Title: Cultural Lead + Program Manager

Pay: $35 - $40/hr (20 hours/wk) 

Position Type: Part-Time Employee with Benefits 

Location: Must live on Oʻahu or Maui, meets in-person and virtually

 

Who We Are: Since 2016, Wisdom Circles Oceania (WCO) has been a catalyst for healing and justice through creative expression. Our vision is rooted in creating restorative environments that center collaboration, creativity, and ʻāina to improve the quality of life for Hawaiʻi’s communities.

 

WCO builds community power by fostering a community of care that amplifies youth voices, supports community workers, and provides accessible creative spaces for all ages. We prioritize inclusivity, especially for LGBTQIA+, Foster, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander youth, ensuring accessibility for all abilities.

 

Through youth programs on Maui and Oʻahu, we provide hands-on opportunities for community organizing, cultural connection, and creative expression. Our intergenerational work fosters co-creation across generations, contributing to building a more inclusive, resilient, and empowered Hawaiʻi. Together, we strive to inspire positive systems change and cultivate a deeper sense of safety, understanding, and collective well-being. 

 

Programs

• Story Quilt Youth Arts provides young people arts + ʻāina based techniques to strengthen mental health, build resilience, and empower themselves.

• The Creative Community Workers/Community of Care program provides service providers in education and Maui fire relief efforts with strategies to manage stress, promote well-being and inspire their work. 

• The ‘Ōpio Protectors Network centers the needs and feedback of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ to create safer program spaces, where we contribute through restorative arts + ʻāina programming. 

 

Values/personal characteristics: 

At the heart of our work lies a commitment to aloha ʻāina, the arts, youth development, and addressing the unique needs of Hawaiʻi’s local communities. These values guide our approach with our personal development and our organizational work.

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• Pilina: We prioritize building meaningful relationships and reciprocity with our team, youth, and communities. These connections are the foundation of trust, collaboration, and shared growth. 

• Integrity: We embody honesty, transparency, and follow-through, staying true to our gifts and purpose. We strive for excellence, aligning our actions with our values and committing to the discovery and actualization of our potential. Kūlia i ka nuʻu—strive for the summit.  

• Personal Practice: We believe a healthy internal environment is essential for creating lasting external impact. By fostering balance and resilience within our team and communities, we support meaningful, sustainable change. We each take responsibility for maintaining a personal care practice.

• Aloha ʻĀina is our commitment to love, care for, and protect Hawaiʻi’s lands, waters, and peoples. Rooted in Kānaka Maoli perspectives, stories, protocols, and connections that foster community healing and sovereignty. We honor the voices and lived experiences of those we serve, ensuring our work reflects respect for ʻāina and the cultural relationships that sustain them. 

• Diversity + Collaboration: We value co-creation and accessibility, striving to meet the diverse needs of local families and youth. By working together, we create convergent solutions that empower, inspire, and meet the needs of the whole. 

• Mālama + Empathy: Addressing Hawaiʻi’s unique challenges requires deep understanding and care, especially for the next generation. We strive to approach our work and each other with compassion, deep listening and respect for all perspectives.

• Reflection + Emergence: We take our time to reassess direction in accordance with emerging needs and ideas. We value flexibility and remaining responsive to the evolving needs of our community.

 

About the Position: The Cultural Lead & Program Manager is responsible for ensuring Hawaiian cultural values and approaches are integrated through a healing-centered lense across the organization. This person works closely with the Director, ensuring a holistic approach to health and mental wellness. They should have expertise in ʻāina-based education. This role is intrinsically collaborative, focusing on team pilina, program development, strategic partnerships, and mentoring youth. They will co-lead and organize key programs while ensuring cultural integrity and wellbeing are central to the organization's mission.
 

We embrace a collaborative, leaderful structure, encouraging team members to take ownership of their skills and responsibilities while supporting and collaborating with one another to meet needs effectively. As a startup nonprofit transitioning into greater stability and sustainability, this role is pivotal in bridging that growth while maintaining our dynamic, creative approach to community programming. 

