Regional Program Director, Main Hawaiian Islands

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is an environmental NGO that is on a mission to save the world’s coral reefs. Founded in 1994, CORAL has a history of working collaboratively with communities to reduce direct threats to reefs. In parallel, CORAL is actively expanding the scientific understanding of how corals adapt to climate change and is applying this information to give reefs around the world the best chance to thrive for generations to come. Come join our exciting team of passionate and savvy conservationists to help save the world’s coral reefs!

Position Description

CORAL is seeking a dynamic Regional Program Director to lead our exciting program in the Main Hawaiian Islands. This exceptional person will join our nimble and impactful Conservation Programs Team, focused on saving the world’s coral reefs through a combination of community engagement, alliance building, and applied science. The Regional Program Director will have demonstrated experience leading, managing, and raising funds for collaborative projects and alliances in Hawai‘i that result in measurable outcomes. The Regional Program Director will report to CORAL’s Conservation Programs Director based in California, and manage a team of two Program Managers, one Program Coordinator, one Research Coordinator, interns, and contractors currently based across Maui and Hawai‘i Island.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Regional Program Director strategically ensures the success of CORAL’s programmatic work in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Primary duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Develop and oversee Main Hawaiian Islands Implementation Plan, with a focus on CORAL’s Clean Water for Reefs initiative, that leads to measurable outcomes for coral reefs and the communities that depend on them, ensuring that the plan: (1) is sensitive to the local context, cultural and political climate; and (2) advances CORAL’s Strategic Plan; and (3) is sized to match budget and staff resources.
• Cultivate and maintain trusting relationships with funders and program partners to build and maintain support for solutions needed to improve the health of coral reefs, including other nonprofit organizations, community members, and government officials
• Lead and advance high-level, collaborative alliances with NGOs, government, philanthropy, research institutions, and other civil society networks in the Main Hawaiian Islands
• Work sensitively and positively with individuals and organizations who represent diverse cultural backgrounds and norms
• Supervise program managers, coordinators, interns, and volunteers; and manage contracts for services. This responsibility includes setting clear expectations and measurable goals, and conducting performance evaluations; supporting staff in creating and tracking workplans and budgets; establishing clear, open and respectful lines of communication with internal and external partners; and troubleshooting challenges with a sense of urgency
• Develop, manage, and monitor program and project budgets, ensuring that conservation activities are carried out within the scope, timeframe, and budgets
• Continuously assess and evaluate conservation strategies, providing recommendations for optimizing impact, scalability, and replicability
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy in collaboration with CORAL’s Development Team; create high-quality funding proposals that align with CORAL’s strategic priorities
• Develop, coordinate, and synthesize reports and other information to assist in completion of proposals/grant reports/organizational communications, and internal programmatic updates
• Oversee the development of high-quality and culturally sensitive communications materials
• Track and operationalize emerging relevant trends, such as scientific discoveries, changes in the political landscape, shifts in donor priorities, and/or any other issues that will have a direct programmatic impact in the region
• Ensure smooth and efficient programmatic operations, including but not limited to overseeing donor reporting and expenses tracking

Minimum Qualifications

The Regional Program Director must have a post-graduate degree (MS or PhD) in conservation biology, natural resource management, social sciences or related field and at least five years of related work experience in Hawai‘i; or BA/BS degree in natural sciences, resource management, or social science-related field and at least eight years of related work experience in Hawai‘i. Additionally, the Regional Program Director must have:

• Experience cultivating Hawai‘i funders and extensive familiarity with Hawai‘i philanthropic landscape
• Outstanding diplomacy, relationship building, and communication skills, with the ability to communicate sensitively and astutely with individuals from a variety of disciplines, cultures and backgrounds
• A proven history of leading and mentoring teams to design, fund and implement measurably successful conservation programs in Hawai‘i
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to accomplish complex assignments requiring cross-organizational cooperation
• Resourcefulness and ability to work proactively; ability to complete tasks independently, efficiently, and in a timely manner
• Flexibility and willingness to work in situations of flux; ability to work in a fast turn-around environment
• Strong work ethic and willingness to take ownership for wide-ranging responsibilities while exhibiting utmost professionalism and discretion
• Budget development and financial tracking experience
• Strong knowledge of Hawaiian culture and norms

Preferred Qualifications

• A good sense of humor and a team-player mentality
• Current Hawai‘i resident for at least three years
• Hawaiian language skills (conversational and written) a plus

Working Conditions

The Regional Program Director may work in variable weather conditions, at remote outdoor locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, coastal and marine environments and vessels, and under physically demanding circumstances that may require considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain. Work conditions may require international and domestic travel, including to remote locations. Additionally, the work may be performed independently, requiring a self-motivated individual, without day-to-day supervision.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. CORAL offers generous benefits that include medical, dental, vision and disability insurance, 401K match, paid vacation and 11 paid holidays.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and three references as a single document to jobs@coral.org with “Regional Program Director” in the email subject line. Applications received before December 1^st, 2020 will be prioritized. Please note that we may only have the capacity to respond to applicants with whom we would like to interview. No phone calls please.

The Coral Reef Alliance is committed to workforce diversity. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, health status or national origin.