| Location | Honolulu, HI |
| Salary | $9,812–$15,711 Per Year |
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFICER, DOWNTOWN, OAHU
Salary
See Position Description
Location
Island of Oahu
Job Type
Various
Job Number
DLIR-2026-037
Department
Labor & Industrial Relations
Opening Date
08/14/2026
Closing Date
Continuous
Max Number of Applicants
15
Recruitment Information
Recruitment Number DLIR-2026-037 - Position is full-time and located in Downtown, Honolulu, Oahu.
THIS JOB POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 15 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED.
PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.
Salary:
Workforce Development Program Officer - $ 9,812 to $15,711 monthly (EM-05)
Hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicants qualifications, and other relevant factors.
Duties Summary
Plan, organize, direct, coordinate and control the activities of program specialists engaged in planning, developing and evaluating workforce development services activities, and employment and training programs.
Plan and develop program goals and objectives within the framework of federal guidelines and based on the needs of local offices, applicants, employers, counties, State and local workforce boards, and the community.
Clarify and interpret laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and directives, and new program initiatives to insure uniform understanding and application.
Direct and assist staff supervisors in planning and organizing staffing patterns to meet program needs; and ensure that production requirements and critical time schedules are met.
Review and evaluate the overall functions and activities of the office for effectiveness; and develop and implement corrective action plans.
Analyze economic and occupational data; coordinate the planning and development of federal and State program plans and budgets; and recommend to the Administrator program plans and budgets, and allocation of program goals and resources to divisional branches and sections.
Develop organizational plans and operating procedures for implementation within the division.
Review and analyze State and federal workforce development and related legislation; and prepare legislative testimony and/or comments.
Review and approve operational policies, procedures and guidelines for programs developed by subordinates; and provide guidance in resolution of complex issues in program implementation.
Direct and assist project directors of subgrantee organizations (e.g., counties, occupational organizations, educational institutions, private or public agencies, etc.) in developing program plans and operating and administrative procedures; and provide training and other technical assistance.
Coordinate various subgrantee efforts in each county to minimize duplication of efforts and increase utilization of all available resources.
Conduct regular meetings with project directors to provide program direction; review and analyze operational reports and other documents to determine deficiencies and problem areas, and formulate plans for improvement; prepare strategies for needed actions; and prepare written directives or policy, based on program administrative decisions, for the Administrators issuance to appropriate parties.
Conduct and/or participate in advisory council meetings to obtain recommendations regarding program plans, to provide continuing analysis of needs for employment training, and to improve the utilization and coordination of delivery of such services.
Plan and/or participate in a public information program to stimulate interest in and gain public acceptance and cooperation of the various workforce development programs.
Participate in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with officials of business establishments, unions, training institutions, and other public and private organizations to enhance interest and success of the program.
Participate in senior supervisory staff meetings with the Administrator to coordinate activities and develop cohesive statewide strategies, policies and procedures.
Conduct and/or participate in meetings with county mayors and officials, State department directors or their representatives, U.S. Department of Labor representatives, organized labor, various agencies, etc., to establish good working relationships and discuss and resolve major workforce development problems.
Plan, direct and/or participate in the implementation of training programs for other agency personnel or officials from foreign countries on matters related to workforce programs.
Determine need, conduct and/or provide opportunities for staff training and development.
Take appropriate action on personnel matters, including disciplinary actions and grievances.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Legal Authorization to Work:
The State of Hawaii requires 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.
Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified. Please note that unless specifically indicated, the required education and experience may not be gained concurrently.
Your possession of the required amount of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. Overall paid or unpaid experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position.
Note: Your calculation of experience must be based on full-time, 40-hour work weeks. Part-time experience must be pro-rated. Example: Twelve (12) months of experience at 20 hours/week is equivalent to six (6) months of experience, not one (1) year. Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be credited. Example: Twelve (12) months of experience at 60 hours/week is equivalent to one (1) year of experience, not one and a half (1 ½) years.
PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of: Federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to employment services and employment training programs; national and/or State labor market conditions, employment trends and industrial conditions; program planning and evaluation, and budget preparation; research and report writing methods and techniques; public relations; and principles and practices of supervision.
