HTDC Executive Director

Duties Summary

The Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is seeking to hire an Executive Director. HTDC is an agency of the State of Hawai`i and attached to DBEDT for administrative purposes.  As a lead State agency in high technology research, development, demonstration, venture funding, and management of incubation facilities, HTDC identifies, develops, and implements a broad array of technology industry programs and services that are designed to facilitate the growth and development of a commercial high technology industry in Hawai`i.

As the visionary, strategic, and operational leader of HTDC, the Executive Director is responsible for the understanding and leveraging the rights, duties, and resources afforded to HTDC pursuant to Chapter 206M, and is responsible and accountable to its nine-member Board of Directors for envisioning, planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, reviewing, redirecting and reporting upon the work of the corporation.

The Executive Director oversees a multi-million dollar annual budget and a team of 10+ employees to execute on the mission of HTDC, as set forth in Chapter 206M. In doing so, the Executive Director is encouraged to be proactive in identifying, developing, and implementing innovative initiatives and programs to build a high technology industry in Hawaii that fits the Hawaii culture and community, working with companies at all stages, from startups to large institutions.  It is understood that certain initiatives and programs may offer great potential but also the risk of failure, and that, although risks should be reasonably mitigated, they cannot be completely avoided in the pursuit of major impacts in the community.

Under the Executive Director’s leadership, HTDC should embrace and reflect the same entrepreneurial mindset that it encourages others to have, and serve as a leader and role model for the technology and entrepreneurial community as a whole. Accordingly, each year, the Executive Director should identify, develop, and implement new programs and initiatives, and to expand existing programs and initiatives and, when appropriate, seek funding from the State legislature.  The Executive Director should also adjust and eliminate existing programs and initiatives that are not effectual.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Knowledge: Federal and State rules, regulations, policies, procedures, or other relative guidelines; and supervisory principles and practices.

Skills/Abilities: Has an entrepreneurial mindset and a track record of developing innovative initiatives and programs.  Implements the functions and responsibilities of the HTDC program; reads and comprehends laws, rules, and regulations; analyzes facts and issues; and recommends solutions to complex and sensitive problems/situations. Must have strong oral and written communication, planning, organizational, and business management skills; demonstrated ability in communicating effectively with the general public, legislators, government employees and agencies,  C-level executive members of the business community, members of the tech and entrepreneurial community, and community-based organizations. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain amicable working relationships with staff, the corporation’s Board of Directors and the general public.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university in a field related to the purposes of the corporation.  Preference may be given for a graduate degree in one of the following fields: business administration, public administration, economics, accounting, banking and finance, planning, engineering (any fields), or any of the physical or natural sciences.  The Board of Directors will consider a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired, subject to review and acceptance.

Experience:

1. Demonstrated leadership experience.

2. Demonstrated experience leading and/or working on large technical transformation efforts.
3. Experience in “technical scouting” or identifying technical trends that influence investment, strategy, and organizational direction.

4. Experience in developing and administering new programs.

5. Experience leading a small/medium sized organization (10+ employees).

6. Experience securing and managing multi-million dollar annual budgets.

7. Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in fiscal and personnel management, at least three (3) years of which were in a supervisory capacity.

The Board of Directors determines the substitutions that are allowed.

Citizenship Requirement: The State of Hawai‘i requires that all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

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.

Submit resumes to: steven.s.sung@hawaii.gov

NOTE: The State Recruiting Office will refer you to the Department of Business Economic Development & Tourism, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation regarding this exempt position.