Community Engagement & Development Officer

East-West Center•Honolulu, HI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Our team is currently seeking a Community Engagement and Development Officer to help drive positive change within the Pacific Islands region. This role is responsible for direct engagement with community initiatives, interfacing with agencies, programs, educational institutions, non-profits, and other Pacific Islander communities-focused entities in the state, nation, and Pacific Islands region; establishing partnerships as appropriate. Drawing from extensive knowledge of and experience working with Pacific Islander communities and organizations in the United States, the Pacific Islands region, and Pacific diasporas, the incumbent will provide key advice and guidance on engagement with community and regional fora, maintaining engagements that observe cultural and professional protocols.

Requirements

Education and Experience – Graduate degree (Master’s or higher) in a field relevant to the position and work performed. At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience within the U.S. Government and/or international organizations, including experience working across the Pacific region and with Pacific Island governments, communities, leaders, and regional, national, and multilateral institutions.
Demonstrated Ability – Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate work involving a wide variety of tasks; to take initiative and work independently and cooperatively in following through on assignments; to assume responsibility for whole areas of work and integrate information from relevant sources; to gather and/or prepare background materials; to work and deal effectively with a wide variety of cultures and with people of diverse cultural backgrounds; to work under the pressure of deadlines and competing demands; to acquire and maintain knowledge of and appropriately apply various policies and procedures; to establish and maintain accurate files and records; to adapt to changes and exercise good judgment in dealing with a variety of situations; to perform effectively in a non-routine work environment; to work effectively as a team member; and to appropriately handle confidential information; to work creatively within a set budget and use innovation to find ways of more effectively managing resources.
Knowledge – of office practices and procedures; of budget management; of correct English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word usage; secure records management; and of office machines and equipment; proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Professional and other equivalent applications; proficiency with Google suite, Microsoft 365, or other work sharing platforms and meeting software such as Zoom and Skype. The incumbent should also possess a strong understanding and appreciation of Pacific culture and ways of operating.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and monitoring grant proposals and projects involving multiple units and agencies in the Pacific region.

Responsibilities

Community and regional liaison and strategic relations – work with Director to coordinate engagement in state, national, and regional community-based, community-focused organizations
Undertake specific community engagement tasks including designing data collection instruments (surveys) and communiques, ensuring relevant community stakeholders are consulted at appropriate times in program activities
Design and deliver small and large-scale community facilitation and engagement projects
Assist the Director in developing community relationships including communications with other Pacific-focused entities
Represent PIDP in important local, regional, and/or international community-focused engagements where the Director is unable to attend and the area of focus falls outside the roles or expertise of other members of PIDP and/or the Center
Regularly monitors issues and trends of significance to Pacific Islander communities at the local and national levels and provide strategic advice to the Director on areas where PIDP could/should usefully participate or support community development
Actively monitor and participate in Pacific Islander communities’ online discussion fora, social media, and other websites for community engagement opportunities and initiatives
Identify media opportunities and promote community engagement projects, events, and initiatives
Work closely with PIDP Regional Engagement Officer to ensure synergies and connections between local, national, regional, and international initiatives
Contribute to local, national, and regional community- and scholarly-based research, education, training projects and seminars, workshops, and conferences for intercultural exchange of knowledge, experiences, and research results as part of the overall PIDP community and regional engagement strategy and help to maintain cooperative links with other institutions, agencies, and organizations involved in these projects
Assists with official functions in fulfillment of PIDP’s strategic goals and with regional meetings as appropriate. Must follow protocols appropriate to organizations and their representatives, and utilize the highest level of discretion, when dealing with high level officials and leaders of Pacific Island nations
Works cooperatively with the other research, dialogue, outreach, education, and training programs of the East-West Center
Collaborate with Oceania researchers in the design and deployment of collaborative, community-based research on issues of emerging importance to Pacific Islander communities
Assists with external funding objectives for PIDP
Ensures the timely preparation of program reports, evaluations, informational materials, consultant contracts and other agreement instruments (e.g. Memorandum of Understanding, Cooperative Agreement) to further PIDP goals