued. With intention and purpose, we strive to build diverse teams of staff and volunteers, ensuring that inclusion, equity, and belonging are at the heart of everything we do.

Our council currently serves elementary and middle school girls across both Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

Position Profile

The Executive Director of Girls on the Run® must embody a deep passion for and commitment to empowering girls in grades 3 through 8. At the heart of our mission is the belief that every girl deserves the opportunity to grow strong in body, mind, and spirit. Girls on the Run® offers a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where girls explore key life skills such as goal setting, cooperation, healthy decision-making, and self-respect—all while preparing for a celebratory 5K event. Our innovative, research-based curriculum encourages girls to open up, connect, and discover their inner strength, inspiring a lifelong commitment to health and well-being. By equipping girls with the tools to make confident, healthy choices, we help them navigate life’s challenges and reduce the many risks they face in today’s world.

The Executive Director of Girls on the Run® is the driving force behind the successful execution of the organization’s mission, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across all facets of the council. Reporting directly to the local Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for developing and executing the overall vision and strategy of the Girls on the Run® program.

This role encompasses comprehensive leadership of the organization’s administration, financial management, revenue generation, program delivery, personnel oversight, and strategic planning. Key responsibilities within these areas include (but are not limited to):

Operational and Staff Management

• Cultivating a strong, collaborative relationship with the Board of Directors and maintaining active, strategic engagement with Girls on the Run® International.

Program Development and Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic direction and leadership of the overall program through careful implementation and continuation of the Strategic Plan.

Operational Administration

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and the Girls on the Run® International Membership Agreement, Policies, and Guidelines, while upholding the highest standards of organizational integrity and accountability.


• Manage the organization with a business mindset by establishing and implementing efficient systems and strategies.

Finance

• Ensure the fiscal health and sustainability of the council through sound financial planning, monitoring, and management (in cooperation with the Treasurer, finance staff, and appropriate committees).
   

Qualities

• The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable with big-picture strategy and hands-on execution.


• They should bring a growth mindset, and a strong, empathetic leadership style focused on leveraging individual and team strengths.


• This person will be a thoughtful and visionary leader who skillfully balances strategy with attention to detail.


• Key qualities include experience with governance, media relations, and financial management, along with strengths in long-term planning, writing, and technology.


• The ideal candidate will be a collaborative connector—someone who empowers others and brings out the best in staff and volunteers alike.


• They should be highly organized, able to prioritize and make effective decisions in a dynamic environment, while staying flexible and responsive.


• Above all, they will bring an innovative spirit, a compassionate heart, and an entrepreneurial approach to leading and growing the Girls on the Run mission.

Required Qualifications

• Passion for the Girls on the Run mission and the ability to comprehend and effectively communicate issues surrounding empowerment, self-esteem, body image, and whole-person health.


• Minimum seven years of demonstrated experience with organizational management.


• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams.


• Outstanding communication skills in multiple environments and with a range of audiences (internal and external).


• Demonstrated experience in setting and managing budgets and financial forecasting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strategic planning experience


• Succession planning experience


• Experience with Girls on the Run or other youth or wellness programs


• Non-profit management experience


• Fundraising experience


• Experience working with a Board of Directors


• Connections to the local community

Work Environment

This is a FULL-TIME position based in the Berks County area. The position allows for flexible remote work; however, the candidate must be locally based to provide hands-on leadership and support to our community

• Frequent local travel with periodic out-of-state travel


• Ongoing in-person and virtual interactions in the community


• High-speed internet access is required to access systems

Applications Instructions 

If interested, please submit your resume and a cover letter that outlines your interest in the position and alignment with the Girls on the Run® mission