Job Details

As the Director, provides strategic leadership and oversight to the Division, ensuring the delivery of exceptional, client-focused legal services across various areas of law. Fosters strong client relationships by understanding and meeting their evolving needs. Responsibilities also include formulating and executing the Division's vision, overseeing legal practices that adhere to compliance and quality standards. Continues professional development as well as facilitates growth opportunities for the team. Effectively manages the Division at Kamehameha Schools (KS) through cross-functional collaboration and strategic guidance.

Legal Advice

• Provides strategic, client‑driven legal services, representation, and advice to KS clients in various areas related to real estate, finance, financial investments, construction, procurement, corporate and entity governance issues, environmental, land use, zoning, natural and cultural resources, contracts, and other related areas.
• Identifies and analyzes applicable legal and business issues, conducts legal research, gathers information, reviews documents, and develops and thoroughly advises client of options, strategies, and recommendations through oral and / or written communications. Negotiates, provides legislative assistance, drafts and revises KS policies and procedures, and manages or participates in arbitration, litigation, administrative hearings, and transactional matters. Collaborates with other attorneys, managers, staff, clients, and outside counsel to manage cases and / or projects and deliver services.

Leadership and Management of the Division

• Provides leadership and direction for Division attorneys and their staff. Exemplifies the mission, vision and values of the organization through thoughts and actions, and serves as a consummate representative of the organization to internal and external communities.
• Oversees and efficiently manages Division cases, projects and / or transactions, which includes developing and implementing plans and communicating with clients and / or outside counsel professionals.
• Organizes and prioritizes Division work, delegates work to staff, and supervises performance of delegated work to ensure timely completion of quality work product.

Manage Client Relations

• Partners with client in order to facilitate client's accomplishment of strategic objectives and specific cases and / or projects.
• Oversees and manages Division client relations to facilitate delivery of services to client and accomplishment of client's strategic objectives and goals in specific cases and / or projects.
• Regularly and clearly communicates with client on cases and / or projects, as well as client's strategic objectives and goals.
• Provides regular in-house training to clients on relevant topics.

Professional Responsibility

• Maintains high degree of integrity and professional ethics. Maintains a superior reputation with colleagues in the Bar, professional organizations, and the community.
• Develops and maintains specific areas of legal expertise which is consistent with the needs and goals of KS and the Legal Group's clients.

Administrative Matters

• Manages the activities of the Division, including maintaining Division budgets; setting Division strategic goals, objectives and work plans; directing and supervising assigned Division staff in performance of tasks; setting of performance measures and providing full, fair, and complete annual evaluations of staff.
• Manages outside counsel, project budgets, and timelines.
• Hires, motivates, trains, and develops staff to provide collaborative and strategic high quality legal services and advice to clients.
• Actively participates in leadership and management of the Legal Group, as well as actively leads and / or participates in Legal Group and KS meetings and projects.
• Commits to active community involvement and service to others, including the Hawaiian community and those unable to afford professional services.
• Updates professional education by attending seminars, workshops, and regularly reviewing professional journals.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications - An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the requirements listed.

• Juris Doctor Degree
• Minimum of 10 years of applicable experience as legal counsel, including areas such as Education and Administration, Real Estate, and Litigation as described in the posting.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaiʻi as well as U.S. District Court, Hawaiʻi.
• Expert knowledge in the areas above, relevant to the division.
• Sound judgment and analytical skills necessary to identify legal and business issues, to conceptualize structures, think strategically and to resolve issues. Must be able to clarify and resolve multipart problems, considering cost / benefit approach and effect of proposed solution.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to meet and communicate with all levels of KS staff and outside parties on issues / concepts and structures, as well as maintain open communication with peers in the community.
• Administrative / management skills necessary to organize complex projects and tasks with deadlines, multiple documents, and interfacing relationships.
• Ability to work flexible hours as necessary given time change demands / scheduling and some travel.
• Excellent writing skills to prepare correspondence, memoranda, reports, legal documents, and presentations. Ability to prepare clear and concise management reports as well as communicating general and sensitive information to internal and external parties.
• Excellent verbal skills to effectively communicate with the CEO, Trustees, and others members of the executive management team, direct reports, and KS staff members.
• Ability to collaborate and coordinate work with various individuals and to work on confidential and / or sensitive issues.
• Sound decision-making ability.
• Successful supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of KS, its internal policies and procedures.
• Advanced computer skills in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Experienced in using matter tracking systems, such as NetDocs (matter or document management system) and CounselLink (eBilling system).

Physical Requirements

• Frequently sits, perform desk-based computer tasks and grasp light or fine manipulation, talk or hear.
• Occasionally stand and / or walk, write by hand, and lift and / or carry, push and / or pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
• Rarely twist, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, reach or work above shoulder, or grasp forcefully.

Working Conditions

• This position may involve traveling to various locations, including neighbor islands to conduct business.
• Work is conducted in an office / school environment and may require work to be conducted in non-standard workplaces.
• Work is typically conducted Monday through Friday at normal business hours but evening and weekend hours are often required to meet goals and objectives.