Director, Implementation

Job Purpose

The Director, Implementation is responsible for aligning Liliʻuokalani Trust’s (LT) strategic processs improvement priorities with actionable plans, executing project milestones and critical action steps that drive project completion, and leads organizational integration. This role oversees a team of Managers and collaborates closely with the Managing Director, New Initiatives to ensure LT’s priority projects are executed seamlessly. By leading organizational alignment, managing resources, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration, this role ensures initiatives are effectively implemented and transitioned into sustainable operations. This includes strategizing from project origination to organizational integration, moving milestones, tasks, and discussions forward, identifying and solving for project challenges, monitoring project success, and general team support and development.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provides guidance and oversight for project implementation, promoting and fostering strong cross-departmental collaboration.
• Establishes and maintains best practices and process for the development and implementation of initiatives.
• Responsible for overall project success, quality, staff performance, and end-user feedback.
• Responsible for project research, data analyzation, understanding end-user needs, trends and best practices, and providing recommendations that will guide and inform Executive and Senior leadership.
• Meets with stakeholders to attain clear understanding of project vision, goals, and business needs.
• Partners with leadership to align strategic priorities and manage internal and external communications to ensure efficient progress, implementation and completion of projects, and overall business operations.
• Identifies barriers before and during propject implementation and provides recommended solutions that are data driven and tailored to the specific project purpose.
• Works in close partnership with the Research, Evaluation, and Data Science (REDS), Program Practice and Development (PPD), Risk, Facilities and Programs teams to coordinate efforts, align resources, and ensure seamless project execution.
• Seeks to regularly obtain cross-functional knowledge to understand issues, trends, and perspectives that may influence LT’s mission, programs, and business objectives.
• Leads and coordinates specific organization-wide projects and facilitates meetings to ensure successful progression of projects and stakeholder tasks are upheld in a timely manner and within budget.
• Considers and incorporates feedback from leadership and other project stakeholders and reevaluates and adjusts plans, as necessary.
• Ensures consistent feedback loops and process improvement strategies from all stakeholders for each project.
• Routinely coordinates and guides the project team on the organization of projects, scheduling and deadlines, budget, project updates, presentations, and training.
• Reviews plans and provides recommendations for direct reports for alignment with organizational goals, maintaining LT’s focus on kamaliʻi needs, and thoughtfully integrating deliverables onto LT’s operations.
• Prepares and maintains operational budgets and team capacities, carefully stewarding the Queen’s resources.
  
  

Other Duties

• Develops activity and performance reports and project updates on a quarterly basis and/or as required by Managing Director, New Initiatives, Executive Leadership, and Trustees.
• Ensures direct reports receive coaching and participate in professional growth opportunities that enable them to provide excellent service in the present and future and that contribute to their job satisfaction.
• Supports programming, events, and special projects as needed.
• Contributes to the Trust’s success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and striving to improve team and organization results.
• Leads and supports other work as needed and assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. Certifications related to project management and process improvements are preferred.
• 10 years of managing complex, cross-functional projects from inception to delivery, including resource planning and budget management. Strong command of Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid methodologies is required.
• Experience establishing project management frameworks, governance, and project templates is a plus.
• 5 years of progressive leadership responsibility and people management.
• Demonstrated experience managing diverse stakeholders and briefing executives.
• Strong detail oriented writing, editing, and communication skills across complex projects.
• Ability to problem solve, think big, creatively, and turn ideas into reality.
• Must have a strong personal fit with our non-hierarchical, no ego, flexible, culture.
• Advanced proficiency in software such as Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Microsoft Timeline, Smartsheet, and Mural for project management, workshop facilitation, and reporting is desirable.
  
  

LT strongly believes in hiring individuals reflective to the community it serves, including lived experiences, striving for representative diversity among its staff.

Job Competencies

• Leadership: Demonstrates advanced knowledge, understanding of leadership and management principles and practices, and can make decisions.
• Mission Focus: Possesses advanced knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities relating to LT’s mission.
• Technical Skill: Knowledge of education; youth development; planning and implementing youth focused projects.
• Communication: Communicates clearly complex issues, both verbally and in writing. Is an effective public speaker. Works well and communicates effectively and professionally with aloha, among all levels of the organization and the public.
• Ethical Practice: Models the highest level of ethics, integrity, LT values and social responsibility.
• Relationship Management: Demonstrated experience working with staff at all levels in a complex, collaborative environment; commitment and ability to promote and sustain positive workplace values and relationships.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work well under pressure, remain calm and controlled when faced with demanding situations.
  
  

Organizational Values

• Aloha: awareness and approach to the work with compassion, empathy, and kindness.
• ‘Imi Na’auao: a constant desire for seeking knowledge; lifelong learner.
• Poʻokele: desire to perform in excellence.
• Wiwoʻole: maintain a courageous, brave, and fearless mindset.
• Pono: understand the appropriateness of time, place, reason, people, and tools
• Kuleana: bring a deep sense of responsibility and accountability
  
  

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 to successfully contribute to our concerted efforts to carry out our Queen’s legacy. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time

Mental And Physical Demands

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.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment, employee will be subject to LT’s policies and procedures.

Job Title: Director, Implementation

Reports to: Managing Director, New Initiatives

FLSA Status: Exempt

Aligned Executive: Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

Kipuka: Liliʻuonamoku

Department: New Initiatives

Liliʻuokalani Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to recruit, train, and retain innovative talent from a diverse candidate pool. All employment decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, ancestry, genetic information, citizenship, marital/civil union status, arrest and court record, domestic or sexual violence victim status, credit history, disability or veteran/military status or other applicable legally protected characteristics.