Community Impact Officer (MALU)

Location: Honolulu, HI (Hybrid)

Reports to: Sr. Program Director (MALU)

Classification: Exempt

Kupu’s Story

Established in 2007 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, Kupu empowers future generations to create a more sustainable, pono Hawai‘i. Kupu accomplishes this by partnering with conservation and sustainability focused agencies throughout the state and pacific in providing hands-on service opportunities which educate and mentor young adults and emerging professionals to become stewards of our communities and environment.  Since 2007, Kupu has risen to meet the increasing demands of the green job sector by engaging over 3,000 youth in the areas of conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Kupu affirms the Hawaiian notion of “ma ka hana ka ʻike” or “in working one learns.                               

Kupu’s Mission

“To empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity (pono) with Ke Akua, self, and others”

Kupu’s CHOSEN Values

C         Character

H         Humility

O        ‘Ohana

S          Service

E          Excellence

N         Nobility

Position Overview

The Community Impact Officer will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful implementation of the MALU Subawards program, aligned with federal, state, and organizational urban and community forestry (UCF) goals. This position requires expertise in federal grant management, compliance oversight, and program administration. The Community Impact Officer will collaborate with internal teams and community-based organizations to drive the program's objectives in areas such as Expanded Tree Canopy, Community Awareness and Engagement, Career and Workforce Development, Planning Systems Change, and Indigenous Equity. In addition, the candidate will bring flexibility, have attention to detail, be willing to problem solve and improve processes, be objective in decision-making, and have strong integrity.

Kupu, in partnership with its broad network, will implement MALU Subawards to fulfill federal, state, and organizational urban and community forestry (UCF) goals. MALU Subawards will award local community-based organizations demonstrating proficiency in one or more of five areas.

1. Expanded Tree Canopy
2. C0mmunity Awareness and Engagement
3. Career and Workforce Development
4. Planning Systems Change
5. Indigenous Equity

• Conduct oneself with aloha and drive Kupu’s culture.
• Conduct oneself with integrity, credibility, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kupu’s mission.
• Serves as a role model for Kupu’s culture, mission, and CHOSEN Values.

Grant Management and Compliance

• Lead the compliance review and training of MALU Subaward grantees, ensuring alignment with federal requirements and program goals.
• Oversee the entire grant lifecycle, from proposal submission to closeout, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational regulations.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation to support compliance efforts.

Risk Management

• Identify and /or address potential risks to the program's success or compliance, such as federal regulation issues, environmental concerns, or legal liabilities, and develop strategies to mitigate these risks.

Evaluation and Monitoring

• Establish and implement a systematic grant evaluation process, developing criteria aligned with program goals and federal requirements, and conducting regular evaluations of grantee performance using quantitative and qualitative metrics.
• Collaborate with external evaluators, if necessary, to enhance objectivity and rigor in the evaluation process.
• Provide constructive feedback to grantees based on evaluation findings, identifying areas for improvement and best practices.
• Utilize evaluation results to inform program enhancements, policy recommendations, and strategic decision-making.
• Work with consultants on developing and carrying out monitoring and audit plans to ensure subrecipients adhere to program expectations and federal regulations.
• Identify and address any issues or non-compliance promptly, including response with recommendations for improvement and/or corrective action plans

Training and Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver or coordinate training sessions for MALU Subaward grantees on grant compliance, reporting requirements, and evaluation expectations.
• Support grantees in building their capacity to meet program goals and objectives.
• Provide technical assistance to address challenges identified through evaluations and assessments.
• Collaborate with external partners and subject matter experts to offer specialized training sessions, as needed.
• Integrate evaluation findings into training materials to foster continuous learning and improvement.

Program Implementation

• Collaborate with community-based organizations to facilitate the implementation of MALU Subawards in the areas of Expanded Tree Canopy, Community Awareness and Engagement, Career and Workforce Development, Planning Systems Change, and Indigenous Equity.
• Monitor program activities to ensure they meet established goals and objectives.
• Conduct regular reviews and assessments to track progress and address any issues.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved in the MALU Subawards program.
• Participate in advocacy, planning, and leadership bodies to influence systems change and support forestry initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison between the subgrantees, funding agencies, and other stakeholders, providing clarity on compliance matters and facilitating communication to resolve any issues that arise.

Financial Oversight

• Work closely with the finance team to manage and track subrecipient budgets, ensuring proper fund utilization.
• Conduct financial reviews and analysis related to the MALU Subawards program.

Reporting and Documentation

• Manage subaward agreements.
• Ensure subrecipients comply with reporting expectations, including accurate and timely reporting.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports on program activities, outcomes, and compliance for submission to federal and organizational entities.
• Maintain detailed records of program-related activities, instances of non-compliance, and related documentation.
• Ensure proper documentation is gathered and maintained to demonstrate compliance.

Other

• Maintain healthy communication with all Kupu departments including Program, Finance, and Compliance.
• May assist with special projects or other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• With bachelor’s degree: Minimum two years’ experience in areas of nonprofit management, accounting/finance, law, or related fields, ideally in a nonprofit setting
• With high school diploma: Minimum five years’ experience in areas of nonprofit management, accounting/finance, law, or related fields, ideally in a nonprofit setting
• Proven experience in federal grant management and compliance.
• Knowledge of career and workforce development initiatives.
• Familiarity with indigenous equity practices and community engagement.
• Ability to research and implement guidance and regulations.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, understanding, and the ability to effectively interact with individuals (internal and external) from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, disability and ethnic backgrounds.
• High level of interpersonal skills, integrity, and the ability to keep information confidential.
• Ability to meet Kupu’s criminal history background check requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Salesforce
• Self-motivated with an ability to follow through and complete assigned projects.
• Detail oriented with good analytic and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of urban and community forestry goals and practices.
• Experience in a nonprofit setting.
• Experience with Federal Funding requirements and reporting.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay range: $60,000-$75,000 per year based on experience
• Employer paid health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• PTO
• Eligible for 401(k) plan after one year of service and 1,000 hours of service
• Lifestyle benefits (gym reimbursement, ticket discounts, etc.)

*In accordance with Federal Law, Kupu is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability