President Jobs

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

www.hawaiileadershipforum.org

Hawai‘i Leadership Forum (HLF) is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to broad and durable improvements across Hawai‘i. Through its cornerstone cohort-based development program, Omidyar Fellows, HLF seeks to enhance connections among leaders and improve their capabilities and desires to mobilize their organizations to pursue durable change.

Since launching in 2012, eight cohorts have completed the Fellows program, constituting a Forum of Fellows with 115 leaders and change-makers ready to address Hawaii’s most pressing issues. HLF cultivates collaboration across the Forum, provides learning opportunities for Fellows and community members by hosting speakers and workshops, creating opportunities for cross-sector networking among a wide range of stakeholders and invests in innovative pilot projects in pursuit of its mission.

HLF is one of many sustained investments by The Omidyar Group (TOG) to create lasting positive change in Hawaii. TOG’s Hawaii portfolio includes: Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, The Omidyar Ohana Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Data Collaborative, Honolulu Civil Beat, Transform Hawaii Government, and Ulupono Initiative.

OPPORTUNITIES

In partnership with the Board, the President will shape the future of HLF. The first ten years of HLF have focused on building the capacity of the Fellows. The focus of the next phase will be to drive population-level improvements in major areas of impact, including health and wellbeing, affordable housing and homelessness, workforce development, and education.

HLF’s most valuable asset is the Forum itself, comprised of leaders from a wide variety of sectors and industries who share a common experience through the Fellows program. Through intentional relationship-building and network-weaving, bonds of trust have been built between Fellows and cohorts. The opportunity to integrate the work of the Forum with government, for-profit, and non-profit sectors, the TOG network and community members, and stakeholders has game-changing potential.

The President will advance HLF’s program, including additional Omidyar Fellows cohorts, and shape its strategic goals and initiatives. The President will also develop selection criteria and make investment decisions on innovative pilot project proposals with the potential to drive sustained system change.

CHALLENGES

Only ten years old, HLF is still in the early stages of development as an organization. It has a staff of seven talented and dedicated professionals who manage a large and growing program. Although there is a clear vision for HLF and its impact on Hawaii, it lacks well-defined success metrics and a fixed goalpost. Thus, the President must have a tolerance for ambiguity and a welcoming mindset for new opportunities.

The next President will succeed a long-time incumbent who was instrumental in the ideation and creation of HLF and deeply committed to its success. The incumbent will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-to-six-month transition period, and will then step away from the organization for the new President to take the lead, but will provide support through TOG governance at the portfolio level.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The President of HLF will be a cross-sector leader who sees value and strength in diversity; brings people of divergent viewpoints, goals, and styles together; and builds bridges between competing factions. This role requires a unique individual who has the credibility, humility, and flexibility to lead from the front, back, side, or middle.

Reporting to and working with the Board of Directors, the President will be responsible for developing long-term strategic goals, short-term initiatives, budgets, and programs, and will cultivate a deep and accurate understanding of current conditions and root causes of gaps in leadership across the state.

Most importantly, the President will serve as the spokesperson for Hawai‘i Leadership Forum, and will take a realistic, compassionate view to build relationships of trust that allows meaningful progress to be made.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be submitted by May 26, 2023 to [email protected].

Please submit the following, addressed to Hawai‘i Leadership Forum Search Committee, c/o Inkinen Executive Search:

• Resume
• Cover Letter – expressing the reason for your interest in Hawai‘i Leadership Forum, and how your skills and experiences match the President role.