Manager, Natural Resources - Keahuolu

Job Purpose
The purpose of the Manager, Natural Resources is to set and carry out the strategy, vision, and long-range plan for natural resource stewardship of the Keahuolū ahupua’a. The Manager, Natural Resources leads restoration planning across all managed areas including the plant nursery, dryland preserve, anchialine pools, and near shores, and translates that vision into Annual Work Plans, resource maps, budgets, and seasonal schedules that the Natural Resources team executes. This position leads and develops the Natural Resources team, manages LT’s natural resource data, analysis and reporting. The Manager, Natural Resources works in close partnership with the Director, Land Planning on cultural site management, the Manager, Business Operations on operational needs, and the Manager, Programs to ensure ʻāina-based programming aligns with the natural resource strategy. The efforts of the Manager, Natural Resources will restore, protect, and preserve the health of all ecological environments at Keahuolū for current and future generations.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategy, Vision, and Planning
• Develops and maintains the long-range strategy, vision, and restoration plan for all natural resource areas at Keahuolū, including the plant nursery, dryland preserve, anchialine pools, and near shores; establishes measurable restoration goals and success criteria for each area.
• Develops and oversees an Annual Work Plan for the Natural Resources team, including scope, sequencing, staffing, equipment, and budget needs; reviews and adjusts the plan throughout the year based on monitoring results, weather, funding, and organizational priorities.
• Directs restoration planning, including restoration phasing, invasive species treatment areas, outplanting areas, monitoring areas, and infrastructure; ensures maps are current and used to guide field work.
• Establishes the schedule and cadence of the full propagation cycle based on restoration needs: seed collection, propagation, and outplanting.
• Recommends stewardship priorities and adaptive management approaches to leadership, grounded in monitoring data, cultural values, and the Trust's land use objectives.
Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting
• Develops the design, integrity, and management of the Natural Resources data, including field data standards, GIS/GPS data management, quality control, and long-term data preservation.
• Analyzes monitoring and restoration data, including water quality, anchialine pool, intertidal, fisheries, vegetation, and outplanting survivorship to evaluate progress against restoration goals and to inform management decisions.
• Prepares and delivers reporting that tells the story of Keahuolū's ecological health, translating findings into clear narrative, visuals, and recommendations for varied audiences.
• Prepares and submits required reporting to state and federal agencies andpartner organizations, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all compliance and permit deliverables.
• Reports regularly to LT leadership on natural resource strategy, work plan progress, ecological outcomes, risks, and resource needs.
Team Leadership and Supervision
• Supervises the Natural Resources team, including hiring, onboarding, work assignments, coaching, performance management, and job training and professional development.
• Establishes and enforces field safety standards and practices, and models adherence to cultural protocols in all natural resource work.
• Fosters a team culture grounded in the Trust's values and in the responsibility of caring for Keahuolū on behalf of the Queen.
Partnerships, Contracts, and Resources
• Builds and sustains conservation partnerships and professional networks with agencies, landowners, watershed and conservation organizations, cultural practitioners, universities, and research partners to advance restoration outcomes.
• Develops scopes of work, cost estimates, and contract documents for natural resource projects; leads contractor selection, negotiates deliverables and schedules, and oversees contract performance.
• Develops and manages the Natural Resources operating budget, tracks expenditures, and forecasts equipment, materials, and staffing needs.
• Ensures compliance with applicable environmental, pesticide, and natural and cultural resource regulations, including permits and consultations with agencies such as DLNR and SHPD.
Cross-Team Collaboration
• Partners with the Director, Land Planning on cultural site management, ensuring cultural resource stewardship is integrated with natural resource planning, including site-specific protocols.
• Partners with the Manager, Business Operations on operational needs including procurement, contracts, vehicles and equipment, facilities and infrastructure, and administrative processes.