Pros
Helping youth working with volunteers. Working with fellow DEs across council and nation. A profession that can be meaningful if working for an ethical management.
Cons
Pay is low unless one is a Scout Executive One must transfer to another council (often out of state) every three years to get a decent bump. There is little HR influence so the DE depends on the SE (scout executive) to allow for transfer. If they don't want you to go they will block your transfer or treat your desire as disloyalty and try to get rid of you. the SEs are well connected with each other so it is an old boy's club. The SE's are focused on money and membership numbers which makes sense but often allow extensions to make numbers (December 35th anyone?). Traditional events like camporees may get canceled to focus on other activities that generate more money. This infuriates volunteers but the office pro's won't care because they think in shorter time frames (because they transfer every three years). This damages volunteer relationships which DEs are left to repair