Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations

Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations

Employment Type: Regular (Exempt)

Recruiting

Start Date:

06-02-2026

Recruiting End Date: Open Until Filled

Job Summary: This role leads Ke Kula o Kamehameha policy and partnership strategies to advance Pauahi’s mission and the organization’s key priorities. The Director 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 and external partners, the Director ensures alignment between messaging, policy, and enterprise initiatives and positions Kamehameha in key decision‑making arenas, creating conditions for culture‑based educational excellence, vibrant aina, thriving kaiaulu, and sustainable financial outcomes.

• Strategic Guidance and Integration: Translate KS strategic priorities from senior leaders and the Government Relations Committee 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 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 alignment with KS values and identity.
• 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.
• Aina Development, Kaiaulu Building & Financial Sustainability Support: 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; provide progress updates to senior leadership.

• 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,…