Job Description

Posting number: 2026-02108

Department: Hawai'i Community College - Chancellor

Job classification: CHANCELLOR

Posting type: Open

Categories: Management, Education, Executive Management, Higher Education, Program Management

Summary

Title: Chancellor

Position Number: 0089092

Hiring Unit: Hawai'i Community College

Location: Hilo, Hawaii

Posting Date: October 9, 2026

Closing Date: October 30, 2026

Salary Information: $162,750 to $270,148; Commensurate with education and experience

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Funding: General Funds

Chancellor

Hawai'i Community College

Position No. 0089092

I. Introduction

The Chancellor serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the multi-campus Hawai'i Community College and as a member of the University of Hawai’i (UH) President’s executive team. The position currently reports to the UH Vice President for the Community Colleges, however, a new organizational structure has been proposed under which the Chancellor would report directly to the President beginning in January 2027.

The Chancellor is responsible for setting the College’s strategic vision in coordination with the UH System and leads the development and implementation of the College’s plans and priorities across Hawai’i Community College’s campuses and learning centers throughout Hawai‘i Island, including the Manono Campus in Hilo, the Palamanui Campus in Kailua-Kona, and the Ko Education Center in Honoka‘a.

The Chancellor is responsible for all aspects of the operations of these diverse educational enterprises, including administration, leadership, and management of the College’s liberal arts and public services programs, career and technical programs, applied technical education programs, student affairs, academic support, administrative affairs, and continuing education and training programs.

As the administrative leader of the College, the Chancellor is expected to promote a system of shared governance that is based on the values of collegiality, transparency, and excellence. As the academic leader, the Chancellor is expected to foster a vibrant academic climate and support excellence and innovation, cultivating an environment in which effective and creative teaching, student learning and success, workforce and continuing education, and community engagement can flourish. The Chancellor represents the UH and acts on behalf of Hawai'i Community College within the community.

The Chancellor has the primary decision-making authority for the administration of the College and is accountable for its overall leadership, management, performance, and effective operation, including the direction and oversight of the College’s administrators, faculty, and staff.

II. Duties and Responsibilities

Provides proactive and executive leadership, strategic direction, innovation and support to establish, communicate, and achieve the vision, short- and long-term goals, and initiatives that promote the College’s mission.

General Administration and Leadership

Works collaboratively with system leadership across UH’s ten campuses to advance strategic initiatives, pursue opportunities, and develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing the university and Hawai’i.

Provides administrative leadership for the College, setting broad institutional goals that address community needs for higher education and workforce initiatives, including oversight of the development and implementation of the College strategic plan, the allocation of resources according to campus needs across the island, and the responsible stewardship and fiscal accountability of College resources.

Collaborates with University leadership, the College administrative team, and advisory bodies to establish priorities and innovative direction for the College. Leads periodic review and update of strategic, capital improvement, and organizational plans. Fosters innovation across the College.

Builds relationships with businesses, government entities, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and other groups to explore various educational and training alternatives that meet local needs for island communities. Builds collaborative relationships with internal and external constituencies. Fosters an environment that promotes trust, transparency, effective communication, collaboration, cooperation, and participation.

Coordinates, facilitates and ensures effective communication, decision-making and action among College administrators, faculty, staff, and students within the Hawai'i Community College Kauhale (the academic village based on the concept of a traditional Hawaiian village) on a range of programmatic, service, personnel, and other matters.

Delineates responsibilities and decision-making authority of the administrative team. Initiates, organizes, and supports College committees to address collegewide problems and concerns. Gathers input and collaborates with the administrative team to plan, manage, and make plans to facilitate and implement decisions concerning the total College operation through budget preparation, resource allocation, development of performance standards, and continuous program assessment.

Adheres to applicable laws, regulations, and policies and procedures of the University, raises awareness among staff, and directs them in such a way that University compliance requirements are met.

Ensures that federal, state, and county rules and regulations, and Board of Regents, Executive, and UH Community Colleges (UHCC) policies and procedures are enforced and applied appropriately throughout the campus. Oversees and approves the development of College procedures to implement these broader rules and policies.

Identifies and mitigates through policy development/revision/enhancement and training, areas of risk and developing risk to the University, e.g., legal, financial, reputation, and compliance risk, and ensure team is aware and focused on addressing same.

Academic Administration

Responsible for the planning and development of all academic programs at the College. Directs the development, implementation, review, and update of the College strategic plan. Ensures the College meets accreditation standards and directs the accreditation review process.

