Program Specialist (Research Program Manager) (pos #0096587T)

Title: Program Specialist (Research Program Manager)

Position Number:T

Hiring Unit: College of Arts & Sciences

Location: UH Hilo

Date Posted: March 1 2026

Closing Date: March 13 2026

Band: B

Salary :salary schedules and placement information

Full Time/Part Time: Full-time

Month: 11-month

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary

Position Overview

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii known for its unique blend of cultural immersion and research opportunities leveraging the islands extraordinary geological biological and cultural diversity. It is a comprehensive regional university within the ten-campus University of Hawaii system focusing primarily on high-quality baccalaureate and select postgraduate education including distinctive programs in areas like marine science geology astronomy and Hawaiian language revitalization.

The UH Hilo Center for Place-Based Socioemotional Development UH Hilo Center for Place-Based Socioemotional Development (Hilo Center) is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences at UH Hilo. The Hilo Center serves as a multifaceted equity lab that aims to improve the educational opportunities wellbeing and ultimately life outcomes for students from communities that have been undermined or have been provided with limited opportunities in the public education system. It strives to shrink the distance between research community service and teaching by developing projects that open pathways for collaboration among community service providers educators and UH Hilo students preparing or considering careers in education or youth development.

The program manager is a crucial leader and facilitator of Ka Pouhana the programmatic arm of the center supported by grants from multiple funders. The individual in this role will oversee and implement all aspects of the Ka Pouhana mentoring and leadership programs and the centers student wellness initiatives including the Ka Pouhana Listening Lab. The position also serves as the administrator for the research and evaluation arm of the center by coordinating project activities maintaining records preparing materials supporting data collection processes and assist with the preparation of reports.

Duties and Responsibilities (*denotes essential functions)

1. *Leads plans and implements all aspects of Hilo Center program activities including the Ka Pouhana mentoring and leadership program and the Centers student wellness initiatives such as the Ka Pouhana Listening Lab; develops program structures and materials; coordinates student faculty and community partner engagement; organizes meetings and events; and supports program communication and documentation.

2. *Coordinates Center administrative operations including project planning communication record-keeping procurement travel and personnel processes.

3. *Oversees a $1M annual budget ensuring precise execution of procurement travel and project expenditures. Acts as the primary fiscal liaison with UH Foundation and RCUH to ensure compliance and streamlined reporting.

4. *Supervises staff graduate assistants and undergraduate student workers and monitors completion of assigned tasks.

5. Administers the Centers research and evaluation activities by coordinating project tasks preparing materials supporting data collection processes and assisting with report preparation.

6. Prepares grant proposals assists with identifying funding opportunities and completes required funder documentation and reports.

7. Builds and maintains partnerships with UH units schools and community organizations to support program implementation and student success.

8. Performs other duties as assigned.

1. Masters degree in Higher Education Leadership Educational Administration Public Administration Counseling Social Sciences or related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education administration program or project management student leadership development or community-engaged initiatives; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education knowledge skills and abilities as indicated.

2. Considerable working knowledge of principles practices and techniques in the area of higher education program administration and student development as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts principles and methodologies.

3. Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws rules regulations and theories and systems associated with higher education and sponsored research.

4. Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective innovative and timely manner.

5. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.

6. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations groups team leaders and members and individuals.

7. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer apply word processing software Google Workspace and project tracking tools such as Airtable.

8. For supervisory work demonstrated ability to lead subordinates manage work priorities and projects and manage employee relations.

9. Experience supporting mentoring programs or student leadership development initiatives in post-secondary or youth-serving settings.

10. Experience working with the Hawaii Department of Education or community service organizations.

11. Experience preparing grant proposals reports or related documentation.

12. Experience supervising staff or student employees.

13. Ability to plan and coordinate program activities.

1. Knowledge of Hawaii-based culturally responsive and sustaining practices including familiarity with frameworks such as HA Ka Pouhana and Kukulu Kumuhana.

2. Understanding of Hawaii Islands educational and community landscape including local schools youth-serving organizations and place-based factors influencing student wellness and engagement.

3. Knowledge of the University of Hawaii system including familiarity with campus operations student support structures and administrative processes across UH units.

4. Experience supervising teams in a university setting.

1. Cover letter explaining how each minimum and desirable qualification is met.
2. Resume
3. Names and addresses email addresses and telephone numbers of three 3 current
   professional references
4. Transcript(s) showing degrees and course work appropriate to the position (copies are acceptable; however original official transcripts will be required prior to employment).

Please do not include any self-identifying photos. Please redact references to Social Security number and birth date on transcript copies. 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. All requested documents/information become the property of the University. All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Failure to submit all required documents and reference information shall deem an application to be incomplete.

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Inquiries: Margary Martin

The University of Hawaii 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: 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 Hawaii may be viewed at: 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 Hawaii 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: