Dear colleagues,
We would like to thank you for your service and, if you are a new staff member, we would like to wish you a heartfelt congratulations on obtaining a job at the World Scout Bureau (WSB). You are a member of our global family! The WSB has always been, and will continue to be, an ever-growing, ever-learning, ever-developing organisation. By joining us, you are helping to enrich the WSB and contribute to the growth and impact of our worldwide Movement.
In your role you are going to work with a driven and diverse workforce coming from countries all over the world who are committed to support our National Scout Organizations (NSOs) and millions of Scouts worldwide. The services and support we deliver as the WSB strengthens the capacity of these NSOs in a wide range of areas to deliver better Scouting to more young people each day.
Together, we are dedicated to ensuring that as many young people as possible experience the unforgettable, life-enriching opportunity of being a Scout. Each of us plays a unique role in strengthening the organisational culture and impact of the One WSB. From corporate services colleagues who enable us to run smooth and sound operations, to communications and partnerships colleagues who ensure we share the stories of Scouting worldwide alongside engaged partners, to our Scouting development and organisational development colleagues who support NSOs with services and educational programmes, to our delivery of world-class events and efforts around business development and resource mobilisation.
In working for the WSB you will find yourself surrounded by people who are passionate about what they do and are always striving to give their best. This is part of our organisational culture. We may not always know the perfect solution for every challenge we face, but through teamwork, collaboration and innovation we work together to solve even the most complex problems. The ingenuity and creativity of our teams is something we take great pride in, and we are open to learning and adopting new ways of working.
Many of the people you will meet and work with have been Scouts in the past, and they have a strong bond with the Movement which stems from their experience in childhood or youth. Even those who joined the WSB without a previous experience in Scouting have very quickly had an opportunity to experience Scouting’s magic and understand what it is all about. The bottom line is that you will live a unique experience of Scouting by working for the WSB, which is going to give you a great deal of opportunities for personal and professional development alongside volunteers from around the world who are ready to support you when you need it.
If you are a new staff member, we know the excitement you must feel – starting a new job in a new work environment, meeting your new colleagues, understanding your role, understanding our structures and working methods, and at times this may be overwhelming. Or if you are a long-serving staff member we recognise your contributions to supporting young people and Scouting around the world. For this reason, we are sharing with you this handbook, which aims to give you an overview of our organisational culture and lead you through the practical aspects of your journey with the WSB.
This handbook is a living document which we will review and update on a regular basis. As we emerge from a global pandemic, and in the spirit of continuous improvement, we invite you to share any suggestions for enriching this handbook with our Human Resources team (hr@scout.org). We take it as our collective responsibility to ensure that the onboarding of new colleagues is a process that is as smooth and pleasant as possible, and now that you are part of our team, we look forward to counting on your help as well.
On behalf of all your colleagues in the One World Scout Bureau,
Ahmad Alhendawi
Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement