HART Board of Directors Executive Officer

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is the public transit authority responsible for planning and constructing Skyline, Honolulu’s rail transit system.  It is the first fully automated, driverless urban light metro system in the United States and represents the largest public infrastructure project in the history of Hawaii.

Skyline’s route is approximately 19 miles, with 19 stations, along Oahu’s southern coast, and it is being constructed in three segments.  The first segment, from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, is already in revenue service, with the next segments planned to extend service from Middle Street, through downtown Honolulu, to the Civic Center Station. 

HART is searching for a dynamic, energetic individual to serve as its Board of Directors Executive Officer, which is the Executive Administrator and Secretary of HART’s Board of Directors. This position offers excellent benefits, and a salary commensurate with the candidate’s experience, in this influential role. 

Position Description

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Executive Officer (EO) is the Executive Administrator and Secretary of the Board of Directors (Board), and occupies a pivotal and dynamic leadership role within HART.  Reporting directly to the Board, the EO serves as a linchpin, taking on advanced and highly confidential responsibilities that demand extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of HART and City policies and practices.  The EO is instrumental in providing high-level counsel and support to the Board, its members, and its committees, while embracing  an expanded and multifaceted set of responsibilities.

The EO is responsible for researching unique and sensitive topics, analyzing alternatives, and making policy recommendations to the Board.  The Board is the policy-making body for HART, and the Executive Officer is critical in providing high-level research and policy recommendations to the Board.  This includes, but is not limited to, synthesizing different Board members’ positions and recommending cohesive policies for the entire Board.  The EO must understand, interpret, and apply relevant statutes, charter provisions, ordinances, rules, and regulations, particularly in the areas of administrative law, transportation, sunshine law, and open records law. 

In addition to core duties, the EO shoulders additional responsibilities that significantly influence the organization’s operations, including elevating policy development, overseeing legislative oversight, and maintaining the overall integrity of HART’s operations.  The EO also holds a strategic role in the selection and management of their support staff, as well as taking charge of the Board’s budget to empower the Finance Committee Chair.

The initial contract term for this role is anticipated to be one year.  The salary for this pivotal position is designed to be commensurate with the candidate’s extensive experience, knowledge, and expanded range of responsibilities, with a minimum base salary per the established pay scale.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Policy Development and Research: The EO conducts rigorous, in-depth research, and provides policy recommendations on a wide spectrum of issues related to public transit, local and federal transit authorities, and legal matters. This role is indispensable in guiding HART’s Board to make well-informed decisions on complex policy questions.
• Budget Management: As a key figure in the organization’s fiscal landscape, the EO is responsible for not just assisting but also actively participating in the development, administration, and meticulous maintenance of the Board’s annual budget.  This includes providing comprehensive recommendations and accurate forecasts for staffing, equipment, procurement, travel, and supplies. 
• Strategic Planning: The EO takes a central role in advising on meeting schedules and timelines, while also crafting meticulously prepared Board agendas and developing comprehensive strategies to meet statutory and Board-imposed deadlines. This encompasses rigorous compliance with legal requirements such as the Sunshine Law (in consultation with the Department of the Corporation Counsel) and Legislative calendars.
• Information Management: The EO is tasked with not only collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information, but also handling highly confidential materials sourced from various channels.  This includes reviewing materials submitted to the Board and making critical determinations regarding their appropriate disposition, encompassing matters as significant as the Executive Director’s evaluation, the selection of the HART Board’s 9th voting member, and highly confidential legal affairs.
• Legislative Oversight: The EO is charged with ensuring the unwavering integrity of the Board’s  processes, proceedings, and official records. This extends to drafting actions for Board consideration and interpreting and applying Board rules, state laws, and regulations.
• Operational Oversight:  The EO assumes a central role in planning, directing, coordinating, and rigorously reviewing the work activities and programs of the Board Administration section of HART.  This encompasses not just preparing Board agendas and public notices but also meticulously recording minutes of Board meetings and maintaining official records.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The EO, in addition to establishing working relationships within the HART organization, plays an instrumental role in assisting Board members in coordinating meetings within HART, with City agencies, the City Council and State  Legislature, the Honolulu Mayor, Managing Director, news media, and other stakeholders.
• Communication and Outreach: The EO is responsible for not only drafting but also finalizing various Board-related communications, which include press releases, articles, speeches, and presentations, crafted in collaboration with the Public Information staff.
• Relationship Management: The role mandates building, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with Board members, underscoring the critical nature of this responsibility. The EO also stands as a trusted resource for both Board-specific and general agency matters.
• Administrative Support: In addition to providing executive and administrative support during all Board proceedings, the EO is tasked with offering guidance and supervision to staff responsible for secretarial and administrative support to the Board.  The Executive Officer is designated as the Executive Secretary for all Board meetings.
• Recordkeeping: The EO plays a pivotal role in overseeing the preparation of minutes, actions, and official records, while also maintaining a vast array of various files.
• Additional Responsibilities: The EO is frequently assigned other high-impact and complex duties as necessitated by the dynamic nature of this role.

