Community Relations Manager Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

Location : UH Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 2026-01711
Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Chancellor's Office
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Hawaii
Position Number:: 0097720
Description
Title: Administrative Services Manager (Strategic Planning and Community Engagement Manager)
Position Number: 0097720
Hiring Unit: UHM OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
Location: UH at Manoa
Date Posted: 8/5/26
Closing Date: 8/19/26
Band: D
Salary :
Full Time/Part Time: Full-time
Month: 11-month
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent
Duties and Responsibilities
(*denotes essential functions)
1. *Provides senior staff support and comprehensive programmatic leadership in the field of Institutional Advancement, Strategic Communications, Marketing, Media Relations, Events Planning, and Community Engagement Operations.
2. *Serves as the principal advisor to Manoa Executive Leadership and senior administrators on complex, high-visibility, or sensitive community relations initiatives, philanthropic models, and institutional branding campaigns.
3. *Provides management for the university's institutional advancement, marketing, communications, media relations, and community engagement functions, establishing long-range strategic direction, operational priorities, and related policies in alignment with Manoa Executive Leadership.
4. *Plans, budgets, and directs all phases of large-scale initiatives and projects of major institutional impact, including comprehensive capital campaigns, multi-year university branding transitions, and high-profile community partner collaborations.
5. *Formulates and implements university, campus, or divisional policies and operational procedures regarding public communications, crisis media management, donor stewardship, and institutional marketing standards.
6. *Establishes divisional goals, key performance metrics, and short- and long-term strategic plans designed to expand campus visibility, philanthropic revenue, and community integration.
7. *Conceives, drafts, presents, and solicits sponsor and donor backing for major corporate and philanthropic proposals that address broad, University-wide advancement and infrastructure needs.
8. *Provides strategic leadership for division personnel, organizational structure, and operations through subordinate supervisors, ensuring effective coordination, accountability, and achievement of strategic objectives.
9. *Identifies, manages, and resolves personnel conflicts, performance challenges, and workflow obstructions within the division in full compliance with University human resource policies and collective bargaining agreements.
10. *Manages the division's financial planning and resources through annual budget development, ongoing fiscal oversight, and effective allocation of space, technology, and equipment.
11. Provides strategic management for the division's administrative functions, overseeing resource planning, infrastructure support, and operational processes to support the mission and priorities of Manoa Executive Leadership.
12. Oversees the division's digital operations, monitoring the deployment and staff usage of cloud collaboration platforms, shared databases, and project management applications to optimize administrative efficiency.
13. Develops and manages high-level partnerships with external stakeholders, industry leaders, philanthropic partners, government entities, media organizations, and University leadership to support institutional goals and initiatives.
14. Serves as a subject matter expert in university advancement and public relations, representing the campus through presentations, panels, conferences, and other professional engagements at the local, national, and international levels.
15. Monitors emerging market conditions, media trends, and community needs to identify opportunities and develop new strategies and practices that address complex public relations challenges.
16. Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field and eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for institutional advancement, strategic communications, media relations, large-scale marketing/branding, public events management, or broad-scale administrative program management; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
2. Extensive knowledge of innovative and state-of-the-art principles, concepts, emerging theories, the current federal and state laws and associated rules, regulations and interpretations and systems associated with strategic communications, brand marketing, donor advancement, public relations, and large-scale community engagement systems.
3. Demonstrated ability to develop short-and long-term plans of actions, understand problems from a broad perspective, use creative reasoning to discern broad underlying principles and issues when problem solving.
4. Demonstrated written and verbal mastery in presenting ideas, theories, issues and models clearly and accurately using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation and provide long-term direction and leadership.
5. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups and individuals.
6. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software.
7. For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
8. Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, enterprise project management tools, Content Management Systems (CMS), and web and social media analytics to support strategic communications, organizational collaboration, and decision-making.
9. Demonstrated knowledge of budget development, budget administration, financial analysis, and resource management sufficient to support strategic planning, organizational operations, and institutional initiatives.
10. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational improvement initiatives, optimize operational processes, mentor professional staff, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
11. Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings, negotiate solutions, build consensus, and effectively resolve sensitive, complex, or high-profile issues with diplomacy, sound judgment, and discretion.
12. Ability to work flexible hours as necessary to meet critical deadlines, program commitments, and leadership objectives.
Desirable Qualifications
1. Considerable knowledge of the University of Hawaii System and its executive and administrative policies, procedures, and governance structure.
2. Working knowledge of University of Hawaii, RCUH, UH Foundation, or comparable administrative information systems and institutional data resources.
3. Knowledge of labor relations practices and experience operating within a unionized environment governed by collective bargaining agreements and applicable federal, state, and University policies.
4. Demonstrated leadership in institutional advancement initiatives, including major fundraising efforts, donor engagement, philanthropic partnerships, and comprehensive capital campaigns.
5. Proven ability to cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with community partners, government agencies, corporate organizations, media representatives, philanthropic entities, and other key stakeholders.
6. Demonstrated expertise in strategic communications, marketing, media relations, brand management, and public affairs initiatives that enhance organizational visibility and reputation.
7. Demonstrated ability to lead collaborative initiatives, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and foster productive working relationships within a large, complex organization.
8. Exceptional analytical, research, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to evaluate complex issues, develop data-informed recommendations, and implement strategic solutions that advance institutional priorities.
To Apply:
Note: If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov, you will need to create an account.
Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach required documents. Applicants must submit the following:
1. Cover letter indicating your interest in the position and how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications;
2. Resume;
3. Names and contact information (telephone number and email addresses) of three (3) professional references; and
4. Copy of unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required at the time of hire). Academic record/grade summaries will NOT be accepted. Copy of diplomas will NOT be accepted.) Documents issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.
IMPORTANT: If multiple applications are received from the same candidate, only the last one will be reviewed. Please DO NOT include any self-identifying photos, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, BIRTH DATEs or any sensitive/ confidential information on any documents within the application packet. All items become the property of the University of Hawaii and will not be returned. Only complete applications will be passed on to the search committee for consideration. Incomplete or unreadable application materials will not be considered.
Inquiries: Marcus Hayden, 808-956-0447, marcush@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/