About Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i
Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through hands-on, experiential learning opportunities focused on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship, JA empowers students to connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities. In partnership with educators, volunteers, businesses, and community leaders, Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i annually serves 59 schools and over 8,000 students statewide, working to expand access, strengthen workforce pathways, and help students build the skills and confidence needed for a choice-filled future. To learn more about Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i, visit our website www.hawaii.ja.org.
Position Summary: President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will serve as the strategic and operational leader of Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i, guiding the organization’s vision, growth, and long-term sustainability. This leader will champion JA’s mission by strengthening partnerships across education, business, philanthropy, and the broader community while ensuring the organization continues to expand its impact on students across the region.
The President & CEO will oversee all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, financial stewardship, team leadership, strategic planning, and program expansion across four main Hawaiian Islands – Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, relationship-driven executive who can inspire stakeholders, build high-performing teams, and translate vision into action. This leader will balance innovation with operational excellence and bring a strong commitment to preparing young people for future success through career-connected learning and workforce readiness initiatives.
Essential Functions
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO position requires a hands-on executive who can balance external leadership and fundraising responsibilities with operational oversight, organizational execution, and team leadership. The next leader will be responsible for:
Executing Vision & Driving Strategy - Execute our bold, long-term vision that positions JA of Hawai‘i as a leader in educational innovation and workforce development while strengthening collaboration across education, business, workforce, and community sectors.
Leading Sustainable Growth - Guide continued expansion across schools, districts, and experiential learning programs, ensuring growth is supported by strong systems, infrastructure, and team capacity.
Advancing Fundraising & Partnerships - Serve as the organization’s chief ambassador, relationship-builder, and lead fundraiser, actively cultivating and stewarding philanthropic, corporate, and community investments essential to mission growth and long-term sustainability.
Developing Talent & Culture - Inspire and support a high-performing, mission-driven team, fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement while ensuring organizational growth remains aligned with team sustainability and mission impact.
Partnering with the Board of Directors - Work closely with the board to ensure strong governance, strategic alignment, and long-term organizational success.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a highly relational and community-centered leader who excels at building trust, cultivating long-term partnerships, and aligning stakeholders across education, business, philanthropy, and the broader Hawai‘i community.
Key qualifications include:
Progressive leadership experience in nonprofit, corporate, or public sector environments
Demonstrated success in fundraising and partnership development, including major gifts and institutional relationships
Strong track record of organizational leadership, including operations, finance, and talent management
Ability to align diverse stakeholders and build high-trust relationships across sectors
Exceptional communication, executive presence, and influence
Experience building relationships within closely connected communities and navigating culturally nuanced stakeholder environments is highly valued
Familiarity with Hawai‘i’s educational, business, and philanthropic landscape is strongly preferred
Proven ability to lead organizations through growth and complexity, building systems and teams that scale preferred
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $105,000 - $140,000. Individual compensation will be based on multiple factors, including relevant experience, qualifications, job-related skills, and overall alignment with the requirements of the role.
Our Commitment
At JA of Hawai‘i, we believe that our success is directly tied to our ability to foster an environment where all individuals have access to opportunities and can thrive. We are deeply committed to creating a workplace where inclusion and belonging are not just principles but lived experiences. This commitment drives us to attract, develop, retain, and promote a workforce that mirrors the communities we serve, bringing together a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and talents.
We embrace the unique contributions that every JA of Hawai‘i employee brings to our mission and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to join our team. By welcoming various voices, we continue to expand our understanding of the world, and we actively seek to elevate the representation of different individual experiences and the perspectives they shape.
We are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard - where people can be their authentic selves and know that they belong. This is how we build a workplace where every individual can succeed, and where we work together to create a lasting impact for the young people and communities we serve.
Additional Information
JA does not provide sponsorship for employment visas for this position. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship, now or in the future. Requisition will be closed for submissions July 3rd, 2026.
Pay Range
$105,000 - $140,000 USD