Director of Housing, Infrastructure, and Sustainability

Closing Date: October 17, 2025 at 4:30pm HST

How To Apply

To apply for this position, Download, complete and submit the fillable application form (found on the OHA website) along with a resume and cover letter to:

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
560 N. Nimitz Highway, Suite 200
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817
Attention: Human Resources

Or via email: careers@oha.org

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) employees must be permanent Hawaii residents. Out-of-state applicants who are offered employment with OHA will need to relocate to Hawaii and establish permanent residency.

SALARY

$91,536 to $115,728 per year. Starting salary may be between the minimum and maximum salary range provided, based on qualifications.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Director of Housing, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, Office of Strategy and Implementation (the “Director”) is responsible for leading OHA’s Housing, Infrastructure, and Sustainability efforts under its Strategic Plan, and advancing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ (OHA) mission to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians, with a special focus on housing justice. The Director will lead efforts to strengthen capability for ʻohana to meet living needs, including housing, and strengthened effective implementation of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act through the advancement of policies, programs, and practices that strengthen Hawaiian resource management knowledge and skills and support for the implementation of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and other efforts to meet the housing needs of their ʻohana. The Director will gather, analyze, organize, and evaluate information and performance to outcomes, both internally and externally; track trends, create and execute strategic and tactical plans, consult on organization-wide initiatives to identify, generate, retain, protect, and use knowledge residing in both OHA and the broader community. Creates value, leverages, improves, and refines OHA’s competencies and assets to meet organizational goals and objectives. The Director oversees the Strategic Consultants for Housing, Infrastructure and Sustainability and reports to the Senior Director of Strategy and Implementation while working closely with OHA’s Land Assets Division and the Executive Team and other leaders throughout the agency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategy Development Leadership

a. Lead the planning and selection of housing projects that align with OHA’s mission and values. Evaluate opportunities where OHA can partner or invest to ensure Native Hawaiian preference is prioritized. Supervise a team of strategy consultants to carry out this work while fostering professional development and a strong, collaborative team culture. Actively identify a pipeline of third-party housing projects aligned with OHA’s mission, cultural values, and strategic priorities.

b. Negotiate opportunities where OHA might invest or assist in supporting entitlements for projects that provide Native Hawaiian preference.

c. Mentor and supervise a team of project managers, supporting their professional growth and fostering a collaborative, accountable culture.

2. Infrastructure Strategy and Coordination

Identify infrastructure gaps—like water, roads, electricity, and broadband—that are holding back housing for Native Hawaiians. Coordinate with government and private partners to secure funding and make improvements. Advocate for system-wide changes to remove development barriers and provide expert advice to OHA leaders.

a. Identify and track infrastructure needs that are limiting housing development for Native Hawaiians, including water, wastewater, electricity, road access, and broadband.

b. Work with federal, state, and county agencies to prioritize and fund infrastructure investments in Native Hawaiian communities and on Hawaiian Home Lands.

c. Advocate for policies, funding programs, and regulatory changes that improve infrastructure access and reduce barriers to development.

d. Build partnerships with utility providers, public works departments, and private sector players to align infrastructure improvements with OHA’s housing goals.

e. Provide expert guidance to OHA leadership on emerging infrastructure opportunities and risks affecting housing supply.

3. Housing Policy and Advocacy

Shape and lead OHA’s housing-related policy efforts. Advocate for changes in law and regulation that will expand housing access and affordability while protecting Native Hawaiian rights. Collaborate with housing agencies and advocacy groups to influence land use, permitting, and funding policies.

a. Lead OHA’s housing policy agenda in coordination with the Policy and Advocacy division.

b. Advocate for legislative and regulatory changes to expand housing supply, preserve affordability, and protect Native Hawaiian rights.

c. Engage with government agencies, Hawaiian Homes Commission, housing coalitions, and advocacy groups to advance shared goals.

d. Analyze state and local policies affecting land use, permitting, infrastructure, and financing, and recommend solutions.

4. Partnership and Development

Build and maintain strong relationships across public agencies, private developers, nonprofits, and funders. Identify and secure funding from various sources—like HUD, LIHTC, and infrastructure grants—to support housing efforts. Use OHA’s influence to build innovative partnerships that increase housing options for Native Hawaiians.

a. Develop and maintain strong relationships with public agencies, private developers, nonprofits, philanthropy, and community groups.

b. Identify, pursue, and secure funding opportunities including LIHTC, HUD programs, state and county subsidies, infrastructure grants, and Native Hawaiian-specific resources.

c. Leverage OHA’s leadership position to forge innovative public-private partnerships that increase housing options.