Guides institutional improvement of the teaching and learning environment by establishing a collegial process that sets values, goals, and priorities; ensuring that evaluation and planning rely on high quality research and analysis of external and internal conditions; ensuring that educational planning is integrated with resource planning and distribution to achieve student learning outcomes; establishing procedures to evaluate overall institutional planning and implementation efforts; and promoting student learning and success.

Fiscal Administration

Ensures the financial soundness and responsible stewardship of College operations while promoting accountability, integrity and transparency across the institution. Leads periodic review and update of the College master plan, long-range development plan, capital improvement plan, and strategic plan as it pertains to campuses and learning centers throughout the island. Develops parameters for program plans and budgets.

Reviews and approves program plans and budgets, expenditure and travel plans for all program units, and contracts and extramural grants. Ensures the efficient and appropriate use of various funding streams, which support compatible objectives and activities. Works with the College administrative team to: prepare the College budget, set priorities, coordinate budget with short- and long-range plans; and present the budget to the UH President.

Human Resources Administration

Works with the College administrative team to direct, manage, and supervise personnel responsible for all programs and units. Renders decisions on faculty contract renewal applications, faculty post-tenure review evaluations, and delegated disciplinary actions. Approves all appointments, and makes final recommendations on faculty tenure and promotion applications. Ensures evaluations of College administrators, faculty, and staff are conducted. Supports campuswide professional development.

Campus and Development

Establishes open internal campus communication processes to handle transmittal of information. Articulates mission of Hawai'i Community College to serve the campus and the community at large while steering the College towards continuous improvement. Approves student activities budget and serves as source of authority for student governance and participation in College affairs.

Responsible for institutional fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Responsible for communications with: UH System, including BOR; State Legislature and other state agencies; UH Foundation; business, industry, and community groups; and other organizations and their representatives.

Collaborates with area schools and principals to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between the College and schools and to promote post-secondary enrollment. Serves on various boards to address the needs of the community and the College. Serves on national commissions and committees and engages with external organizations and partners to strengthen relationships, advance institutional priorities, and enhance opportunities for the College.

III. List of Direct Reports

As reflected in the most current official organizational chart.

IV. Authority and Decision-Making Exercised

Work is performed with wide latitude for exercising independent judgment and initiative as well as decision-making under the broad policy and general operational guidelines as set forth by the BOR and President.

V. Direction and Review of Work Received

Work is reviewed by the President through oral and written reports, evaluation of program attainments, and community acceptance and participation in College programs and activities.

VI. Contact and Relationships

Work involves considerable contact with faculty, staff, senior executives, administrators, BOR, legislators, state and county executives, and representatives of the community, locally, nationally, and internationally.

VII. Minimum Qualifications

1. Master's degree or equivalent.
2. Progressively significant administrative leadership experience in a College or equivalent complex organization.
3. Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee a diverse population of employees.
4. Ability to comprehend and interpret administrative directives and guidance to ensure fiscal accountability and IT operations that align with organizational standards and industry best practices.
5. Ability to relate to and work well with people.
6. Demonstrated leadership.

VIII. Desirable Qualifications

1. Doctorate degree.
2. Administrative experience at the deans level or higher in a college or equivalent experience in a complex organization.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the development and administration of academic programs, including liberal arts, career and technical education, and Early College/dual credit programs.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of student life, student affairs-related programs, program development, and administration.
5. Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary issues and challenges in higher education, such as accreditation, assessment, strategic planning, distance education, innovative technologies, and sustainability planning.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of continuing education and training, workforce development, community education, non-credit programs, or international programs.
7. Demonstrated ability to promote and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituencies, including other educational agencies, business and industry, and community groups.
8. Demonstrated knowledge of issues related to Native Hawaiians or other indigenous populations and the local community, including Hawai'i's unique economic, political, business, and cultural environment.
9. Knowledge of budgeting, fiscal, human resources, and facilities management.
10. Knowledge of fundraising, grants acquisition and management, and public-private partnerships in resource development.
11. Knowledge of marketing and public relations.
12. Demonstrated commitment to the philosophy, vision, and mission of a comprehensive community college with a diverse student body at an open access institution.

To Apply:

Click on the "Apply" button to complete an application and attach the following required documents:

1. Cover letter indicating how you meet the minimum and desirable qualifications of the position.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Name and contact information (telephone number and email address) of at least three (3) professional references, and
4. Graduate and undergraduate academic transcript(s) showing name of institution, degree awarded and coursework to date appropriate to the position. Copies are acceptable; however, original official transcript(s) will be required at the time of hire. Copies of transcripts must be attached to your application to receive credit for degree(s). Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.

NOTE: Please create a new account if this is your first time applying for a position using NEOGOV.

Inquiries:

Community Colleges Human Resources Office

Email: cchro@hawaii.edu

Examples of duties

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/