Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations

Kamehameha Schools; Plaza (ND); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kamehameha Schools seeks a Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations to lead policy and partnership strategies advancing Pauahi’s mission and priorities. The role shapes government relations, builds high-impact alliances, and directs advocacy efforts to influence systems change.

The leader collaborates with KS divisions and external partners to align messaging, policy, and enterprise initiatives, ensuring KS is positioned for culture-based educational excellence, sustainable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in public policy, government relations, urban planning, Hawaiian studies, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in government relations, strategic partnerships, and advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to influence decision-makers and mobilize collective action.
• Experience managing teams and coordinating across multiple divisions.
• Strong understanding of Hawaii’s legislative, regulatory, and community landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Translate KS strategic priorities into a unified strategy for partnerships, advocacy, and government relations.
• Lead and align external initiatives with enterprise priorities for unified messaging.
• Prepare policy analyses, recommendations, and briefing materials for leadership.
• Build trusted relationships with public officials to advance policies supporting Native Hawaiian education and development.
• Oversee contracted lobbyists and advocacy partners to ensure alignment with KS values.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Government relations

Advocacy

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Government Relations, Urban Planning, Hawaiian Studies, or related field

Master’s or terminal degree preferred

Job description

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 roleleadsKe KulaoKamehameha (KS) policy and partnership strategies to advance Pauahi’s missionandthe organization’skeypriorities. This leader builds high-impact alliances, leads advocacy efforts, and shapes government relations to influence systems change and collective impactto 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, vibrantaina, thrivingkaiaulu, and sustainable financial outcomes—all in service to theeaof thelahuiand 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 communityinsight, policy trends, and market realities into decision-making.

Government Relations & Policy Impact

• Lead government engagementfor KSat federal, state, and county levels, implementingGRC’spriorities and advocacy strategiesthroughtactical plans.

• Prepare policy analyses, recommendations, and briefing materials for GRC and executive leadership;facilitatealignment on positions and priorities.

• Build andmaintaintrusted relationships with public officials to advance policies supporting Native Hawaiian education,ainastewardship, housing, and sustainable development.

• Oversee contracted lobbyists and advocacy partners for effectiveness andinalignment with KS valuesand identity, such as EOla!.

Partnerships & Alliance Building

• Design and steward partnerships and solutions that reflect KS values and advance priorities in education, ainastewardship,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 accountabilityandKSinfluence across cultural, community, and economic arenas.

• Ensure KS is viewed as acredible,principled, culturally grounded, and dependable partner whose approaches are expressed through E Ola!

AinaDevelopment,KaiauluBuilding,andFinancial Sustainability

• Supportainainitiatives 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.

OrganizationalLeadership

• ModelKS values and identity throughleadershipthat advancesea, connecting people and systems toward collective renewal.

• Inspire and develophigh-performingteamsthroughcollaboration,trust, foresight, and accountability.

• Build cultural and professional capacity of teams bypromoting strategic thinking, transparency, and accountability

• Develop and track performance measures for partnerships, advocacy, andkaiaulu-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 ainadevelopment 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.

• Proficiencyin oleloHawaii.

• Active engagement in sustained efforts related toalohaaina(cultural practices, environmental stewardship, or social and economic justice)demonstratingcommunity standing and respect.

• Established relationships across Native Hawaiian