Job Posting Title

Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations

Employee Type: Regular

Recruiting Start Date: 06-02-2026

Job Exempt? Yes

Recruiting End Date: Open Until Filled

Aloha mai! Mahalo for your interest in Kamehameha Schools. If you are looking for an opportunity to utilize your skills and talents and grow in your profession, while serving and strengthening our Native Hawaiian community, we would love to have you join our ʻohana!

Job Summary

This role leads Ke Kula o Kamehameha (KS) policy and partnership strategies to advance Pauahi’s mission and the organization’s key priorities. This leader builds high-impact alliances, leads advocacy efforts, and shapes government relations to influence systems change and collective impact to strengthen Hawaiian self-determination. Working closely with internal teams, such as the Government Relations Committee (GRC), and external partners, the Director ensures alignment between messaging, policy, and enterprise initiatives. This leader ensures that Kamehameha is well positioned in key decision-making, community, and economic arenas—creating the conditions for culture-based educational excellence, vibrant aina, thriving kaiaulu, and sustainable financial outcomes—all in service to the ea of the lahui and the well-being of Hawaii as a whole.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Guidance and Integration

• Translate KS strategic priorities from senior leaders and the Government Relations Committee (GRC) into a unified strategy for partnerships, advocacy, and government relations.
• Lead and partner with other KS divisions to plan and align external initiatives and enterprise priorities, ensuring unified messaging and advocacy efforts lead to collective impact.
• Incorporate community insight, policy trends, and market realities into decision-making.

Government Relations & Policy Impact

• Lead government engagement for KS at federal, state, and county levels, implementing GRC’s priorities and advocacy strategies through tactical plans.
• Prepare policy analyses, recommendations, and briefing materials for GRC and executive leadership; facilitate alignment on positions and priorities.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with public officials to advance policies supporting Native Hawaiian education, aina stewardship, housing, and sustainable development.
• Oversee contracted lobbyists and advocacy partners for effectiveness and in alignment with KS values and identity, such as E Ola!.

Partnerships & Alliance Building

• Design and steward partnerships and solutions that reflect KS values and advance priorities in education, aina stewardship, kaiaulu-building, and financial sustainability.
• Convene and co-create advocacy, investment, and grant strategies with Native Hawaiian organizations, government, philanthropy, and business leaders.
• Cultivate relationships that enhance mutual accountability and KS influence across cultural, community, and economic arenas.
• Ensure KS is viewed as a credible, principled, culturally grounded, and dependable partner whose approaches are expressed through E Ola!

Aina Development, Kaiaulu Building, and Financial Sustainability

• Support aina initiatives by cultivating partnerships and advocacy pathways that enable culturally grounded, income-generating projects.
• Promote policy environments and model developments that integrate cultural integrity, environmental stewardship, and economic success.

Organizational Leadership

• Model KS values and identity through leadership that advances ea, connecting people and systems toward collective renewal.
• Inspire and develop high-performing teams through collaboration, trust, foresight, and accountability.
• Build cultural and professional capacity of teams by promoting strategic thinking, transparency, and accountability.
• Develop and track performance measures for partnerships, advocacy, and kaiaulu-building; providing progress updates to senior leadership.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered for the requirements listed.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Government Relations, Urban Planning, Hawaiian Studies, or related field.
• 7 years of progressive experience in government relations, strategic partnerships, advocacy, providing legal counsel.
• 5 years of experience managing teams.
• Demonstrated success in designing and executing strategic alliances across government, community, and economic sectors.
• Proven ability to influence decision-makers and mobilize collective action within complex policy, planning, and development systems.
• Strong understanding of Hawaii’s legislative, regulatory, and community landscapes, including land-use, zoning, permitting, and entitlement processes.
• Fluency in aina development processes—from community engagement through construction and activation.
• Established credibility and relationships within Native Hawaiian, civic, governmental, and development networks.
• Ability to navigate sensitive economic, cultural, and political dynamics with diplomacy and cultural fluency.
• Strategic thinker with foresight and ability to create pathways for collective impact.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable strategies.
• Demonstrated reputation for integrity, trustworthiness, and consistent follow-through.
• Commitment to modeling E Ola! values and advancing ea.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or terminal degree in a relevant field.
• Proficiency in olelo Hawaii.
• Active engagement in sustained efforts related to aloha aina (cultural practices, environmental stewardship, or social and economic justice) demonstrating community standing and respect.
• Established relationships across Native Hawaiian, governmental, and philanthropic sectors.
• Experience leading cross-sector partnerships or advocacy coalitions focused on Hawaiian community or sustainable development.
• Relationships with other indigenous groups and leaders.
• Senior-level experience integrating policy, partnerships, and development strategies for mission-driven organizations.

Physical Requirements

Frequently sit, perform desk-based computer tasks and grasp light or fine manipulation, talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus. Occasionally stand and/or walk, write by hand, and lift and/or carry, push and/or pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds (equipment and materials for community engagement efforts). Rarely twist, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, reach or work above shoulder, or grasp forcefully.

Working Conditions

This position involves traveling to various locations, including neighbor islands and US continent locations to conduct business. Work is conducted in an office environment and may require work to be conducted in non-standard workplaces. With supervisor-approved work plans, hybrid work may also be conducted through on-line settings (Teams, Slack, etc.). Work is typically conducted Monday through Friday at normal business hours but evening and weekend hours are often required to meet goals and objectives.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required. The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned.

For internal use only: #LI-CAR

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact us at hr@ksbe.edu or 808-534-8040 if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. KS does not accept unauthorized solicitations of candidate referrals from third-party vendors (i.e. Staffing Agencies, Executive Recruitment Firms). Any third-party vendor who has interest in supporting KS's recruiting efforts must be authorized by Human Resources prior to the vendor’s candidate applying with KS.

Work Year

12

Pay Range

152,700.00 - 218,000.00 Annual Compensation and Benefits

Based on the compensation range provided below, salaries are commensurate with job-related experience, skills and competencies, education, internal equity, length of work year, and other organizational needs. At Kamehameha Schools (KS), we recognize that compensation is just one facet of a fulfilling employment experience. Our commitment lies in fostering a positive work environment and equipping employees with the necessary resources to excel every day. Our Total Rewards Program embodies KS's dedication to the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employee ʻohana. Explore our comprehensive Benefits Summary for more information.

Primary Location

Kawaiahao Plaza City, State Honolulu, Hawaii

Additional Locations Kamehameha Schools offers a dynamic, innovative and collaborative work environment for growth-minded individuals who embrace culture and diversity. Deeply committed to shaping a thriving and vibrant future for Native Hawaiians, Kamehameha Schools aims at finding the right people for the right roles, who bring talent and passion to our mission. Our workforce is comprised of full- and part-time, on-call, and seasonal employees who work in various positions at locations across Hawaiʻi pae ʻāina (group of islands), including three K-12 campuses, 29 preschools, and other regional and support offices. Learn more about us at www.ksbe.edu/careers!