Program Specialist

Title:

Program Specialist (Kawehena Project Program Coordinator)
Position Number: 0097160T, 0097313T
Hiring Unit:
Ofc of the Vice Provost for Student Success, SEED

Location:

UH Manoa
Date Posted:
February 25, 2026
Closing Date:
March 11, 2026
Band: PBA
Salary:
Salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time:
Full Time
Temporary/Permanent:
Temporary
Funding:
Federal

• Provides advising support to Kawehena Project student scholars at the secondary school level, and undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Designs and implements program activities including but not limited to, professional development and academic workshops, community service projects, a graduate school summer bridge program, and mentoring opportunities.
• Collects and compiles grant activities and student participation data including program and community event attendance, academic progress, and career or advanced degree plans.
• Works collaboratively with the Kawehena Project grant team to design, deliver, and evaluate program grant objectives and activities.
• Coordinates with existing college access programs in the target high schools and college retention programs at University of Hawaii campuses to supplement services.
• Develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with service schools, UH System Kawehena Project affiliated departments/majors, industry partners, and community organizations.
• Designs, develops, and facilitates an outreach plan to engage Native Hawaiian students at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels to participate in Kawehena Project programming.
• Conducts workshops and programming for prospective Kawehena students from Kawehena Project target schools to apply to and enroll at UH Manoa.
• Connects students with necessary support services on campus and within the broader community as needed.
• Collects student program data and assists with survey data collection. Assists the PI with designing and implementing processes for data collection, surveys and student interviews throughout the grant cycle.
• Processes and maintains purchasing records related to program expenses, stipends, supplies, and etc.
• Participates in Kawehena Project team planning meetings, SEED staff meetings and other business meetings as needed.
• Attends professional development activities including training, workshops, and conferences.
• Travels to and from co-location sites to service schools during regular school hours, conducts meetings with partner attends various program related events in the community, and participates in local and national, student affairs, or higher education related professional development and trainings.
• Works outside of normal working hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

* Denotes Essential Function

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Education, Hawaiian Studies, Hawaiian Language, Social Work, Psychology, Ethnic Studies or related field and 0 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for N/A; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Functional knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of student success, higher education access, graduate school preparation, and/or mentoring demonstrated by knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts, terminology.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, federal and state laws, rules, regulations and systems associated with working with minors in Hawaii Department of Education High Schools, undergraduate, and/or graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes and resolve the full range problems that may commonly occur in the area of advising college bound/college pursuing/graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to understand oral and written documentation, write reports and procedures, and communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team members and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and publishing software like Canva.
• Demonstrated ability and experience working with student support needs and challenges across a broad range of student populations and their families.
• Experience conducting workshops and professional development offerings with high school and/or college students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of college undergraduate and graduate admissions processes, financial aid, and/or college readiness and retention programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of Hawaiian culture and traditional values.
• Ability to work effectively, in a culturally sensitive manner, with individuals from varied backgrounds.
• Ability to travel independently to various geographical locations in a timely…