Ability to: Plan, organize, direct and coordinate activities of subordinates involved in planning, developing and evaluating workforce development programs; interpret and apply various employment service and employment training program standards and requirements to specific employment needs; formulate and develop program policies, standards, procedures and budgets; analyze and evaluate plans and take corrective action; develop comprehensive written reports; speak and write effectively; meet and elicit the cooperation of, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, committees, representatives of community groups, organizations, and other governmental agencies; and supervise the work of others.
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor's degree.
Excess work experience as described under the Specialized Experience, below, or any other responsible administrative, professional or analytical work experience which provided knowledge, skills and abilities comparable to those acquired in four (4) years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree may be substituted on a year-for-year basis. To be acceptable, the experience must have been of such scope, level and quality as to assure the possession of comparable knowledge, skills and abilities.
The education or experience background must also demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports and other documents; read and interpret complex written material; and solve complex problems logically and systematically.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
Except for the substitutions provided for in this specification, applicants must have had progressively responsible experience of the kind and quality described in the statements below and in the amounts shown below, or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Five and one-half (5½) years of progressively responsible professional experience in an employment service and/or employment training program which involved gathering and analyzing employment data; identifying and assessing employment needs of applicants; determining job content and requirements; conducting analyses, interpreting and applying federal laws, rules, and regulations pertinent to employment services and employment training programs to specific employment needs; developing or implementing budget requirements; and identifying problems and recommending alternative courses of action.
Of the required five and one-half (5½) years of Specialized Experience described above, two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or staff capacity. At least one (1) year of such experience must have been comparable to the Employment Service Specialist VI, or two (2) years of experience must have been comparable to the Employment Service Specialist V, in the State service.
A. Supervisory Experience:
Work experience which involved supervising a professional staff and included: 1) planning and directing the work of others; 2) assigning and reviewing their work; 3) advising them on difficult problem areas; 4) timing and scheduling their work; and 5) training and developing new employees and disciplining them when necessary.
B. Staff Experience:
Work experience as a staff specialist which involved responsibility for conducting studies and making recommendations for the development or revision of program plans, policies and procedures; giving technical advice and direction; monitoring and evaluating program(s) for efficiency, effectiveness and conformance with program requirements; conducting special studies; and recommending staff requirements and developing training plans and materials.
ADMINISTRATIVE APTITUDE:
Administrative aptitude will be considered to have been met when there is strong affirmative evidence of the necessary administrative aptitudes and abilities. Such evidence may be in the form of success in regular or special assignments or projects which involved administrative problems (e.g., in planning, organizing, promoting, and directing a program, including policy and budgetary considerations; providing staff advice and assistance in such matters); interest in administration demonstrated by the performance of work assignments in a manner which clearly indicates awareness of administrative problems and the ability to solve them; completion of educational or training courses in the area of administration accompanied by the application of the principles, which were learned, to work assignments; management's observation and evaluation of the applicant's leadership and administrative capabilities; success in trial assignments to managerial and/or administrative tasks.
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 applicants overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that he/she has the ability to perform the duties of the position for which he/she is being considered.
The information provided above represents a summary of the Minimum Qualification Requirements. To view the Minimum Qualification Requirements in its entirety, please CLICK HERE
17545.042800:35:mp
Other Information
The State of Hawaii complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call 808-586-9084 for assistance.
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF) PROGRAM
The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellatione
ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs.
Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings.
TESTING INFORMATION
The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held.
In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application.
CLICK HERE for further information about Equal Employment Opportunity, the Merit Civil Service System, Citizenship and other requirements, Reasonable Accommodation, Veterans Preference, Examination Requirements, and the State Recruiting Offices Levels of Review.
YOUR JOB BENEFITS WITH THE STATE OF HAWAII
The State of Hawaii offers its employees who are members of the civil service a range of benefits. Some benefits are offered as a result of collective bargaining agreements and changes may occur.
A summary of these benefits, which is based on full-time employment, is listed below.
Note: Benefits for NON-CIVIL SERVICE appointments will be provided by the hiring department at the time of interview.
With Civil Service modernization, effective July 1, 2002, employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. As a temporary member of the civil service, you will be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits afforded to members of the civil service, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force of a permanent member of the civil service.
Paid Holidays
You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year.
