Executive Director

A rare leadership opportunity with a fifty-two year old nonprofit focused on environmental and cultural preservation through education, stewardship and Native Hawaiian programs.

About Us

Founded in 1970, Moanalua Gardens Foundation (MGF) has served as a vital link in preserving and protecting the environmental and cultural resources of Hawai‘i. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, our mission is:

“To preserve and perpetuate the history, native culture and environment of Hawai’i through education and stewardship of Kamananui (Moanalua) Valley and celebration of the annual Prince Lot Hula Festival”

For the past five decades, MGF has pioneered programs which help people understand and appreciate the unique environmental and cultural resources of our islands. This knowledge is essential to developing informed stewards and practitioners who will protect and preserve our fragile and vulnerable ‘āina and perpetuate our cultural traditions of hula and chanting.

MGF’s educational and stewardship activities for Kamananui Valley includes our new Mālama Kamananui Environmental Education Program which features experiential learning activities for all grade levels and development of a comprehensive Management Plan for the protection, preservation and management of Kamananui and Kamanaiki, the last undeveloped valleys in urban Honolulu. A signature cultural event for 45 years, the Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival is the largest non-competitive hula celebration in Hawai’i featuring premier halau hula, cultural practitioners, crafters and Hawaiian entertainment.

The Executive Director will serve as the chief administrator and community leader, providing leadership and implementing policies and programs to carry out the work of the organization.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Reports to the Board of Directors, maintaining open communication and disclosure of the conditions, operations, and needs of the organization.
• Leads organizational design and development to build capacity in all programs and services.
• Identifies, evaluates and prepares the business case for collective impact to the Board of Directors for new opportunities that align with MGF’s mission and vision.
• Advocates for culture and ‘aina-based stewardship and educational practices to create the organizational structure and systems that support collective impact.
• Develops and fosters a collaborative consortium of community partners to support MGF’s educational and stewardship programs including community based volunteers, DOE educators, students, administration, and nonprofit community and corporate partners
• Collaborates and assists in the design and development of training activities for all programs and services.
• Plans, directs, and manages all aspects of the Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, including coordination of halau hula, cultural demonstrators, vendors, logistics, fundraising, marketing and promotion.
• Utilizes and honors past-success and key relationships to incorporate in long and short-term planning and foundational change.
• Provides leadership oversight for all MGF’s programs and services to meet or exceed its goals and objectives.
• Represents MGF at all community meetings, conferences and in stakeholder relations.
• Oversees all fundraising and development campaigns to further enhance the financial viability of the organization and its future growth.
• Prepares or has oversight of all analysis, board reports, accounting, reporting, (city, state, federal, partner and board) including agendas, financial statements, and minutes of meetings.
• Works closely with the Board Chair, Committee Chairs and contractors to develop strategic and operational plans, implement, track, measure and report as required by the timeline set by the Board.
• Oversees recruiting, selection, hiring and performance management of all staff and contractors ensuring HR compliance is adhered to including compliant record-keeping.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of all policies and procedures seeking guidance from the appropriate Director/s and in conformance with state and federal regulations. All new policies and procedures should have documented approval from the Board of Directors.

Qualifications And Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with minimum of 3 years’ experience in Political Science, technology, education, social services, or related field or master’s degree in public administration.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in private or public administration, business, education, or human service agency including experience in program development, planning, budget preparation, contract negotiations, and program implementation.
• As part of the three years, at least two (2) years of specialized experience in the field of community building and educational partnerships.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture and/or language as practitioner.
• Compliance policies and regulations.

Preferred Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills including communication, relationship/trust building, and patience.
• Ability to plan and design innovative projects, facilitate groups, collaborate with various internal and external partners, assist in preparation of plans, reports, and other documentation for submittal to public or private sources.
• Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, and other computer applications helpful in planning and project management; MS Office Suite and Windows OS environment preferred.
• Digital experience in technology, systems, apps, social media, and media relations.
• Valid Hawai`i driver’s license, no-fault insurance, and access to an automobile.

Desired Requirements

• Previous administrative and/or stewardship experience and knowledge of Native Hawaiian issues, the social, economic, and educational needs of students in the State of Hawai’i Department of Education, University of Hawai’i, and the community at large.
• Experience in state and federally funded programs.
• Experience in program development, community development, parent involvement, Na Hopena A’o and program implementation and learning strategies.
• Fund Development and Special Events management.
• Development and sustainability of community partnerships.

Working Environment: Office environment and travel between various sites throughout the State of Hawaii.

Additional Notes

This job description may not be inclusive of all duties, responsibilities, or all aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors

Compensation: From $60,000.00 to $65,000.00 per year
Prince Lot Hula Festival