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a preference for a major in business or public administration, economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of four years of progressively responsible professional experience, including effective interaction with and guidance to high-level policymakers.
• The ability to elicit information, apply problem-solving methods, and use astute judgment to identify and evaluate alternatives.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information discreetly, while consistently exhibiting strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage conflicts and navigate complex scenarios.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake in-depth research on complex policy issues and provide comprehensive and well-seasoned recommendations.

Desired Skills and Experience

In addition to the required qualifications, the ideal candidate should bring to the table an expansive set of additional skills and experiences:

• An advanced degree, with a strong preference for individuals with law degrees.
• Board Support Proficiency:  Demonstrated expertise in providing comprehensive support to a Board of Directors, including a profound understanding of board dynamics, governance, compliance with legal requirements (including sunshine and open records laws) and administrative needs.
• Strategic Planning:  Proficiency in the development of strategic plans for meeting deadlines and crafting meticulously prepared Board agendas.
• Legal Insight:  The ability to discern when legal advice should be sought and to facilitate its procurement, ensuring unwavering compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• HART Familiarity:  A profound understanding of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and its operations, with specific expertise in rail and transportation.
• Community Engagement:  Proven experience in engaging with community groups and stakeholders, skillfully building cooperative working relationships.
• Project Management:  A demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, particularly within the content of board decision-making and legislative processes.
• Policy Guidance:  Exceptional communication skills and the ability to coordinate across a large organization, effectively consolidating and creating comprehensive policy guidance.
• Technical Proficiency:  Familiarity with a range of software and tools for drafting documents, creating presentations, and preparing comprehensive reports.

Conclusion

The HART Executive Officer serves as the Executive Administrator and Secretary of the HART Board of Directors.  This is a critical and multifaceted role that holds a pivotal position in the efficient operation of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.  Beyond core responsibilities, the ideal candidate is expected to possess an intricate understanding of HART, unparalleled expertise in board support, unparalleled legal insight, and an exceptional aptitude for strategic planning.  This role offers not just the opportunity to make a substantial impact on public transit in Honolulu, but also a salary commensurate with given the expanded responsibilities, elevated demands, and profound influence this position holds within the organization. 

Benefits

HART is a part of the City and County of Honolulu (City), and its employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package provided by the City.  This includes:

• Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and life insurance plans
• Generous vacation and sick leave, earning up to 21 days per year
• 13 paid holidays annually (14 days during election year)
• Retirement plan contributions through the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS)
• Deferred compensation options to invest pre-tax income for retirement
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses
• Pre-tax transportation benefits, including TheBus and vanpool options
• Access to confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional perks include training opportunities and employer-funded Holo Card for eligible employees to use on public transit
• Eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, supporting employees dedicated to public service