Paid Vacation
You may earn vacation leave at a rate that other employers find tough to match - 21 days each full year from the FIRST year of employment. This compares to an average of 10 days offered by private companies. You may accumulate up to a total of 90 days (720 hours) of vacation.
Paid Sick Leave
You may earn sick leave at the same rate as vacation - 21 days per year from the FIRST year, and there is no limit on the amount you can accumulate. Expectant mothers may also use sick leave for pre-natal or post-natal check-ups or any illness related to pregnancy. Plus, unused accumulated sick leave may eventually be used to increase your retirement benefits in certain situations.
Other Leaves
Reasonable time off with pay may be provided for jury or witness duty, a death in the family, some military duty, and donation to the Blood Bank. Leave sharing donations may be granted to eligible employees who have serious personal illnesses or injuries or need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member. Various leaves without pay may also be granted with full re-employment rights.
Health Insurance
The State pays a part of the premiums for each employees enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Dental Plan. For more information, visit the Employer Union Trust Fund website www.eutf.hawaii.gov for coverage and options.
Group Life Insurance
The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees.
Retirement Plan
The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees under the Hybrid Plan with 10 years of credited service and who have reached 65 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and have reached 60 years of age may retire and receive benefits. To find out more about the options you have, go to http://ers.ehawaii.gov.
Premium Conversion Plan
Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX basis.
Transportation Benefits
Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct qualified transportation expenses (i.e. eligible parking fees, monthly bus passes for TheBus, fare coupons for The Handi-Van, Vanpool Hawaii participation fee, etc.) through pre-tax payroll deductions.
Deferred Compensation
The State offers employees a voluntary pre-tax retirement savings plan designed to give employees a tax break today and an opportunity to build a retirement nest egg through voluntary payroll deductions. Several types of investment options are available.
Temporary Disability Insurance
Qualified employees may be eligible to receive benefits for a disability caused by a non-work related injury or illness under this program.
Social Security
As an employer, the State also contributes to an employees social security account.
Promotions & Transfers
For employees with membership in the civil service, the State offers promotion and transfer opportunities throughout the State Executive Branch.
Training & Continuing Education
The State supports developmental activities related to an employees work. In many departments there are numerous in-service training opportunities available. Sabbatical leaves with pay are available for qualified employees.
Travel Expenses
The State may pay for certain business related travel expenses including mileage reimbursement for use of a personal car during work, airfare, meals and lodging expenses for trips to neighbor islands or out of state.
Incentive & Service Awards
The State has a program that recognizes employees for their years of service and provides cash awards for their superior accomplishments and other contributions that improve State operations.
Union & Collective Bargaining
Employees have the right to join the union for collective bargaining with the State and employee representation. Some employee unions provide discounts, insurance and other opportunities. Employees may also decide not to join a union, however, employees are required to pay union service fees unless the employees job is excluded from collective bargaining.
The above information is solely intended as a summary of the benefits available to State of Hawaii employees and is subject to change. Whether or not you are entitled to a particular benefit will depend on your specific appointment and employment status (included, excluded, exempt, non-exempt). Please refer to the appropriate collective bargaining agreement or executive order and all applicable laws, rules, policies, or plan documents for further details. Nothing herein shall be deemed as creating an employment contract, promise of employment, promise of continued employment, or obligation of any kind on the part of the State of Hawaii.
CLICK HERE for more information on the State of Hawaiis Benefits At-A-Glance.
The State of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Revised 01/13
01
RECRUITMENT SURVEY (MANDATORY) Completion of this survey is mandatory. You must select one option; multiple selections permitted. The information you provide will be used to improve our recruitment efforts. We appreciate your cooperation.
What led you to explore career opportunities with the State of Hawaii?
02
EMPLOYMENT STATUS SURVEY #1
Completion of this survey is mandatory. You must select one option. This information will assist us with our recruiting efforts. We appreciate your cooperation.
Which of the following reflects your current employment status?
03
EMPLOYMENT STATUS SURVEY #2
Completion of this survey is mandatory. This information will assist us with our recruiting efforts. We appreciate your cooperation.
If you selected recently laid off in response to Employment Status Survey #1, please indicate the name of the employer from which you were laid off.
If you selected other in response to Employment Status Survey #1, please explain.
if these two options do not apply to you, please indicate "N/A."
