Job Details

Closing Date: June 27, 2025 at 4:30pm HST

How To Apply

To apply for this position, visit our company jobs website at www.oha.org/jobs. Download, complete and submit the fillable OHA application form along with a resume and cover letter via email to ...@oha.org.

Or via mail to:

OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
560 N. Nimitz Highway, Suite 200
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817
Attention: Human Resources

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) employees must be permanent Hawaii residents. Out-of-state applicants who are offered employment with OHA will need to relocate to Hawaii and establish permanent residency.

SALARY RANGE

$203,616 to $250,008 per year. Starting salary may be between the minimum and maximum salary range provided, based on qualifications.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Managing Director of Real Estate – Land Division ("Director") is the senior principal executive responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Investment and Legacy Lands. This portfolio reflects OHA's dual mandate: to generate financial returns that sustain the agency's operations and to advance mission-aligned outcomes that uplift the Native Hawaiian people. The Director plays a critical leadership role in aligning land stewardship and development with OHA's broader strategic goals, cultural values, and fiduciary responsibilities.

OHA's land portfolio includes:

• Investment Lands: Properties in urban Honolulu, including a retail/office complex, a 3-tenant mid-box retail center, an industrial warehouse, and 30 acres of redevelopment land with interim uses.
• Legacy Lands: Nine (9) culturally and environmentally significant properties totaling more than 26,000 acres statewide, including a 25,855-acre holding on Hawai'i Island.

The Managing Director must deeply understand and embrace OHA's mission, recognizing that responsible land management is a direct avenue to uplifting Native Hawaiians. Beyond individual transactions or projects, the Director will be responsible for portfolio-level strategy, including long-range planning, risk modeling, and forecasting—leveraging tools such as a 10-year cash flow model to guide strategic and transactional decisions.

This executive role reports to the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and regularly advises the CEO and Board of Trustees on real estate performance, asset allocation, risk mitigation, entitlement matters, and development strategies. The Director will lead real estate investments, leasing, acquisitions, and capital improvements while ensuring community impact, cultural sensitivity, and financial performance are all balanced.

The Director must possess and be empowered with appropriate decision-making authority to effectively lead the division—including executing transactions, managing leases and consultants, hiring team members, and aligning with procurement protocols. Accountability, transparency, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders are essential.

While most legislative affairs are managed by OHA's Government Relations staff, the Director may be expected to engage in entitlement processes and funding advocacy when development or permitting needs arise.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1.

a. Effectively promotes OHA's mission and strategic objectives and ensures that the development of goals and tactics are in alignment with strategy.

b. Considers Native Hawaiian knowledge, culture and worldview to meet division goals and objectives. Establishes an environment that encourages diversity of ideas and expression and is focused on executing with clear results and urgency, which leads to a high-performance culture. Such culture will be based on exceptionally productive, skilled, team-oriented staff who will deliver on investment portfolio return objectives.

c. Demonstrates sound judgment, courageous leadership and tough decision-making to focus on advancing OHA's strategic objectives, especially when faced with conflicting interests.

2.

a. Provide strategic analysis to the CEO on issues and trends affecting the portfolio's performance, including political, business, economic and social, and proactively recommend appropriate organizational strategies and actions.

b. Work with CEO and Board of Trustees ("Board") to ensure that real estate strategies, asset allocation, financing, and plans for OHA's real estate portfolio are consistent with OHA's 15-Year Strategic Plan and policies adopted by the Board.

c. Brief the CEO on internal and external issues, trends, and ongoing professional observations which may have bearing on strategic and operational decision making.

d. Possess and exercise hiring authority for the Land Division, including the selection of key personnel and consultants, subject to alignment with OHA policies and procedures. Ensure team composition reflects the skills and expertise needed to execute the Division's strategic objectives effectively.

e. Work with OHA's Human Resources office to ensure professional development and staff training for Division personnel.

f. Ensure that employees within Division share information and insights, use collaboration as needed to explore issues and/or solve problems, and demonstrate shared responsibility for program performance. Take whatever actions are required to positively replace behaviors and/or personnel when necessary.

