Hawai‘i Public Health Institute (HIPHI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1996 as the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i to address the high rates of tobacco use in Hawai‘i. In 2012, the organization moved from a singular focus on tobacco issues to a broad public health mission. Today, HIPHI’s mission is to advance the health and wellness of the people and islands of Hawai‘i by:

1. Expanding understanding of what creates health of people and place, embracing upstream social, cultural, and environmental factors;
2. Fostering partnerships among public health, health care, and other diverse sectors to improve health and wellness; and
3. Cultivating programs including education, advocacy, research, capacity building and training—to improve policies, systems, and the environments where people live, learn, work, age, and play.

HIPHI’s advocacy and programmatic work spans multiple issue areas, including oral health, food and agriculture, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco control and prevention, transportation and public safety, and environmental health. HIPHI has become a go-to organization for public health advocacy, education, organizing, capacity building, and technical assistance.

About Community Preparedness & Resilience

HIPHI’s Community Preparedness & Resilience (CPR) portfolio works to strengthen the systems, relationships, and infrastructure that help Hawai‘i’s communities prepare for and respond to future challenges. Through collaborative work across climate resilience, food systems, public health, and community wellbeing, CPR supports efforts that help communities adapt, respond, and thrive.

About Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council

Founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, the Hawai‘i Youth Food Council (HYFC) is a statewide youth leadership program that brings together youth and young adults from across Hawai‘i to strengthen local food systems and work on food sustainability through policy, community engagement, and hands-on learning.

HYFC supports youth in learning how food systems connect with agriculture, health, culture, climate resilience, transportation, and overall community wellbeing. Through this lens, young people learn how these systems influence public health and how they contribute to healthier, more resilient communities. Members gain hands-on experience through civic engagement, policy advocacy, leadership development, and collaboration with community partners, legislators, educators, and local organizations.

The program centers youth perspectives and supports students in building practical skills to help shape a healthier, more resilient Hawai‘i.

Position Summary

HIPHI seeks a Program Coordinator to oversee and coordinate the Hawai‘i Youth Food Council. This position is responsible for supporting statewide youth engagement, program coordination, curriculum planning, policy and leadership development activities, partner collaboration, event coordination, and administrative management related to HYFC.

The Program Coordinator will facilitate youth meetings and activities, maintain program systems and documentation, coordinate with community partners and adult allies, support grant deliverables and reporting requirements, and help strengthen opportunities for youth leadership in Hawai‘i’s food systems work. As part of our Community Preparedness and Resilience portfolio at HIPHI, which focuses on helping communities adapt to and recover from adversity, this role also supports youth in understanding how food systems connect to other public health areas, including climate resilience, transportation, energy systems, among other issues.

This position requires strong organization, communication, facilitation, and time management skills, as well as the ability to independently manage projects and deadlines in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Coordination and Youth Support

1. Coordinate and support statewide Hawai‘i Youth Food Council activities and operations.
2. Develop and maintain thoughtful curricula, meeting agendas, educational materials, and engagement activities for youth participants.
3. Facilitate regular HYFC youth meetings, trainings, and leadership development activities.
4. Support youth participants in learning about public health, food systems, and food sustainability, environmental/climate impacts, policy advocacy, civic engagement, and community leadership.
5. Foster a welcoming, collaborative, and youth-centered environment that encourages participation and leadership development.
6. Facilitate engaging and well-prepared meetings and activities that encourage youth participation, discussion, leadership development, and systems thinking.
7. Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and communication with youth participants statewide.
8. Support continued engagement of HYFC alumni and foster opportunities for multi-year participation, mentorship, and leadership development.
9. Maintain and update HYFC onboarding materials, recruitment plans, member retention plans, bylaws, and evaluation procedures.
10. Coordinate regular review and updates of HYFC participation materials, onboarding systems, bylaws, and program procedures in collaboration with youth members and partners.
11. Reestablish and strengthen the HYFC Adult Allies group and community mentors, and coordinate and facilitate regular meetings to support effective engagement, communication, and collaboration with the HYFC.
12. Identify and share relevant leadership, educational, volunteer, and professional development opportunities for HYFC participants.

Program Planning and Partnership Development

1. Develop and maintain annual workplans, timelines, and program tracking systems.
2. Collaborate with youth organizations, coalitions, and initiatives across Hawai‘i working in related sectors including climate resilience, transportation, energy, public health, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.
3. Help ensure HYFC participants understand food systems through a holistic and interconnected lens, including how food systems impact and are impacted by climate, transportation, energy, health, and community resilience systems.
4. Support youth participants in understanding the legislative and policy process, including key legislative timelines, testimony writing, civic engagement opportunities, and how to effectively participate in public decision-making processes in Hawai‘i.
5. Stay informed on current developments in food systems, food sustainability, and public health to ensure strategies remain relevant and effective.
6. Identify and support strategic opportunities related to youth food systems engagement, food access, policy advocacy, and community resilience.
7. Collaborate with community organizations, schools, agencies, and partners on youth-centered food systems initiatives.
8. Build and maintain positive working relationships with community partners, adult allies, educators, and stakeholders.
9. Represent HIPHI and HYFC at meetings, conferences, events, and community gatherings.
10. Support outreach, recruitment, and engagement efforts across the state.
11. Support the sustainability and long-term growth of HYFC through partnership development and resource coordination.
12. Support evaluation and continuous improvement efforts for HYFC, including participant feedback collection, member engagement assessment, and program evaluation activities.

