Associate Vice President – Hawaii State Director

TPL; Honolulu (HI); Híbrido; USD 140.000 - 200.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Trust for Public Land in Hawaiʻi seeks a Hawaiʻi State Director to guide conservation priorities, nurture trusted partnerships across Native Hawaiian communities, government, philanthropy, and landowners, and translate the FY 2026–2030 strategic plan into measurable outcomes.

The State Director will demonstrate strategic vision, executive presence, cultural humility, and credibility, advancing land protection, public access, climate resilience, and community well‑being across the islands.

Formación

• Proven executive leadership experience in conservation, land policy, or public service.
• Deep connection to Hawaiʻi and its communities.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable programs and partnerships.
• Experience working with government, philanthropy, and nonprofit sectors.
• Cultural humility and ability to navigate cross-cultural contexts.

Responsabilidades

• Lead TPL Hawaiʻi during strategic growth and implement the FY 2026–2030 plan.
• Build and maintain partnerships with Native Hawaiian organizations, government agencies, and communities.
• Provide vision and leadership across Aloha ʻĀina, Sustainable Hawaiʻi, and Parks for People.
• Represent TPL in public forums and advocate for land conservation and public access.

Descripción del empleo

Trust for Public Land, Hawaiʻi State Director

Inkinen is assisting Trust for Public Land with their search for a Hawaiʻi State Director.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting land and creating places that strengthen communities, preserve cultural and natural heritage, and connect people to the health, joy, and inspiration of the outdoors. Founded in 1972, TPL partners with communities to create parks, protect public lands, and conserve landscapes that sustain people and nature. Its distinctive approach is grounded in the belief that conservation should deliver tangible public benefits, including access to nature, recreation, cultural reconnection and preservation, and healthier, more resilient communities. By integrating land conservation, park development, public policy, conservation finance, and data-driven research, TPL turns community vision into lasting outcomes. Its national reach, federal relationships, and ability to mobilize public and private investment enable the organization to advance ambitious projects, navigate complex transactions, and protect irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.

In Hawaiʻi, TPL envisions thriving, healthy communities deeply connected to ʻāina, one another, and a vibrant living Hawaiian culture. Since beginning its work in Hawaiʻi in 1979, TPL has helped protect more than 79,000 acres and advance state and county conservation funding mechanisms. TPL Hawaiʻi occupies a distinctive role as a trusted intermediary, bringing national expertise, conservation finance, and complex transaction capabilities to locally driven conservation efforts. Working alongside Native Hawaiian organizations, community nonprofits, landowners, public agencies, and other partners, TPL acquires and protects land before transferring it to public or community ownership or stewardship. This model strengthens rather than competes with local land trusts and community organizations, helping partners overcome barriers to protecting lands central to Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage and community priorities. Its work advances three interconnected programs: Aloha ʻĀina, reconnecting people to ancestors, culture, and each other by protecting and returning ʻāina to Native Hawaiian organizations; Sustainable Hawaiʻi, protecting resources essential to food security, forests, water, and resilient communities; and Parks for People, expanding access to parks, trails, and natural areas close to home.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Hawaiʻi State Director will lead TPL Hawaiʻi through a pivotal period of strategic growth, building on decades of conservation impact and trusted partnerships to advance the organization’s next chapter. Reporting to TPL’s Vice President Pacific Region, the State Director will provide the vision, judgment, and relationship-centered leadership needed to translate TPL Hawaiʻi’s FY 2026–2030 strategic plan into measurable results across Aloha ʻĀina, Sustainable Hawaiʻi, and Parks for People. The State Director will strengthen TPL’s position as an essential partner in Hawaiʻi’s conservation landscape, advancing priorities that connect land protection with cultural continuity, public access, climate resilience, food and water security, and community well‑being. This is an opportunity to expand the organization’s reach across the islands, pursue innovative approaches to conservation and public investment, and elevate TPL Hawaiʻi’s influence as a thought leader on the role of land in sustaining healthy, resilient communities. A central priority will be to advance TPL’s distinctive intermediary model, leveraging national expertise, federal relationships, conservation finance, and complex transaction capabilities to help communities protect land for public benefit and secure lasting conservation outcomes.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished, mission‑driven leader with a deep connection to Hawaiʻi, its communities, and the ʻāina. They will bring strategic vision, executive presence, cultural humility, and credibility to work across community, government, philanthropy, real estate, and conservation settings. The ability to understand Hawaiʻi’s land systems and cultural history will be particularly valuable, as will experience in land conservation, real estate, planning, public policy, climate resilience, community development, or another mission‑driven field. TPL Hawaiʻi is looking for a leader who can see opportunities across disciplines, connect local priorities to broader regional and national resources, and translate community needs into practical, lasting outcomes. The ideal candidate will be a patient facilitator, skilled negotiator, curious lifelong learner, and collaborative colleague who develops people, communicates candidly, and remains persistent through complex challenges. They will be comfortable exercising independent judgment, navigating ambiguity, and building alignment across a matrixed organization. Above all, they will bring the ambition to take TPL Hawaiʻi to its next level of impact and the commitment to mobilize the relationships, resources, and collective expertise needed to safeguard Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural legacy for generations to come.

TPL is a hybrid work environment; the State Director will ideally be in the Honolulu area. As a full‑time exempt employee, you will be eligible for TPL’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match.

THE SEARCH PROCESS

The TPL Search Committee welcomes your comments, inquiries, applications, and nominations / referrals for the Hawaiʻi Director opportunity.

In accordance with state and federal laws, Trust for Public Land does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or other grounds protected under state or federal equal employment opportunity laws or regulations

Upon review of all the applicants, the Search Committee will select qualified candidates to be interviewed. Thereafter, the Search Committee will advise the Board of Directors on the selection of the Hawaiʻi State Director for final review and approval.