g. Integrate relevant aspects of OHA's 15-Year Strategic Plan into Land Division operations, including staffing, real estate planning, performance measures, and capital improvements.

h. Perform supervisory tasks, such as leave time approvals, performance reviews, and related employment decisions for Division.

i. Manage the Investment Lands and Legacy Lands ensuring compliance with the values, principles, ethical standards, and performance standards set forth by the Board of Trustees and/or the CEO while performing their duties. Also ensures Division programs are aligned with OHA's Strategic Plan and initiatives.

j. Provide oversight of all day-to-day operations including: planning, development, management, leasing, acquisition and disposition.

k. Responsible for integrating community engagement practices in land management activities.

l. Ensure the Division has resources necessary to complete assignments.

3.

a. Develop and implement a portfolio investment strategy for the 'Aina portfolio that establishes medium to long term performance expectations, investment risk and return, liquidity and timetable for major initiatives (planning, development, acquisitions, dispositions, capital expenditures, etc.)

b. Maintain comprehensive oversight of existing operating assets. Direct the preparation of asset plans and individual property operating objectives, marketing, leases, and sales plans along with investment strategies for each asset's operation and capital improvements. This includes budgets, forecasts, monthly performance reports, timelines, and management plans.

c. Evaluates portfolio and performance benchmarks for appropriateness and sets targets to meet or exceed expectations. Closely monitors all elements of financial performance; analyzing financial statements and making necessary operating adjustments when necessary;

d. Hire, direct, and supervise property management;

e. Oversee leasing/marketing teams.

f. Prepare quarterly reports for the Board of Trustees.

g. Analyze, strategize, and advise on existing and new real estate investment opportunities to optimize return on assets, and maximize income and cashflow.

h. Provide financial analysis and accounting for development or major capital projects of existing or future real estate assets.

i. Assess financial strength of portfolio assets and value-add strategies through sale recommendations, refinancing strategies, or other re-capitalizations; coordinate asset dispositions and execute refinances within the portfolio.

j. Drive the generation of real estate investment opportunities; identify and negotiate value purchase in line with OHA's Real Estate Investment Policies.

k. Advise regarding real estate entities and ownership, including special purpose LLCs, as needed.

l. Coordinate multiple third-party real estate professionals and advisors in the execution of investment strategies and property acquisitions.

m. Ensure proper accounting and accurate, timely reporting of financials for real estate entities, measuring performance against industry metrics.

n. Provide quarterly reporting to OHA's executive team and the Board of Trustees.

o. Responsible for being the key contact with the debt and equity providers maintaining compliance with various agreements, monitoring the asset performance, returns and recommends operational or financial strategies to optimize returns at the asset level.

p. Primarily responsible for developing standards, guidelines and procedures for: the proper conservation, preservation, enhancement and use of Legacy Lands; and expanding programmatic and mission aligned uses on Legacy Lands. Ensures that standards, guidelines and procedures are consistent with federal, state and county laws, as well as restricted uses of such lands.

q. Ensures development and maintenance of comprehensive land asset management systems.

r. Responsible for entitlement and permitting required of all land holdings.

s. Identify site-specific ownership risks for OHA's Legacy Land Holdings and prepare risk mitigation tactics to reduce ownership exposure.

4.

a. Procure the services of 3rd party Property Managers and Brokers for Investment Land holdings or Land Stewardship Managers for legacy holdings in accordance with OHA procurement rules.

b. Supervise third-party management team for Investment and Legacy Lands. Form a close relationship with property management personnel at all levels to successfully monitor the daily operations by conducting routine site visits and inspections, discussing weekly leasing, occupancy, capex and/or renovation programs to maximize the profitability of each asset.

c. Establish relationships with and manage multiple third-party property service providers.

d. Control risk exposure by procuring and maintaining optimal property and casualty insurance policies.

e. Conduct frequent site inspections and monitor competition and market conditions; develop, recommend, and implement value-add action plans; supervise the planning, budgeting, and control of capital expenditures.

f. Works with CEO, General Counsel, and CFO to ensure retention of outside consultants and contractors in accordance with OHA's procurement procedures. Oversees work of outside consultants and contractors to ensure compliance with the terms of the applicable contracts.

