Economic Development Assistant Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

Location : UH Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Job Type: Part-Time Temporary
Job Number: 2026-01204
Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Office of the Provost
Division: Institute for Sustainability and Resilience
Opening Date: 06/04/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Number:: 0000GA11
Description
Title: Graduate Research Assistant (Institute for Sustainability & Resilience- Sea Level Rise Adaptation)
Position Number: 0000GA11
Hiring Unit: Institute for Sustainability & Resilience (ISR)
Location: Manoa Campus
Date Posted: June 4, 2026
Closing Date: Continuous recruitment until position filled; application review to begin approximately around July 5, 2026.
Salary Information: Minimum step 17 - $31,524 annually ($2,627 monthly) - Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Monthly Type: 11 months
Part Time/ Full Time: Part Time (20 hours per week)
Full Time Equivalency: 50%
Temporary/ Permanent: Temporary
Vacancies: 1
Other Conditions: The appointment is anticipated to begin 8/17/2026 for an initial one-year appointment. Renewal depends upon satisfactory performance, position need, availability of funds, and meeting the eligibility requirements of the assistantship (for details, go to the ). The Position is not remote.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Institute for Sustainability and Resilience (ISR) at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa conducts research to help inform decision-making in topics related to sustainability and resilience for Hawai'i, with regional and national relevance. This Graduate Research Assistantship will contribute to ISR's on-going research agenda in the area of sea level rise adaptation.
1. The Graduate Research Assistant will work with the Director as well as an additional research mentor on a variety of studies informing the environmental, social and economic outcomes of sea level rise adaptation interventions. This can include studies of impacts to coastal areas from policy intervention and implementation, real estate markets and values, non-market valuation, and assessing the cost of adaptive actions.
2. Research duties include: literature review and synthesis, the identification of data, development and deployment of mixed methods (e.g. working with remote sensing data, GIS, statistics, key informant interviews), and contribution to the communication of research in a variety of forms (e.g. journal articles, research reports, blog posts, presentations and workshops).
3. The Graduate Research Assistant will also provide general support to the ISR research program, including helping to coordinate team work elements (e.g. shared datasets, analyses and collaborative writing outputs).
4. The Graduate Research Assistant will perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Full-time classified graduate student at UH Manoa in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or higher).
2. Demonstrated interest in climate change and other sustainability/resilience issues.
3. Excellent written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to write reports or similar documents.
4. Strong organizational skills, including management of data.
5. Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint or other similar software.
Desirable Qualifications:
1. Interest in sustainability and resilience issues in Hawai'i, particularly around sea level rise.
2. Ability to synthesize knowledge and research across multiple disciplines relating to climate change.
3. Strong oral communication skills.
4. Experience working with stakeholders.
5. Experience with key informant interviews.
6. Experience in GIS mapping and analysis.
7. Experience in applying statistical computing packages such as Stata, Python, or R.
8. Ability to work independently or collaboratively.
9. Experience in preparing articles for academic journal submission and publication.
10. Pursuing a PhD in topics aligned with the ISR research program.
To Apply:
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 how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications;
2. Resume or CV;
3. Names and contact information (telephone number and email addresses) of 3 professional references;
4. Writing Sample related to sea level rise/climate/environmental adaptation; and
5. Copy of unofficial transcript (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 Note: If multiple applications are received from the same candidate, only the last one will be reviewed. Please DO NOT include any self-identifying photos, REFERENCES TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND BIRTH DATE on any documents within the application packet. All items become the property of the University of Hawai'i 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: Makena Coffman
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: , or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
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: