Director of Student Engagement

In alignment with the mission and vision of the YMCA of Honolulu, the Director of Student Engagement serves as a key leader in creating meaningful opportunities that empower college students to learn, lead, serve, and thrive. Working under the direction of the Program Executive Director, this position is responsible for developing and enhancing programs, cultivating strategic partnerships, and creating engaging experiences that connect students with leadership development, college and career exploration, service-learning, and community engagement opportunities.

The Director of Student Engagement works collaboratively with YMCA staff, educational institutions, community organizations, and campus partners to strengthen the reach and impact of the Atherton YMCA's youth and young adult initiatives. This role provides leadership in program development, participant engagement, volunteer coordination, marketing and communications, and operational excellence to ensure high-quality experiences that reflect the YMCA's mission and strategic priorities.

In addition to leading student engagement initiatives, this position oversees administrative operations that support the effective delivery of programs, supervises assigned staff and volunteers, manages departmental projects and budgets, and ensures compliance with YMCA policies, grant requirements, and organizational standards. The ideal candidate is an innovative relationship-builder with exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills who is passionate about helping young people discover their potential while strengthening partnerships throughout the University of Hawai'i and broader community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead student engagement, leadership development, and other program initiatives.
• Manage and supervise the overall daily clerical/business office operations for the Atherton YMCA office.
• Ensure all reports, documents, and materials are detailed, accurate, and submitted promptly.
• Drive program quality, ensuring all programs are always enhancing participant experience.
• Analyze program outcomes and participant data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Collaborative oversight of funding that supports college and career exploration programs, including but not limited to: Island Y’d, Student Engagement, College Camp, ASB: Molokai, ASB: Philippines, scholarship opportunities, Internship & Practicum Mentorship, Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the stakeholder offices and the YMCA, ensuring effective communication and alignment with the YMCA’s mission, core values, and goals.
• Stay informed about opportunities, trends, and developments in the University of Hawai'i system.
• Develops and implements best practices and systems to ensure proactive oversight and management of any administrative and programmatic duties.
• Assists Program Executive Director with assigned administrative duties.
• Collaborates with department leads, branch executives, and other organizational leaders to effectively execute programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree in Public Health, Business, Communications, or related field, from the University of
• Hawai'i at Manoa is preferred.
• 3+ years of related experience with supervisory responsibilities.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement focus area programs.
• Excellent skills in staff supervision and development, budget analysis, communication, and human relations.
• 2+ years of experience working in youth development or human service programs and/or activities is preferred.
• 2+ years of experience working in a nonprofit is preferred.
• 2+ years of experience working in donor- or grant-funded programs is preferred.
• Ability to motivate individuals, lead a team, and conduct training.
• Ability to work with parents, children, teens, college students, staff, and volunteers of diverse ethnic populations.
• Adult and child CPR or CPR/PR, First Aid, and AED Certifications within 30 days of hire date.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
• Commitment to inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Bus Driver's certification required within 3 months of hire, which includes a valid driver's license and clean traffic abstract.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Windows XP, Canva, preferred.
• Ability to operate other software applications as required.
• Ability to travel from one location to another in a timely manner as required.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including extended trips, to support youth programs, community partnerships, service-learning initiatives, and other organizational priorities. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport and any required travel documentation.
• Exemplifies the YMCA mission and the pillars of character development: honesty, caring, respect, responsibility, and diversity.

WHY THE Y?:

• Free Y membership with employment
• Referral bonuses - Y employees can earn cash or Y credit bonuses for referring a new hire*
• Up to 60% discounts for yourself, family, and even your siblings on Y programs, camps, preschool, childcare, and more.

Child Protection Commitment

The YMCA requires all staff to share responsibility for preventing child abuse by upholding professional boundaries, completing mandatory Praesidium training, and reporting concerns. All candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background screening, including criminal and sex offender checks.