5.

a. Maximize commercial rents while balancing longevity of tenants and occupancy.

b. Supervise activities of outside leasing agents.

6.

a. Establish a process for the management of repair and maintenance projects within the portfolio, including tenant improvements and renovations.

b. Provide executive oversight and ensure construction projects are adhering to budget and project goals.

c. Establish relationships with and manage multiple third-party general contractors and construction professionals.

d. Spearhead entitlement and permitting initiates as required to execute on value-add strategies.

7.

a. Proactively analyze economic trends for each specific asset sub-market, and the region and forecast trends that affects the property regarding long/short term disposition and exit strategy changes indicated by market info.

b. Manage due diligence process from start to finish on potential investment opportunities, as well as pending land transfers from the State of Hawaii. The Director should be able to recommend a workplan and course of actions.

c. Act as OHA's primary responsible party on all major transactions other than leasing, including acquisitions, sales, ground leases, or joint venture partnerships for development holdings.

1. Fully supports in action, language, behavior and performance the priorities, decisions, and directives of the CEO.

1. Regular attendance on a daily basis is required for this position.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs other duties as assigned by the CEO.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and/or Experience

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution required. A graduate degree in real estate, business, law, planning, or a related field is highly desirable.

1. Ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in real estate transactions (acquisitions, sales, leases), development, and asset/portfolio management. Experience must include strategic portfolio-wide planning and implementation of long-term cash flow modeling and risk forecasting tools.

1. Strong knowledge of financial analysis, real estate valuation, and pro forma modeling. Must be proficient in Microsoft Excel and able to translate financial data into actionable strategy.

1. Experience with entitlement and permitting processes required; experience with policy, funding, or legislative advocacy is a plus.

1. Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of OHA's mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians. Experience working in indigenous, cultural, or nonprofit contexts is strongly preferred.

1. Minimum five (5) years of executive-level supervisory experience, including hiring, leading cross-functional teams, overseeing contractors/consultants, and managing procurement in alignment with organizational policies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Must have working knowledge of:
2. Subject matter expertise in Native Hawaiian land use, history, and culture, and current Native Hawaiian social, cultural, educational, economic, and political issues and trends affecting real estate laws, regulations and requirements
3. Fundamental principles, practices, methods, techniques, and procedures of land planning, land use, acquisition, and management
4. Hawaiian culture, customs, issues and concerns, especially as they relate to land use and management
5. Real estate financing and development
6. General business practices, particularly with respect to leases, licenses and other agreements

1. Must have general knowledge of:
2. Land and real estate valuation
3. Land, resource, and cultural/historical sites preservation and management
4. History of Native Hawaiian Lands and Trusts including, but not limited to existing, current and prospective legislations and legal settlements
5. Real estate laws, regulations and requirements
6. Human resources management
7. Facilities and office management
8. Data and records management
9. Government accounting, budgeting, auditing and reporting

1. Must have demonstrated skills and abilities to:
2. Think strategically about broad, long-term goals
3. Assess organizational issues, dynamics, behaviors, practices and implement innovative organizational systems, structures and practices
4. Lead and implement data-informed decision-making practices in difficult or complicated situations
5. Set goals and achieve desired results, and a demonstrated ability to impart a results-oriented approach to others in the organization
6. Facilitate collaboration among subordinates and to work collaboratively with other executive managers
7. Inspire confidence develop others' skills and abilities
8. Managing senior level managers and professionals accustomed to high levels of autonomy and independence so that efforts are aligned to organizational priorities and results
9. Track, analyze, and manage complex internal and external issues (particularly in the areas of real estate investment, land use, public land trusts/ceded lands, and land and property management)
10. Analyze problems and independently develop effective solutions
11. Manage multiple complex projects and priorities
12. Manage organizational and individual performance
13. Manage government contracts and leases
14. Communicate effectively (in writing and orally) with upper management, peers, subordinates, contractors and the public
15. Prepare knowledge leaders and other OHA speakers for public speaking events

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $203,616.00 - $250,008.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

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