 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

 

Cultural Leadership

• Policy & Protocol Development: Collaborate on integrating Hawaiian culturally grounded policies and protocols that integrate trauma-informed approaches.

• Curriculum Integration: Ensure cultural and trauma-informed practices are reflected in organizational materials and programs.

• Team Training: Lead internal educational efforts to enhance cultural competency.

• Facilitation: Act as the primary cultural facilitator for programs.

 

Program Management + Facilitation

• Summer Youth Program: Collaborator on curriculum, overseeing planning, logistics, and cultural facilitation.

• Lā ʻOhana Artivism Events: Organize and lead community arts events on Oʻahu.

• ʻĀina + Art Retreats: Support planning and facilitation of retreats for Community of Care Workers on Maui.

• Youth Organizers: Co-develop and mentor youth leaders in organizing roles

• Curriculum Development: Learn and assist with curriculum development for programs.

 

Training & Development

• Shared Leadership Initiatives: Engage with our networks and advisors researching and implementing shared leadership practices.

• Nonprofit Model Development: Provide cultural + personal insights to enhance organizational health and shared leadership.

 

Strategic Partnerships

• Community Engagement: Maintain and strengthen partnerships within Kānaka Maoli focused organizations uplifting health and cultural connection.

• Strategic Planning: Provide cultural input and feedback for long-term organizational strategy.

 

Communications & Outreach

• Social Media: Contribute cultural and program updates for the organization's social media platforms.

• Newsletter: Provide insights + feedback for seasonal newsletters.

 

Proposals

• Reports & Proposals: Provide program impact content for grant reports and proposals.

• Strategic Funding Connections: Identify funding opportunities through partnerships and outreach.

 

This role requires a passion for cultural preservation, trauma-informed practices, and collaborative leadership. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, creativity, and a deep commitment to Hawaiʻi’s local communities.

 

 

Qualifications:

• Alignment to our values listed above

• Proficient in areas of oli, moʻolelo, and kilo

• 3+ years experience in developing Hawaiian cultural + ʻāina-based lesson plans and curriculum

• 2+ years experience teaching or working with vulnerable youth and communities

• Knowledge of community resources and services

• Excellent communication skills

• Ability to collaborate with arts-based + mindfulness methods

• Highly organized, able to coordinate multiple projects, and manage timelines

• Experience working with staff at all levels in a collaborative environment; commitment and ability to promote and sustain positive workplace values and relationships.

 

Preferred:   

• Background in healing arts modalities and/or health + social service related field(s)

• An understanding of trauma-informed practices 

• An understanding of cultural trauma + tools + experiences to address  

 

Benefits:

• Competitive wage ($35-$40/hr based on experience)

• Medical

• Flexible PTO (vacation, sick, holidays)

• Monthly Wellness Stipend

• Professional development and leadership opportunities

• Flexible schedule, with remote and in-person flexibility (Select weekends may be needed on a case-by-case basis.)

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Initial Evaluation Period:

 

Giving and receiving feedback for ongoing learning is important to us. Space to share what's working and what's not is made at regular team meetings.  A 90 calendar-day/3-month review meeting will be held to ensure a mutually agreeable fit. An annual review meeting will be held to celebrate successes and discuss development goals and future opportunities.

 

*Please note, We are a growing nonprofit. We will adjust the workload to fit part-time hours and value well-being to prevent burnout. You will participate in developing and envisioning a healthier nonprofit structure and what that means for this role and the organization's culture.

 

How to Apply:

Wisdom Circles Oceania is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with state and federal law.

 

If you’re interested, please submit the following as a single document to aloha@wisdomcircles.org with the subject line “Application for Cultural Lead + Program Manager”.

 

1. Your resume or a document listing your relevant experience.

2. A cover letter including the following:

   1. Your experience related to the position (as related to Hawaiian culture + ʻāina-based education).

   2. Your experience in collaboration 

   3. Why you are interested in this position

   4. How this work could contribute to your well-being 

 

We look forward to receiving your application. Please note we will not be responding to submissions or conducting interviews until January 2025. Mahalo for your patience. Candidates who best match the position will go through a multi-step interview process to ensure a mutual fit. 

 

Mahalo nui!