Cultural Coordinator

Primary Purpose:

Develop and coordinate culturally grounded learning and experiences that strengthen the identity, belonging, well-being, and navigational capacity of ʻōpio. Integrate Native Hawaiian values, knowledge, practices, and relationships throughout Kīʻapu's land-preparation services while collaborating with Navigators and youth programs across ʻUpena Pili.

Essential Duties:

Cultural Learning and Program Integration

• Develop and coordinate a culturally grounded learning approach aligned with the ʻUpena Pili North Star, ancestral wayfinding model, grant requirements, and organizational priorities;
• Integrate Native Hawaiian values, knowledge, practices, language, moʻolelo, ʻāina-based learning, and community relationships into Kīʻapu offerings in respectful and appropriate ways;
• Create opportunities for ʻōpio to explore identity, genealogy, place, purpose, kuleana, and their relationships with family, community, ʻāina, and future generations;
• Use cultural learning to cultivate the navigational mindsets of mālama, pono, lōkahi, kuleana, hoʻomau, and haʻahaʻa;
• Develop culturally grounded resources, activities, and materials that staff can use to reinforce navigational mindsets and skillsets.

Cultural Experiences and Facilitation

• Plan and facilitate workshops, huakaʻi, service-learning, community experiences, cultural practices, and other opportunities that provide exposure, experience, and expertise;
• Prepare clear learning goals, schedules, materials, protocols, safety considerations, and follow-up activities for cultural experiences;
• Create learning environments where ʻōpio feel safe, respected, connected, and encouraged to participate at their own pace;
• Adapt facilitation and activities to different ages, abilities, learning needs, cultural backgrounds, and levels of prior knowledge;
• Support ʻōpio in reflecting on cultural experiences and connecting what they learn to their individualized journeys, relationships, decisions, and future goals.

Cultural Relationships and Stewardship

• Build and maintain respectful, reciprocal relationships with cultural practitioners, kūpuna, community leaders, ʻāina-based organizations, and other cultural resources;
• Coordinate practitioner participation, expectations, schedules, materials, documentation, and other logistical needs for assigned cultural offerings;
• Follow appropriate cultural protocols and seek guidance when working with ʻike, practices, places, stories, or relationships that require particular care;
• Help ensure cultural knowledge and community relationships are represented accurately, respectfully, and without exploitation or tokenization.

Land Preparation and Cross-Program Collaboration

• Work closely with Navigators to understand the interests, strengths, identities, and goals of ʻōpio and connect them with relevant cultural experiences without replacing the Navigator's primary mentoring relationship;
• Collaborate with Kīʻapu staff responsible for pathways, wellness, data, and events so cultural grounding is integrated across land-preparation services;
• Coordinate with other youth programs under ʻUpena Pili to share cultural resources, strengthen referrals, reduce duplication, and expand access to culturally grounded experiences;
• Participate in Kīʻapu and cross-program planning, Navigator meetings, and youth conferencing when cultural insight or support is needed;
• Provide cultural guidance and support to staff while recognizing when consultation with kūpuna, practitioners, or other knowledge holders is appropriate.

Documentation and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate and timely records of cultural offerings, participation, practitioner involvement, feedback, and other assigned outcomes in PIDF systems;
• Gather feedback from ʻōpio, Navigators, staff, families, practitioners, and partners to assess relevance, accessibility, cultural integrity, and quality;
• Use data, reflection, and community guidance to improve cultural offerings and recommend responsive adjustments;
• Protect participant privacy and appropriately safeguard cultural knowledge, stories, relationships, and information.

Other Duties:

• Support ʻUpena Pili and Kīʻapu events, trainings, outreach, and community activities;
• Maintain professional and cultural knowledge through relevant learning, relationship-building, and professional development;
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Hours:

• Generally 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, or as otherwise determined by management;
• Flexibility to adjust schedules for ʻōpio, family, practitioner, partner, huakaʻi, event, evening, or occasional weekend needs is required;
• Position requires regular and predictable attendance.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid work model with work conducted in office, remote, school, community, cultural, outdoor, and program settings;
• Frequent travel to cultural, community, participant, partner, event, and program locations on Oʻahu and Molokaʻi;
• Travel to the continental U.S. may be required.

Equipment Use:

May include use of vehicles (company and personal), computers and other electronics, office equipment, cultural and site equipment, and facility equipment.

Mental, Physical, and Communication Demands:

Mental

• Consistent adherence to Partners In Development Foundation's five core values as a guiding force in the success of all programs;
• Ability to remain youth-centered, mission-focused, healing-centered, culturally nourishing, humble, and composed when navigating complex cultural or participant situations;
• Ability to manage multiple relationships, experiences, timelines, details, and follow-up responsibilities with sound judgment and cultural care;
• Ability to demonstrate integrity, self-awareness, coachability, adaptability, a growth mindset, and the Navigator's Mindset;
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential, and culturally protected information appropriately;
• Take responsibility and ownership for successfully accomplishing work and the organization’s objectives and delivering results. Set high standards of shared performance for self and others;
• Foster a respectful environment while supporting fair treatment and opportunity for all colleagues, partners, and communities;
• Ensure work is thoughtfully completed, accurate, and error-free to the highest degree possible.

Physical

• Ability to frequently travel to various sites on Oʻahu and Molokaʻi, including outdoor and uneven environments;
• Must be able to sit and work on a computer, participate in meetings and activities, or travel in a vehicle during the workday;
• Ability to lift and carry supplies up to 25 lbs;
• Outdoors: exposure to sun, wind, rain, dust, plants, insects, animal dander, and other environmental conditions;
• Indoors: exposure to normal office, school, community, cultural, and program environments.

Communication

• Exhibit a courteous and professional demeanor toward ʻōpio, families, staff, administration, practitioners, kūpuna, and partners through verbal, written, physical, and electronic correspondence;
• Strong facilitation, active-listening, relationship-building, public-speaking, and written communication skills;
• Ability to communicate across generations and cultures, receive guidance respectfully, and collaborate as part of a diverse, cross-program team.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Hawaiian studies, cultural studies, education, social work, human services, community development, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in cultural education, youth development, community-based programming, ʻāina-based learning, or a related field;
• Knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture, values, history, practices, community relationships, and protocols;
• Experience developing or facilitating workshops, huakaʻi, group learning, cultural activities, or community experiences for youth;
• Experience building respectful relationships with cultural practitioners, kūpuna, families, community organizations, or other knowledge holders;
• Knowledge of positive youth development and trauma-informed or healing-centered practice;
• Strong organizational, facilitation, relationship-building, problem-solving, documentation, and time-management skills;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, email, internet research, participant data systems, and virtual meeting platforms.

Driving

• Must have access to a vehicle, a valid driver's license, a safe and responsible driving record, and current no-fault auto insurance with at least $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $25,000 in property damage liability.

Preferred

• Experience working with opportunity or systems-involved youth and families;
• Established relationships with Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, kūpuna, ʻāina-based organizations, or community resources;
• Fluency or proficiency in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi;
• Experience integrating cultural learning with education, workforce, wellness, or youth-development goals.