Executive Director

Mission

HARC leverages Hawai’i's year-round growing conditions and diverse climatic zones to provide world-class scientific solutions in agronomy, ecosystem services, crop improvement, and sustainable forestry. HARC collaborates with local and international producers, industry, academia, and government to drive innovation to sustain agriculture in tropical regions.

HARC is seeking an experienced and dynamic Executive Director (ED) to manage the functioning of the organization and provide leadership to HARC’s research mission. The ED is expected to enhance HARC’s financial sustainability as a top priority to support both ongoing agriculture research programs as well as growth opportunities in targeted areas. The ED is expected to develop and maintain productive relationships with local, national, and international partners to advance HARC’s mission.

• Leads the execution of HARC’s mission to leverage Hawai’i's year-round growing conditions and diverse climatic zones to provide world-class scientific solutions in agronomy, ecosystem services, crop improvement, and sustainable forestry.
• Grows the organization strategically while finding ways to meet financial and operational stability.
• Collaborates with producers, industry, academia, and government to drive innovation to sustain agriculture in tropical regions.
• Identifies critical issues that may affect HARC’s plans and mission, and develops and implements appropriate strategies in response.
• Works cooperatively with the Board of Directors and builds strong Board support to achieve organizational goals. Serves as an ex-officio member of Board committees
• Ensures regulatory compliance and financial sustainability.
• Manages professional staff and active contracts, ensuring deliverables are met within budgets.
• Recruits, retains, and manages effective professional staff.
• Motivates and supports professional staff to achieve high performance and develop a positive organizational culture.
• Develops effective systems to track progress and regularly evaluates program components to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the Board, funders, customers, and other constituents.
• Assists and supports professional staff in applying for grant funding and private research contracts.
• Seeks and coordinates appropriate partnerships to enhance and expand relationships within the community, nationally, and internationally to achieve HARC’s mission.
• Represents the organization to government officials and agencies, regulatory bodies, community and agricultural organizations, funders, supporters, and the public. This includes, but is not limited to, federal, state and local elected officials and bodies;
  State of Hawai‘i, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other relevant government agencies; the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; the University of Hawai‘i; local primary and secondary schools; the business community; and non-profits that support agriculture, workforce development, science, and natural resources.
• Maintains relationship with Kunia Village Title Holding Corporation (KVTHC), HARC’s supporting 501(c)(2) tax exempt organization, and recommends potential KVTHC Board members to HARC’s Board for approval.
• Maintains relationship with Kunia Village Development Corporation (KVDC), HARC’s subsidiary 501(c)(3) organization focused on affordable agriculture worker housing.
• Maintains relationship with Hawai‘i Foundation for Agriculture Research (HFAR), HARC’s subsidiary 501(c)(3) organization focused on supporting the charitable, research, and educational purposes of HARC.

• Advanced degree in agriculture, natural resources, or related fields.
• Minimum of 10 years of management experience, with a strong preference for experience in agriculture or a relevant science-related field.
• Demonstrated success in leading diverse, professional staff to achieve and sustain success in agriculture or related research.
• Demonstrated experience in securing and managing diverse funding sources, such as federal, state, and private contracts.
• Experience in meeting research project timelines to deliver expected outcomes in a non profit or for-profit…