Program Officer - Natural Environment Sector

At the Hawai’i Community Foundation (HCF), we believe that an organization’s team as a “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” (Aristotle). To us, this means that we are committed to be a collaborative ‘ohana (family) that lives and actionizes our mission, respects and cares for each other, and innovates and learns together. We understand that we must rely upon all our individual strengths as we partner to provide excellent value and achieve effective results for our generous donors, community partners, and all of Hawai’i’s people.

We are excitedly looking forward to enhancing our team with the addition of a Program Officer.

Like all HCF team members and volunteers, the Program Officer exudes the heart and passion for HCF’s mission: to inspire generosity, advocate for equity, forge connections and invest in community to create a better Hawai‘i. Specifically, the Program Officer’s role is to support the natural environment portfolio of work, managing key projects, communications, data, and reporting functions all while facilitating community impact.

The Program Officer will also make effective grants and other community investments through stewardship of various funds at HCF and servicing advisory committees and contracted partners. This is a key position that provides leadership for a diverse body of work in natural resource management and a set of grantmaking programs and clients. Additionally, the position may support the development of grant program strategies and carry out special projects.

Key responsibilities fall within primary areas of focus and are as follows:

• Coordinate the work of numerous contractors and partners for effective project implementation and alignment with program goals.
• Support activities and partners to further natural environment sector goals.
• Manage external meetings and events to facilitate successful partner engagement.
• Support budget and spending oversight, including invoice review and expenditure tracking.

• Develop and manage data systems, including collection instruments and management protocols.
• Collect and manage data, including information regarding Hawaii’s natural resources, infrastructure, financers and funding, decision-makers and decision‑making forums, stakeholder perspectives and preferences, email lists, etc.

• Draft initiative and program informational, advocacy, and reporting materials, including funding applications, progress reports, FAQs, newsletters, social media posts, etc.
• Collaborate with internal communications staff to enhance communications outcomes.

• Develop and administer funding opportunities.
• Review and evaluate grant proposals and provide written summaries and funding recommendations.
• Participate with colleagues on grant programs including proposal review and peer review of potential grants or awards.
• Monitor ongoing grant programs by reviewing grantee progress reports and final reports and conducting site visits, where appropriate. Evaluate completed grant‑funded projects.
• Field inquiries from the public and grant seekers regarding grant opportunities in a respectful manner.
• Responsible for an assigned portfolio of grant programs.
• Able to independently manage a grant program from start to finish in collaboration with other HCF team members.
• Develop the grant program strategy and design, including the grant program’s Request for Proposals.
• Manage grant program events and convenings, including grantee gatherings and training, as applicable.
• Oversee evaluation of grant program to track progress on meeting program’s goals and impact.
• Oversee external consultants and vendors to grant programs, if applicable.

• Maintain key relationships with funders and donors, program partners, and advisory committee partners to implement community grantmaking.
• Participate in advancing the mission of HCF and HCF clients and donors to serve the needs of communities throughout Hawaii.
• Work with Development and Donor Relations (DDR) staff to inform donor solicitations, respond to donor inquiries, and monitor fundraising goals.
• Support activities to…