Administrative and Operational Responsibilities:

1. Maintain organized and up-to-date program documentation, files, meeting materials, and records.
2. Manage and organize HYFC Google Drive systems, participant information, and internal program resources.
3. Maintain project management and organizational systems to track deadlines, deliverables, budgets, and ongoing tasks.
4. Track program budgets, invoices, expenses, reimbursements, and financial documentation in coordination with HIPHI Operations staff.
5. Prepare reports, summaries, presentations, written correspondence, and grant-related materials.
6. Coordinate logistics for meetings, trainings, and events, including travel coordination, venue communication, participant tracking, and scheduling.
7. Coordinate communication with youth participants, families, partners, and stakeholders.
8. Maintain and update newsletters, outreach materials, social media content, and website content related to HYFC.
9. Submit deliverables, reports, invoices, and supporting documentation according to grant and contract timelines.
10. Maintain timely and organized documentation of program activities, accomplishments, photos, engagement metrics, and deliverables for funder reporting requirements.

Event Planning and Facilitation:

1. Coordinate youth events, trainings, retreats, workshops, and community engagement opportunities.
2. Work proactively and collaboratively with HIPHI Operations staff to ensure events follow organizational procedures and timelines.
3. Support participant communication, travel coordination, waivers, scheduling, and logistical planning for events.
4. Facilitate virtual and in-person meetings using Zoom, Google Meet, and related platforms.
5. Prepare event summaries, notes, and follow-up documentation.

Other Duties:

1. Participate in staff meetings and support the overall work of the organization.
2. Maintain excellent partnerships with youth participants, partners, and community members.
3. Follow all HIPHI policies and procedures and support the organization’s mission and values.
4. Work evenings, weekends, and inter-island travel, as needed during HYFC-sponsored events.
5. Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and support HYFC interns, volunteers, and contractors as assigned.
2. Provide regular check-ins, guidance, and support for interns and youth leadership participants.
3. Support youth leadership development through mentorship, facilitation, and project coordination.

Education, Experience, and Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience of related professional experience.
2. Experience working with high school-aged youth and other young adults.
3. Experience facilitating meetings, trainings, educational activities, or youth engagement programs.
4. Understanding of and respect for the cultural landscape of Hawai‘i, including experience working with diverse cultures across the islands.
5. Strong organizational and administrative skills.
6. Experience coordinating projects, timelines, or events.
7. Comfort using Apple products and Google Workspace tools including Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Calendar.
8. Experience using project management or organizational tools.
9. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
10. Ability to work independently, manage deadlines, and collaborate within a team environment.

Desired Skills and Abilities:

1. At least 2 years of working in Hawai‘i, knowledge of Hawai‘i food systems, food sustainability, local agriculture, public health, climate resilience, or youth leadership development.
2. Experience with civic engagement, policy advocacy, or community organizing.
3. Ability to facilitate engaging and thoughtful discussions with youth participants.
4. Ability to think proactively, problem solve, and adapt to changing priorities.
5. Excellent time management skills and attention to detail.
6. Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
7. Commitment to health equity, food systems resilience, and community wellbeing.
8. Experience working with diverse communities across Hawai‘i.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this full-time position is $45,000-55,000 annually.

Benefits at HIPHI include:

1. A hybrid working environment is an option, subject to prior discussion and management approval.
2. A collaborative work culture with flexible scheduling and promotes work-life balance.
3. Laptop, virtual phone line, and other work-from-home supplies.
4. 20 days of paid time off, 3 days sick leave, 11 HIPHI-observed holidays, and 5 floating holidays per year. For part-time employees, holiday pay is pro-rated based on the number of hours worked per week.
5. Medical and dental insurance (100% of premium covered for the employee; 50% coverage for spouse/family).
6. Flexible spending accounts for medical, dependent care, and other eligible expenses.
7. Cell phone and internet stipend.
8. Opportunities to attend conferences and other professional development opportunities.
9. 401K retirement plan with an employer contribution (contribution starting after 1 year of employment).
10. A qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which forgives the balance of federal student loans for individuals working in public service.

HIPHI outsources HR functions to Altres Staffing, which has a number of additional benefits that would begin upon hire.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a list with three professional references to James McCallen at james @hiphi.org and . Please reference in the subject line “Program Coordinator, Hawai‘i Youth Food Council.” The deadline to apply is June 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM. For any questions, please contact James McCallen at or (808) 591-6508 ext. 59.

Hawai‘i Public Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

1. 401(k)
2. Dental insurance
3. Flexible schedule
4. Flexible spending account
5. Health insurance
6. Health savings account
7. Life insurance
8. Paid time off
9. Parental leave
10. Professional development assistance
11. Retirement plan
12. Vision insurance

Education:

1. Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

1. Driver's License (Preferred)

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