Community Engagement Specialist na The Kohala Center

LOCATION: Waimea, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i
FLSA STATUS: Full-time, Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director of Community Experience

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE: The Kohala Center (TKC)’s community engagement specialist is responsible for organizing and supporting events, volunteer orientation and engagement programs, and assisting fund development efforts to achieve TKC’s community experience objectives. This position will leverage TKC’s customer relationship management (CRM) platform to facilitate event registrations and participant communications; track community, volunteer, donor, and partner engagements; and generate and analyze reports that measure organizational performance in achieving TKC’s mission and community engagement goals and desired impacts. The successful candidate is committed to engaging respectfully and positively with diverse community members, TKC staff and partners, supporters, and ‘āina at all times. This position is based in Waimea, Hawai‘i Island, with occasional travel to TKC-stewarded ‘āina in North and South Kohala, Kahalu‘u, and Honoka‘a.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL DUTIES: 

• Event coordination: Pilina-building experiences
  • Coordinate and participate in event planning efforts with TKC staff and partners.
  • Manage event records in Salesforce, working with appropriate staff to ensure event details are complete and accurate. Provide information to communications team to promote public events. Monitor event registrations and waitlists.
  • Manage direct pre- and post-event communications with registrants. 
  • Support and at times co-lead Hoa‘āina Experiences (volunteer workdays/learning journeys with an emphasis on building relationships) with other TKC staff, guiding participants through TKC’s stewardship practices to strengthen pilina with North Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural landscapes.
  • Co-lead creation and evolution of hosting processes to enhance the experiences of staff, community members, and ‘āina throughout the event lifecycle.
  • Coordinate procurement of food and beverages/meals from local vendors, with a focus on ‘ai pono, for event participants when budgets allow.
    
    
• Volunteer coordination: Hui Hoa‘āina
  • Extend invitations to event participants to apply to join Hui Hoa‘āina, our community of trained ‘āina volunteers.
  • Assist TKC staff in planning Lā Hana (workdays on ‘āina stewarded by TKC) and extending invitations to qualified members of Hui Hoa‘aina.
  • Coordinate communications between Hui Hoa‘āina members and TKC staff when support is needed.
  • Update and maintain volunteer data to track interests, service hours, services performed, knowledge and skills gained and shared, etc.
     
• Fund development support
  • Attend and co-facilitate TKC fund development team meetings to advance initiatives such as annual appeals, project-based campaigns, donor engagement events, and budgeting.
  • Assist director of community experience in identifying funding resources (e.g., grants, earned revenue, etc.) to support and evolve Hoa‘āina Experiences and Hui Hoa‘āina.
  • Research and evaluate new means of generating donation income. 
  • Maintain Salesforce dashboards, reports, and charts for fund development statistics.
  • Input or import donor data from donations received through channels that are not integrated with Salesforce (e.g., cash, checks, Venmo).
  • Update donor data when appropriate (e.g., change of address, communications opt-in/out).
    
    
• Data management
  • Oversee collection, entry, and accuracy of kānaka-related data (e.g., attendance, activities, participant feedback) from events.
  • Coordinate and update constituent data (e.g., donors, grantors, business services clients, volunteers, event attendees, etc.) collection processes, sharing ideas for enhancements and improvement. 
  • Collaborate with staff, including Kohala data science coordinator, to correlate and interpret kānaka and ‘āina data when appropriate.
  • Assist grant managers in preparing metrics for quarterly and yearly reports.
  • Generate donor lists for mailings, reports, and invitations.
  • Suggest enhancements to Salesforce and other data management projects (e.g., integrations, native and third-party apps, NRDS, etc.) and collaborate with appropriate resources when suggestions are approved.
    
    
• Evaluation: Assessment for learning and ‘āina accountability
  • Create and disseminate Assessment for Learning (AFL) intake forms, data, and reports to staff, identifying datapoints relevant for funders and external communications. 
  • Participate in internal evaluations/assessments for learning to ensure adherence to TKC’s ‘āina accountability standards. 
  • Enter AFL data into Salesforce; share relevant data with Kohala data science coordinator, grant managers, and TKC management team as appropriate.
    
    
• Administrative support/Other
  • Support director of community experience in anticipating, researching, and developing approaches to enhance our communities’ experiences at multiple touchpoints throughout TKC.
  • Manage annual subscriptions and renewals for internal community experience online tools and applications.
  • Manage TKC’s general email account: Vet inquiries from community members and organizations seeking to connect with TKC, then responding or forwarding to appropriate staff person/team.
  • Screen and route voicemail messages to appropriate staff.
  • Check-out/check-in field iPads to/from event teams, ensuring devices are charged and apps are up to date.
  • Participate in all-staff and other organization-wide gatherings (including meetings and ‘āina-based professional development) as time allows and as approved by supervisor.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

 REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATES, OR LICENSES:

• High school diploma.
• Minimum three years of experience in an office setting providing event and project planning, administrative, and data management support.

 REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Must reside on Hawai‘i Island, preferably North Hawai‘i Island. Relocation assistance is not available.
• Positive attitude and a commitment to engage respectfully with ‘āina, co-workers, community members, event participants, volunteers, partners, donors, and vendors.  
• Experience working with CRM or data management systems/tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, highly professional environment.
• Excellent computer and technology skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to co-lead or support events. In such instances, sufficient advance notice is given and flex time is offered.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word and/or Google Sheets and Docs.
• Ability to anticipate and analyze problems, and develop timely, effective solutions.
• Ability to manage stress and create a positive work environment.
• Must possess (or able to obtain) Hawai‘i driver license and clean driving record.

 DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep aloha for, knowledge of, and strong relationships within North Hawai‘i communities (‘āina and kānaka).
• Two- or four-year college degree, preferably in social or data sciences.
• Familiarity with ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, particularly spelling and pronunciation of frequently used words and names.
• Experience working with Salesforce for Nonprofits.
• Salesforce Certified Administrator (or able to obtain certification) a plus.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is primarily performed in an office, with occasional work at TKC-stewarded ‘āina.
• Hybrid (on-site and remote) work arrangement may be available once sufficiently trained.
• Some travel may be required.
• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

 EQUIPMENT USAGE:

• Laptop computer and standard office equipment.
• Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace software.
• iPad and other tablets.