04
APPLICANTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT - REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
The responses you provide to these Supplemental Questions will be used in combination with your application to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements and/or your final score. Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected or receiving a lower score.
Please do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questions.
You must submit verification (e.g., copies of official transcripts or diploma as instructed below) in order to receive credit for education. In general, proof of education downloaded from and/or submitted through the internet will not be accepted. Education obtained outside the United States must be comparable to education earned at an accredited school in the United States. We also reserve the right to request further information about your academic program, evidence of comparability, or an original transcript.
To receive credit for substitute, temporary assignment, internship or volunteer experience, you must submit an official letter of verification. The letter should include the job title, employment dates, number of hours worked, a description of the duties performed, and a contact name and phone number.
Any information you submit may be verified.
05
APPLICANTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (Continued)
Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified.
In general, concurrent experiences and/or education will not be double credited unless otherwise specified.
Your possession of the required amount of experience will not in and of itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. The overall paid or unpaid experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position.
Our calculation of experience will be based upon a full-time, 40-hour work week. Part-time experience will be pro-rated.
Example: Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week will be pro-rated to six months of experience. Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be extra credited.
Example: Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week will be credited as one year of experience, not one and a half years.
06
APPLICANTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT - MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Complete information and details)
A summary and link to the complete Minimum Qualification Requirements are provided in the job announcement.
07
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Please indicate how you meet this requirement by selecting one of following choices. (Refer to the Minimum Qualification Requirements for more detailed information.)
In order to receive credit for your academic training, you must submit a legible copy of your official transcripts or diploma by attaching it to your online application.
NOTE: If you are using relevant work experience in lieu of a Bachelors degree to fulfill the Education Requirement, you must clearly describe this work experience in Question 8. In order to receive credit, this experience must be comparable in scope, level, and quality to knowledge and skills gained via completion of study leading to a Bachelors degree as specified in the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
08
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT (Continued):
Describe your excess work experience as described in the Specialized Experience Requirements section, or any other responsible administrative, professional, or analytical work experience to substitute for the Education requirement. In this description, include name of employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you, indicate N/A.
09
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
Do you have at least five and one-half years (5-1/2) of progressively responsible professional experience in an employment service and/or employment training program which involved gathering and analyzing employment data; identifying and assessing employment needs of applicants; determining job content and requirements; conducting analyses, interpreting and applying federal laws, rules, and regulations pertinent to employment services and employment training programs to specific employment needs; developing or implementing budget requirements; and identifying problems and recommending alternative courses of action as described in the vacancy announcement?
10
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
If you answered yes to Question 9, identify each experience and provide the following information, A through H. If the questions are not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
A. Name of employer, dates of employment, and your job title.
11
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
B. What were the primary function, major duties and responsibilities of your position ? In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title . If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
12
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
C. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Gathering and analyzing employment data in Employment Service and/or Employment Training Program
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
13
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
D. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Identifying and assessing employment needs of applicants
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A
14
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
E. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Determining job content and requirements
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
15
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
F. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Interpreting and applying federal laws, rules, and regulations pertinent to employment services and employment training programs to specific employment needs
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
16
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
G. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Developing or implementing budget requirements
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
17
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
H. Describe your work experience in detail for the following area: Identifying problems and recommending alternative courses of action
In your description, identify the name of the employer, dates of employment, and your job title. If this question is not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
18
SUPERVISORY OR STAFF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
Do you have at least two years (2) of SUPERVISORY or STAFF EXPERIENCE as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements?
19
SUPERVISORY OR STAFF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
If you answered yes to Question 18, identify each experience and provide the following information, A through C. If the questions are not applicable to you or you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
A. Name of employer, dates of employment, and your job title.
20
SUPERVISORY OR STAFF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
B. Describe your SUPERVISORY work experience in detail in the following format. If you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
21
SUPERVISORY OR STAFF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT (Continued):
C. Describe your STAFF specialist work experience in detail in the following format. If you do not possess the experience, indicate N/A.
Required Question
Employer State of Hawaii
Address DHRD - Employee Staffing Division
235 S. Beretania Street, 11th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813-2437
Phone 808-587-1111 or 1-877-447-5990 (TTY)