Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

HIFF seeks a dynamic and community-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. This role centers on fundraising, community engagement, and organizational leadership, ensuring HIFF continues to thrive as both a globally recognized film festival and a deeply rooted local institution.

The Executive Director will champion HIFF’s mission by uplifting Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-Pacific Rim storytellers, while building a stronger, more connected creative ecosystem across Hawaii.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES 

Fundraising & Revenue Development

HIFF’s financial sustainability depends on the Executive Director’s ability to cultivate and close major gifts, secure corporate sponsorships, pursue grant funding, and build a diversified revenue base. The ED is the organization’s chief fundraiser.

• Lead strategy & execution for major gifts, funding partnerships, and institutional grants.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with existing and prospective donors, sponsors, collaborators and funders.
• Partner with board members to leverage their networks for introductions, cultivation events, and closing gifts.
• Explore and develop new revenue streams—including naming rights, endowment opportunities, and strategic brand partnerships.
• Collaborate with staff on grant submissions, ensuring proposals align with HIFF’s mission and reporting requirements.

Community Engagement & Cultural Leadership

As the leader of one of Hawai‘i’s leading arts organizations, the Executive Director must be a visible, trusted presence in the community—someone who leads with respect, listens before acting, and understands that relationships in the Islands are built on authenticity and sustained commitment.

• Serve as HIFF’s primary public representative and ambassador across Hawaii ’s diverse communities and throughout the international film community.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with cultural organizations, educational institutions, and community groups statewide.
• Deepen HIFF’s commitment to uplift Hawaii’s diverse storytellers including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian voices in film and media.
• Represent HIFF at local events, industry conferences, and public forums with warmth and credibility.

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

The ED partners with the Board of Directors to set organizational direction and ensures HIFF’s activities, staffing, and resources are aligned with its mission and strategic plan.

• Work with the Board to refine and implement HIFF’s strategic plan, ensuring clarity of focus and accountability.
• Lead honest assessment of all programs and initiatives—recommending what to invest in, restructure, or phase out.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget in coordination with finance staff, board treasurer and finance subcommittee, and/or contracted bookkeeper.
• Provide the Board with timely, transparent reporting on organizational health, finances, programming, messaging, staff updates, issues and support needs, and all key decisions.
• Identify strategic growth opportunities that align with HIFF’s mission—while being disciplined about scope.
• Serve as the primary liaison between staff and the Board of Directors, fostering a productive, transparent partnership grounded in mutual accountability.

Team Leadership & Culture

The ED sets the tone for HIFF’s internal culture—fostering collaboration, clear communication, and professional development while ensuring staff have the support and resources they need.

• Responsible for budgetary accountability and balanced financial systems for each organizational category.
• Oversight on operational budget including all financial systems as managed by program directors, including associated payroll, taxes, legal documents, insurance, etc.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and professional development for full-time staff and seasonal contractors.
• Lead and support a dedicated team with clear roles, expectations, regular check-ins and performance reviews.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive workplace culture rooted in clear communication, transparency and mutual respect.
• Ensure core team have authority and accountability within their functional areas—avoiding bottlenecks in leadership.

Festival Planning & Programming Partnership

This role partners closely with the Artistic Director and core team to ensure HIFF’s curatorial vision, event execution, and audience experience reflect the festival’s mission and brand.

• Collaborate with the Artistic Director and programming staff on festival strategy, guest curation, Jury recruitment, marquee awards and VIP invitations.
• Ensure programming decisions align with HIFF’s mission, messaging and brand identity.
• Support the planning and execution of major events—including the Fall Festival, pio Fest, HIFILM Industry Conference, and year-round screenings and events.
• Ensure successful event planning and logistics in partnership with Director of Operations, core team, sponsors, and venue partners.
• Oversee Festival fundraising events including Awards Gala, Opening/Closing special events and receptions

Board Relations & Governance

• Provide clear, consistent updates to the Board—including financials, program outcomes, risks, and strategic recommendations.
• Support Board recruitment, onboarding, and engagement in alignment with governance best practices.
• Facilitate productive board meetings with well-prepared agendas, materials, and follow-through on action items.
• Engage the Executive Committee as a strategic sounding board on sensitive organizational matters.
• Meet standards and expectations as assessed by performance reviews, to be conducted on an annual basis or as requested by the board.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, arts, cultural, or media organization.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and corporate sponsorship at a significant scale.
• Strong financial acumen—experience developing and managing operating budgets of $1M+.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams with transparency, empathy, and accountability.
• Exceptional communication skills—written, verbal, and interpersonal—with comfort in public-facing roles.
• Deep understanding of and respect for Hawai‘i’s communities, cultural protocols, and the values of aloha, humility, and collective stewardship.

Strongly Preferred

• Established roots in, or a meaningful connection to Hawai‘i—with existing relationships across the nonprofit, cultural, business, or film sectors.
• Experience in film, entertainment, media, or the creative industries.
• Track record of organizational turnaround, rebuilding, or significant change management.
• Commitment to championing Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian, and underrepresented voices.
• Familiarity with Hawaii’s funding landscape—including state and federal grant programs, local foundations, and corporate giving culture
• Experience and/or connections to national or international sponsors who support the arts and film from Asia and the Pacific.
• Marketing, branding, or public relations experience that can elevate HIFF’s profile locally, nationally, and internationally.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES WE VALUE

Beyond credentials, we are looking for a leader whose character and approach align with the culture of this organization and the community it serves:

• A bridge builder—someone who connects people, ideas, and organizations with generosity and intention.
• A listener first—someone who earns trust before asserting authority.
• Culturally grounded—someone who understands that how you show up matters as much as what you accomplish.
• Resilient and steady—someone who can lead through uncertainty without reactivity or ego.
• Mission-driven—someone who genuinely cares about storytelling, community, and the power of film to connect us.