Director, Planning and Development

Job Posting Title

Director, Planning and Development

Employee Type

Regular

Recruiting Start Date

06-19-2026

Job Exempt?

Yes

Recruiting End Date

Open Until Filled

Aloha mai!  Mahalo for your interest in Kamehameha Schools.  If you are looking for an opportunity to utilize your skills and talents and grow in your profession, while serving and strengthening our Native Hawaiian community, we would love to have you join our ʻohana!

Kamehameha Schools is seeking a Director, Planning & Development who will lead the strategic vision and execution of KS’ real estate portfolio across diverse regions, driving long-term value through innovative planning and development. This leadership role combines a strong commercial mindset with a deep commitment to community impact, ensuring alignment with cultural stewardship, economic growth, and sustainability. Building on the current focus on the neighbor islands, we are especially interested in candidates who can continue to advance this work—ideally bringing prior neighbor island experience and/or strong ties to those communities. While the position may be based on Oahu or in one of our neighbor island offices, familiarity with and connection to neighbor island contexts will be highly valued.

Job Summary

The Director is responsible for providing high-level leadership, strategic oversight, and direction for KS’ real estate portfolio planning and development activities across multiple geographic regions. This role uses a commercial mindset to drive the vision and execution of KS’ real estate portfolio strategy, ensuring alignment with community, cultural, and broader economic objectives. The Director will lead a team of Planning and Development Senior Managers and Managers (Level I/II) while fostering cross-functional collaboration and managing relationships with key internal and industry stakeholders. They will ensure that KS’ planning, development, and community engagement efforts generate long-term value and economic returns. This role is responsible for ensuring that the real estate portfolio upholds KS’ commitment to Hawaiian cultural stewardship while advocating for education sustainability, and responsible real estate development.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Uses commercial strategies and activities to lead and oversee the development and execution of master plans, sub-market strategies, and property-level plans across multiple regions, ensuring alignment with KS’ broader business objectives, brand identity, cultural values, and sustainability goals.

• Lead comprehensive due diligence and develops robust business cases for development initiatives, including market analysis, financial modeling, return analysis, valuation, capital structuring, and transaction strategy.

• Champion the integration of industry trends and best practices into the strategic development and planning process, ensuring that KS maintains a competitive edge in the real estate and land economic markets.

• Provide strategic direction for large-scale projects, leading cross-functional teams and setting goals and targets that align with KS’ vision and economic objectives.

• Directly manage Senior Managers and Managers (Level I/II) fostering professional development and ensuring alignment with KS’ strategic goals.

Industry & Economic Development

• Assesses and determines broader economic and social impacts resulting from development and planning activities and leverages support for feasibility and public acceptance. Could include economic returns, industry/job creation, market competitiveness, and community impact.

• Directs entitlement efforts and leads financial forecasting for proposed development and redevelopment projects. Collaborates with cross-functional partners throughout all planning and development phases, with a strategic focus on analyzing regulatory and legislative impacts to optimize project outcomes.

• Actively participate in public-private partnerships (PPPs), working with government agencies, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to advance KS’ development and strategic economic initiatives.

• Oversee market intelligence gathering, including economic impact assessments, and use this data to guide portfolio strategy, identify opportunities, and mitigate risks.

• Determines execution strategy and transaction structure, including self-development, fee development, joint ventures, ground leases, and other complex arrangements.  Leads negotiations to secure favorable agreements and drive alignment with organizational goals that maximize value and mitigate risk.

Community Engagement & Stakeholder Relations

• Lead KS’ community relations strategy, ensuring that cultural stewardship, sustainability, and community needs are prioritized in all planning and development initiatives.

• Develop and nurture relationships with government officials, business associations, and community organizations, influencing public policy and securing support for KS’ development objectives.

• Oversee community consultations and the integration of Indigenous planning and cultural stewardship into the development process, ensuring that local needs and concerns are addressed.
   

Financial & Performance Management

• Lead the financial oversight of large-scale planning and development projects, ensuring that financial forecasts, business plans, and performance metrics are met.

• Act as the primary point of contact for investment partners, government agencies, and other key stakeholders, managing complex negotiations and ensuring that development agreements meet KS’ strategic and financial objectives.

• Monitor the long-term performance of completed projects, ensuring they meet or exceed projected returns and contribute to KS’ broader goals.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications - An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the requirements listed.

• Master's degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.

• 10+ years of experience in real estate development, strategic planning, and economic development, including at least 5 years in leadership or director-level roles.

• Extensive experience in public-private partnerships (PPPs), policy advocacy, and community engagement strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, manage large projects, and deliver on strategic objectives.

• Deep understanding of market analysis, financial structuring, and investment strategies.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of Hawaii commercial real estate market.

• Familiarity with government departments and regulations with regards to permits, zoning, building codes and archeological issues.

• Real estate sales or broker license.

• Real estate trade association certification (CPM, CRE, CCIM).

• Certified Planner (AICP).

Physical Requirements

• Frequently sits, perform desk-based computer tasks and grasp light or fine manipulation, talk or hear.

• Occasionally stand and/or walk, write by hand, and lift and/or carry, push and/or pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.

• Rarely twist, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, reach or work above shoulder, or grasp forcefully.

Working Conditions

• This position may involve traveling to various locations, including neighbor islands to conduct business.

• Work is conducted in an office environment and may require work to be conducted in non-standard workplaces, and at non-standard times such as evening and weekend hours to meet goals and objectives.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required. The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned.

For internal use only: #LI-CAR

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Please contact us at [email protected] or 808-534-8040 if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job.  Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

KS does not accept unauthorized solicitations of candidate referrals from third-party vendors (i.e. Staffing Agencies, Executive Recruitment Firms).  Any third-party vendor who has interest in supporting KS's recruiting efforts must be authorized by Human Resources prior to the vendor’s candidate applying with KS.  

Work Year

12

Pay Range

180,400.00 - 272,900.00 Annual

Compensation and Benefits

Based on the compensation range provided below, salaries are commensurate with job-related experience, skills and competencies, education, internal equity, length of work year, and other organizational needs.

At Kamehameha Schools (KS), we recognize that compensation is just one facet of a fulfilling employment experience. Our commitment lies in fostering a positive work environment and equipping employees with the necessary resources to excel every day. Our Total Rewards Program embodies KS's dedication to the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employee ʻohana. Explore our comprehensive Benefits Summary for more information.

Primary Location

Kawaiahao Plaza

City, State

Honolulu, Hawaii

Additional Locations