Wildfire Collaborations Program Manager

The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) seeks an experienced community-driven individual to coordinate coalition- and network-building efforts across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific around issues related to wildfire outreach/education, wildfire planning, and mitigation/risk-reduction action. Although this position is a remote position, the individual must be a Hawaii resident and will report to HWMO’s Co-Executive Directors.

This position will serve as a connector across land-ownerships and stakeholder groups (residents and property owners, land/resource managers, elected officials, community groups, and county/state/federal agencies) and will work with other HWMO staff to ensure collaboration efforts are being mobilized and sustained over time. This position involves getting to know many partners and perspectives in order to adequately serve their wildfire needs. This is a hub position within a hub organization for Hawaii and the Western Pacific, so strong organization, timely and positive communications, reliable task completion, and a collaborative and cooperative disposition are essential.

The right candidate is someone who thrives in a program facilitation role, enjoys supporting the learning, growth and relationship-building among diverse people, and desires to have a long-term role and impact. Duties will include being the point of contact for HWMO’s many collaborative groups, scheduling and hosting virtual and in-person meetings, facilitating collaborative project planning, coordinating guest speakers and teachers, and encouraging productive dialogue among diverse participants toward common goals. The Wildfire Collaborations Program Coordinator will make sure all group participants’ inquiries are answered, all meetings are planned, facilitation guides and slides are developed, all meeting notes are sent to participants, and all group-determined actions are carried out (both internally within HWMO and with partners). These tasks, along with a caring disposition, strong people skills, careful planning and organization, and lots of written communications, are what will ensure collaborative wildfire efforts across Hawaii and the Pacific can carry forward into long-term, effective, collaborative action.

The Wildfire Collaborations Program Manager will operate at a leadership level, ensuring projects within the assigned program area(s) are completed according to the approach of HWMO, the expected timelines and budgets, and with a high level of technical quality. With the Executive Directors, they will be responsible for seeking, securing, and managing funds, as well as monitoring progress, developing programmatic reports, and managing both tasks and staff, as needed. They will independently develop, track, and complete all necessary tasks to achieve the assigned commitments and goals.

The person best suited for this position will have strong interpersonal skills, proven project, and time management skills, and the ability to make sound decisions in a complex and multi-objective, multi-partner environment. They must be strong project leaders who can execute leadership tasks and carry projects forward while simultaneously practicing the humility and open-mindedness necessary to facilitate the co-development of ideas and plans within each group and with HWMO supervisors and staff.