Director, Life Readiness

The Director of Life Readiness is tasked with collaboratively developing and overseeing integrated, culturally rooted services and programs to enhance the overall life readiness of LC participants. These programs, deeply rooted in Native Hawaiian culture, will maintain an emphasis on positive youth development. Life Readiness programming will focus on providing the educational, career, and structural support that young people need to remain engaged and successful in school and as they transition to post-secondary experiences and careers. Additionally, the Director will oversee the integration of Entrepreneurial skills and mindset into Center-wide programming. The Director will identify, cultivate, and oversee impactful partners while also building internal capacity for service provision with an emphasis is on providing high-impact academic support services and a diverse array of career exploration and readiness opportunities. Emphasis will be placed on the attainment of business skills and entrepreneurial support for youth and the development of a comprehensive mentorship program.

All programming will integrate into the Center’s holistic wraparound support services and engaging arts, culture, and technology programming. Working collaboratively with other leaders, the Director will maintain a state-wide view and awareness of youth interests and needs, and will lead efforts to develop responsive, accessible, and engaging programming.

Essential Responsibilities:

Program Oversight:

• Oversee the creation and implementation of the new Liliʻuokalani Center’s educational, career development, and other life readiness programs and services with an emphasis on entrepreneurial skill development
• Onboard and oversee a team focusing on academic support services, career development, and other life readiness elements
• Work collaboratively with LC and LT leadership to increase program integration, focusing on ensuring that wraparound supports are built into programming in a meaningful way
• Lead, in collaboration with LC leadership, partners, and Youth Program leadership, the development and implementation of relevant, engaging, and creative group activities, workshops, and ongoing programming inclusive of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual schedules
• Develop a range of engagement opportunities, with both drop-in offerings and ongoing skill-building pipelines, ensuring an appropriate balance of drop-in and closed programming, including opportunities for special events and workshops
• Lead the collaborative development of a comprehensive mentorship program aimed at fostering personal and professional growth and building strong ties to local community businesses and leaders
• Maintain an awareness of the ongoing and emerging educational and career-building needs and trends of Hawaiian youth
• Maintain an awareness of emerging trends in youth workforce programs, particularly relating to Hawaii
• Support the implementation of a robust academic support program
• In collaboration with other program leaders, develop and oversee an LC scholarship program
• Through intentional programmatic development, design, and implementation, cultivate a sense of community and social/emotional support for participants
• Ensure that programming emphasizes global citizenship balanced with deep understanding of Native Hawaiian culture, highlighting opportunities for learning and advancement for participants while also strengthening ties to local communities
• Establish strong ties to LT’s Youth Advisory Committee, increasing opportunities for youth voice and youth leadership throughout program development
• Work collaboratively with all teammates across the LT continuum to continuously develop creative, flexible, and meaningful programs, services, spaces, and events at LC

Community Engagement:

• Increase the accessibility and exposure of Liliʻuokalani Center programs state-wide, additionally ensuring a feedback loop, integrating lessons learned state-wide into LC programming
• Develop strong relationships with statewide staff to consistently share program opportunities occurring at LC throughout the year
• Cultivate and manage relationships with the DOE, specifically alternative learning and GED programming opportunities
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local businesses, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and community networks to ensure a continuum of care for LC participants
• Build collaborative relationships with other organizations and community stakeholders to maximize capacity, exposure, and community investment and engagement
• Identify, cultivate, and develop strong programmatic partnerships with local and national service providers, including colocation at LC as appropriate

Organizational Support:

• Oversee relevant and appropriate memberships in leagues and associations
• Engage in ongoing quality assurance and evaluation efforts
• Work collaboratively with the Research & Evaluation team to design, oversee, and manage data collection processes that provide regular, actionable feedback from participants to inform program design
• Maintain oversight of data entry and ongoing use of Ho’okele, LT’s Salesforce system
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current trends in youth services, ensuring that community initiatives and programmatic strategies are aligned with current needs and environment
• Work collaboratively with other program leaders to ensure appropriate staffing and supervision of all program spaces
• Provide ongoing support for all LC staff and engage in advocacy for LC

Other duties:

• Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in youth development, career development and job readiness, and education, incorporating relevant advancements into program design
• Effectively communicate with stakeholders, including participants, staff, and external partners, to promote LC, develop and maintain strong community ties, and ensure integration into the larger ecosystem
• Participate in program planning, budget development, revision, and evaluation
• Provides transportation for organization related business, such as driving staff, beneficiaries and/or families to assigned destinations
• Participates in continuing education and training opportunities for professional development
• Contribute to the Trust’s success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and collaborating as we strive to attain the Trust’s strategic goals

Qualifications:

• MA in related field preferred, BA or equivalent required
• At least eight years of experience in youth work, particularly with vulnerable populations
• Deep knowledge of educational systems, with expertise in middle and high school
• Experience with career development and exploration programming
• Valid driver’s license, clean traffic abstract
• TB clearance

Travel Requirements:

In alignment with our organizational competencies of Alu Like I ka Hana (Teamwork) and Hoʻomau i ka ʻimi Naʻauao (Continuous Learning and Improvement), this position will require occasional travel across the island, inter-island, and out-of-state depending on the needs of the team and the organization. While travel may not always be a need, the ability to travel when required remains a crucial aspect of this position.

Physical Requirements:

Perform light physical work, including climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and lifting weight of up to 25 pounds. Exposed to outdoor climate and diverse terrain.

This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time

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