Senior External Affairs Officer II

Location: Honolulu, HI

Reports to: Vice President of External Affairs

Classification: Exempt

Position Overview

Under the direction of Kupu’s Vice President of External Affairs (hereafter “VP EA”), the External Affairs Officer fulfills various public relations, government relations and strategic functions for Kupu. This position supports the VP EA and functions as part of the External Affairs (hereafter “EA”) team in the planning and execution of a comprehensive, proactive external affairs strategy that advances Kupu’s mission and goals. 

First, as Senior EA Officer, the incumbent is expected to coordinate, though not manage, junior External Affairs staff and support the movement of objectives in the absence of the VP EA. Secondly, this position functions as the primary EA Officer for the following areas: government relations, policy analysis, and select strategic partnerships. While subject to revision based on staffing levels or the needs of the organization, this Senior EA Officer serves in a secondary, supportive role for mass communications (traditional, social and web) and strategic planning. 

• Conduct oneself with aloha and drive Kupu’s culture.
• Conduct oneself with integrity, credibility, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kupu’s mission.
• Serve as a role model for Kupu’s culture, mission, and CHOSEN Values.

Public Relations

• Work with Kupu teams to develop relevant public relations materials and social media, especially to assist with participant relations, partner relations, recruitment, and community building.
• Attend, on behalf of Kupu, hearings, information sessions, town halls, and other public or private meetings to gather information and represent the organization as necessary.
• Develop materials in support of Kupu’s government relations agenda, including talking points, legislative summaries, fact sheets, testimony, reports, and letters.

Government Relations & Public Policy

• Manage relations for Kupu before key decision-makers on matters affecting the organization, including funding and operations.
• Assist with executing a comprehensive public policy advocacy program, including legislative lobbying, grassroots volunteer development, and media engagement.
• Monitor legislation and policy activities, updating and advising Kupu leadership and staff on relevant policy proposals and their potential impacts.
• Assist with advocacy for Kupu programs impacted by local policy, municipal budgets, and Hawaiʻi Administrative Rule changes.
• Strengthen relationships with elected officials and government agencies to increase understanding and support for Kupu.
• Organize and implement events and other activities to support Kupu’s government relations goals, including town halls, news conferences, and lobbying events.

Strategic Partnerships & Relationship Management

• Support the VP EA and EA team in developing and managing key strategic relationships with educational institutions, affiliate organizations, and other partners.
• Assist with identifying and securing partnerships that align with Kupu’s mission and impact.
• Assist with seeking and securing government grants and contracts at the local, county, state, and federal levels.
• Research, plan, revise, execute, and analyze efforts related to government partnerships, private sector partnerships, public relations, participant and alumni engagement, and other strategic relations.

Project & Team Leadership

• Serve as EA project lead when assigned, collaborating with other EA staff, interns, and Kupu team members.
• Coordinate, but not manage, junior External Affairs staff and support the movement of objectives in the absence of the VP EA.
• Lead the management of key strategic initiatives, such as the Natural Resource Sector Partnership.
• Work with the EA team to fulfill duties during the absence of the VP EA.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the External Affairs team and Kupu’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, Business Administration, or related field or equivalent professional experience
• Available for periodic state travel and, infrequently, out-of-state travel
• Four years of progressively responsible, professional experience in community engagement, partnership-based work, management of projects, government relations, or a combination thereof; or two-years of in-depth experience with youth and conservation corps and/or mālama ʻāina professional organizations
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal legislative and executive processes
• Knowledge of public affairs principles and practices
• Skilled in project management and planning principles
• Ability to utilize computer technology for communication, data gathering and reporting activities
• Demonstrated accomplishments in:
  • o Managing and coordinating special projects
  • o Developing and implementing strategic plans as well as responding to short-term objectives
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related software

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with public officials and staff.
• Ability to research, pursue, and secure funding and partnerships with third parties.
• Demonstrated ability to work with news media, including but not limited to on-camera experience.
• Ability to analyze and interpret legislation and policy documents.
• Experience and proficiency with a customer relationship management (CRM) platform, Salesforce preferred.
• Personal experience in Kupu programs or other youth or conservation corps, including but not limited to participation in one or more Kupu programs.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay range: $60,000 - $68,000 yearly, based on experience
• Employer paid health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• PTO
• Eligible for 401(k) plan after one year of service and 1,000 hours of service
• Lifestyle benefits (gym reimbursement, ticket discounts, etc.)

Kupu’s Story

Kupu, which means “to sprout” or “to grow” in Hawaiian, has a two-fold mission: to preserve the land while empowering youth. The organization provides hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education for young adults, with the goal of fostering our next generation of environmental and cultural stewards. Kupu accomplishes this by partnering with conservation and sustainability focused agencies throughout the state and pacific in providing hands-on service opportunities which educate and mentor young adults and emerging professionals to become stewards of our communities and environment. Since 2007, Kupu has risen to meet the increasing demands of the green job sector by engaging over 3,000 youth in the areas of conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Kupu affirms the Hawaiian notion of “ma ka hana ka ʻike” or “in working one learns.”  This approach has led to the creation of hundreds of service-learning opportunities which assists in the development of Hawai’i’s emerging professionals in the green job sector while supporting over 150 conservation and sustainability organizations across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.

Kupu’s Mission

“To empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity (pono) with Ke Akua, self, and others”

Kupu’s CHOSEN Values

C         Character

H         Humility

O        ‘Ohana

S          Service

E          Excellence

N         Nobility

Physical Requirements:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.          

• Ability to work in an office environment, including prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to travel to various locations for meetings, events, and engagements, including walking, standing, and occasionally lifting materials up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to attend outdoor events, which may include walking on uneven terrain and exposure to various weather conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via email.

*In accordance with Federal Law, Kupu is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability