Executive Director

KAʻ

EHU Executive Director Position Type:

Full-Time, Exempt |

Salary Range:

$70,000 - $80,000/year |

Location:

Paukūkalo, Maui, Hawaiʻi

Reports To:

Board of Directors Position Summary The Executive Director is an in-person position and is the institutional visionary and steward of KAʻEHU — the leader who maintains and communicates the organization's long-term direction while ensuring it is financially sound, well-governed, compliant, and vision-oriented to carry out KAʻEHU's mission. This position serves as the primary interface with the Board of Directors and leads KAʻEHU's relationships with county, state, and federal partners, funders, and the full philanthropic ecosystem. This position works in close partnership with head of Finance and the Director of Operations & Programs for the delivery of services, to best steward the organization's strategic direction, grant development, and shared vision. Core Responsibilities Board Governance & Relations Serve as primary liaison to the Board of Directors — coordinating board meetings, preparing governance materials, and supporting board development Facilitate board committee work, including finance, audit, and governance committees Ensure organizational compliance with all nonprofit governance requirements, bylaws, and fiduciary obligations Build and maintain a high-functioning board by supporting recruitment, orientation, and ongoing board member engagement Financial Stewardship Provide oversight of KAʻEHU's financial health, including budget development, monitoring, and variance analysis Lead financial reporting to the board and work closely with the CFO/Financial Consultant on audit preparation and fiscal compliance Ensure alignment between organizational priorities and financial resources Monitor funding for compliance with State and Federal regulations and guidelines Grant Management and Philanthropic Development Oversee all grant applications to ensure timely submissions Work with grant writer(s) to complete comprehensive and competitive applications for funding Complete grant reports on time for each open and active grant Work to develop other funding streams via diversified funding strategies Engage philanthropic partners to support building up funding streams Government Relations & Advocacy Serve as KAʻEHU's primary liaison to the County of Maui, State of Hawaiʻi, and federal agencies Maintain and strengthen relationships with elected officials, government departments, and policy partners Lead advocacy strategy in alignment with KAʻEHU's mission and indigenous rights framework Coordinate legislative testimony, policy engagement, and representation in county, state, and federal processes Employee Management and Organizational Stewardship Work with staff to ensure efficacy of work, sharing of responsibilities, and completion of tasks/projects Maintain a culture of support and service through regularly held staff meetings and alignment with the strategic plan/logic model Continued focus upon the growth and development of staff in their own areas of focus and collectively as a team Institutional Vision & Strategic Planning Hold and communicate KAʻEHU's long-term institutional vision, serving as its conduit in governance and external settings Lead organizational strategic planning processes in partnership with the board of directors and the planning consortium Guide the KAʻEHU Strategic Plan and ensure alignment across all organizational workstreams Performance Metrics This position is subject to annual performance review by the Board of Directors. Performance-based raises (3-6% annually) and bonuses (5-10% of base salary) will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

Funds Raised:

Total grant and philanthropic revenue secured; new funding sources developed; grant success rate

Board Engagement:

Board meeting attendance and preparation quality; committee effectiveness; board retention and development

Government Relations:

Strength and depth of county, state, and federal relationships; advocacy wins; policy outcomes

Institutional Engagement:

Quality of engagement with high-level stakeholders, coalitions, and philanthropic partners

Financial Health:

Budget adherence, audit outcomes, financial reporting timeliness, and accuracy

Strategic Milestones:

Progress on Master Plan goals, organizational development milestones, and succession outcomes Core Competencies Deep familiarity with Native Hawaiian culture, history, and community — with demonstrated respect and alignment with indigenous values Executive-level leadership skills with proven experience in nonprofit governance, board relations, or institutional management Strong financial acumen — ability to read, interpret, and communicate financial data to diverse audiences Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, advocacy, and executive-level correspondence Skilled relationship builder with the ability to engage government officials, major donors, board members, and community partners with equal ease Strategic thinker who can hold long-term institutional vision while managing complex day-to-day governance demands Experience in fundraising, grant strategy, or philanthropic relationship management Commitment to equity, shared governance, and community accountability Ability to navigate political and policy environments at the county, state, and federal levels Minimum Qualifications Minimum three (3) years of experience in the nonprofit sector in a leadership, governance, or administrative capacity Familiarity with grant management systems and demonstrated experience in organizational development or fundraising Proficiency in basic word processing and digital communication tools Demonstrated cultural competency and familiarity with the Native Hawaiian community and values Valid Hawaiʻi driver's license

Pay:

$65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off

Work Location:

In person