5. Cultural and Community Stewardship

Ensure all housing and infrastructure work honors Native Hawaiian culture, values, and community input. Work with kūpuna and cultural practitioners to co-create projects that are culturally appropriate. Promote sustainable practices that care for ʻāina and respect heritage.

a. Ensure all work reflects Native Hawaiian values, cultural protocols, and community voice.

b. Engage authentically with kūpuna, cultural practitioners, and residents to co-design culturally appropriate projects.

c. Promote design, construction, and stewardship practices that honor ʻāina and cultural heritage.

6. Operational and Organizational Excellence

Oversee the division’s budget, staffing, and operations. Set clear goals and performance measures. Keep OHA leadership and the Board informed through regular updates on housing and infrastructure progress and impact.

a. Develop and manage the division’s budget, staffing, and resource allocation in partnership with Finance.

b. Establish clear goals, metrics, and performance standards.

c. Report regularly to OHA leadership and the Board of Trustees on development progress, housing impact, infrastructure, and sustainability outcomes.

d. External Stakeholder Consultation on Quality Housing Direction

i. Develops and manages high-level stakeholder relationships with officials from other partner entities, including global stakeholders.

ii. Conducts and promotes outreach to improve communication with new and existing partnered organizations in coordination with Community Engagement, Advocacy, and Communication Divisions.

iii. Provides support for OHA-sponsored events and community events for beneficiary access and advocacy initiatives.

iv. Attends briefings, conferences, meetings, and forums that involve local, national, and international bodies.

v. Actively consults with stakeholders of all levels by leading discussions of project scope and approach, and presents business analysis, findings, and documentation and proposed solutions for greater leveraging of resources and improving OHA’s strategies for priority plans and projects.

7. Management

a. Makes hiring and other personnel recommendations to Senior Director of Strategy and Implementation and the CEO.

b. Works with OHA’s Human Resources Department to ensure professional development and staff training for supervised personnel.

c. Ensures that supervised employees share information and insights, use collaboration as needed to explore issues and/or solve problems, and demonstrate shared responsibility for program performance. Takes whatever actions are required to positively replace behaviors and/or persons when necessary.

d. Ensures integration of Strategic Plan elements and performance measures into management, employee, and contractor and performance reviews and improvement plans.

e. Performs supervisory tasks, such as leave time approvals, performance reviews, and related employment decisions. Disseminates needed information to supervised staff in a timely manner.

f. Ensures without exception the proper handling and maintenance of confidential, sensitive, and/or proprietary information.

g. Performs job duties in accordance with OHA’s policies and procedures.

h. Considers OHA’s mission and core values when making decisions.

8. Fully supports in action, language, behavior, and performance the priorities, decisions, and directives of the Senior Director of Strategy and Implementation and CEO.

9. Regular attendance on a daily basis is required for this position.

OTHER DUTIRES/RESPONSIBILITES

Performs other duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Strategy and Implementation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and/or Experience

1. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree or equivalent in urban planning and design, architecture, civil engineering, real estate development, sustainable design or environmental planning, construction management, or a related field or ten (10) years of experience in housing and infrastructure planning and development in creating sustainable communities that strengthened Hawaiian communities and leveraged partnerships and resources.

2. A minimum of five (5) years of professional specialized experience demonstrating responsible experience in a complex organizational position responsible for institutional development, knowledge management, and/or documented work in the Hawaiian community and supporting Native Hawaiian organizations, programs, and projects.

3. A minimum of three (3) years of strategic plan experience, project management or related experience required. Relevant work experience in large scale project management (multi-site/multi business).

4. Specialized professional experience that demonstrates possession of the ability to perform duties including but not limited to the following: quality improvement, project development, and knowledge measurement is required. Experience in highly collaborative consultative efforts within an organization is preferred. Proficient facilitation, strengths-building, and communication skills with understanding of Native Hawaiians and solid understanding of projects with cultural content analysis are required. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Must have working knowledge of:

• Hawaiian community and culture;
• Hawaiian Homes Commission Act;
• Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
• Native Hawaiian community issues and solution building from a strength-based, collaborative perspective; and
• Specific strategies to promote employee effectiveness and promote success throughout priority projects.

2. Must have demonstrated skills and abilities in:

• Development and implementation of housing, infrastructure, and systems for sustainable communities;
• Strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation;
• Project Management (including planning, organizing, resourcing/budgeting, scheduling, and prioritizing);
• Meeting facilitation;
• Development and delivery of presentations and reports;
• Use and knowledge of e-mail, word processing and presentation software;
• Listening, communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to interpret a variety of ideas furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form with strong attention to detail;
• Problem solving with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists;
• Documentation and records management;
• Creation, handling and maintenance of sensitive and confidential information;
• Basic research and data analysis;
• Analytical, oral communication and technical writing abilities;
• Proficiency with computer hardware and software;
• Recognizing and interpreting trends and problems; and
• Effective working relationships with individuals across the organization, including relationships with private and public individuals and organizations.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $91,536.00 - $115,728.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person