Social Communications Fellow

Recruitment Information
This posting is for the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (Authority).

This position serves as the Social Communications Fellow and reports to the Executive Director of the Authority. This position is located on the Island of Oahu.

Salary
Minimum $110,000.00–$150,000.00 Annually (salary commensurate with education and experience).

This position is a temporary full-time, non-civil service, special, research or demonstration project in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 76-11.6 (Act 160, SLH 2015) and will terminate upon completion of the special project on June 30, 2028. If you have any questions regarding this non-civil service exempt position, please contact Keala Patterson, Administrative Services Officer, at mksoa.jobs@hawaii.gov.

The State Recruiting Office will refer all inquiries regarding this exempt position to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Duties Summary
The Social Communications Fellow reports to the Executive Director and serves as the lead for social media communications, overseeing strategy, content development, approval, and execution across platforms. This position serves as the first‑line approver of social media content and leads rapid‑response efforts related to crises, trends, and mis‑ and disinformation. This position also translates policy into culturally relevant social content grounded in Hawaiʻi’s cultural and political landscape, leveraging expertise in vertical video, platform algorithms, and social SEO within a “hyper‑fragmented” modern media environment, and performs other duties as assigned. This position is based at the Authority’s office on Oahu and will require occasional travel to other islands, including overnight stays.

Citizenship Requirement
Applicants must be citizens, permanent resident aliens, or nationals of the United States. Non‑citizens with unrestricted employment authorization from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service may also apply.

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

General knowledge of State government laws, administrative rules, policies, procedures, practices, and operations.

General understanding of Hawaiʻi's cultural and political landscape.

Expert knowledge of social media strategy, metrics, and analysis.

Expert knowledge of vertical video and platform algorithms.

Skills/Abilities:

Proficient with social media tools and analytics.

Exceptional written and oral communication.

Ability to engage with elected officials, leadership, management, and employees to build alignment.

Ability to create social content across digital properties.

Ability to drive strategies to address crisis, trends, and mis‑and disinformation in real‑time.

Recommended Education and Experience
Education:

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Experience:

Ten (10) years of professional work experience in social media. Relevant experience may include, but is not limited to, content creation, platform management, social media analytics and reporting, social media marketing and engagement, search engine optimization, and related areas. Experience must have demonstrated success in overseeing communications in a high‑pressure environment (e.g., political campaign, community organizing, or sports/entertainment).

License Requirement
Applicants must possess a valid license, type 3 or higher, to drive in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Quality of Experience
Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position. The applicant’s overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that they have the ability to perform the duties of the position for which they are being considered.

Physical and Medical Requirements
Applicants must be able to perform the essential functions of the position effectively and safely, with or without reasonable accommodation. Able to travel on short notice, including by 4‑wheel drive vehicle; work in a high elevation environment (9,000 to 13,500 feet); and in outdoor field conditions. Qualified applicants with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the advertised position are encouraged to apply. The State of Hawaiʻi is committed to making reasonable accommodations on a case‑by‑case basis. Applicants seeking reasonable accommodation should be ready to discuss the accommodation sought so that a determination can be made that such accommodation is reasonable and would not cause the employer undue hardship.

Other Information
This position is exempt from the civil service and considered temporary in nature. Therefore, if you are appointed to the position, your employment will be considered to be “at will,” which means that you may be discharged from your employment at the prerogative of your department head or designee at any time.

#J-18808-Ljbffr