Senior Communications Associate

Organizational Background
A national leader in rural philanthropy, The Ford Family Foundation is a private foundation benefiting communities in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, Calif. In 1957, Kenneth W. Ford & Hallie E. Ford established a then-modest foundation to give back to the timber communities of southwest Oregon. It grew in size, scope, and geography to become The Ford Family Foundation in 1996, with its main office in Roseburg, Oregon. One of the three largest grantmaking foundations in Oregon, The Ford Family Foundation has assets of $1.2 billion, an annual budget of approximately $55 million, a nine-member Board of Directors and 52 employees located in two office locations and in rural communities throughout Oregon.

Purpose/The Opportunity  

The Ford Family Foundation believes strong rural communities are built through informed, connected, and engaged people. The Senior Communications Associate advances the Foundation's mission, voice, and visibility through the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of integrated communications strategies that strengthen engagement with key audiences and elevate stories from rural communities.
 

Reporting to the Communications Director, this role serves as the Foundation's primary lead for social media strategy and digital engagement while contributing to communications planning, digital storytelling, content development, and brand stewardship.
 

Working closely with program, policy, learning, and leadership teams, the Senior Communications Associate develops compelling communications that highlight rural communities, Foundation investments, partnerships, research, and policy priorities. The position serves as a trusted communications partner, proactively identifying opportunities to elevate stories and strengthen engagement while advancing Foundation priorities.
 

The ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional who combines deep social media expertise, exceptional storytelling skills, sound judgment, and strategic thinking with the ability to independently manage complex communications initiatives while collaborating effectively across the organization. 

This is an exempt position, and the annual salary range is $87,000-$92,000, depending on experience. Our excellent benefit package includes paid time off and holidays, health and dental insurance, health savings account, generous retirement plan, matching gifts program, access to an employee assistance program, professional development opportunities, rejuvenation leave, and more. Performance and compensation are reviewed at least annually.  

This position is based in Roseburg, Oregon, and follows a hybrid work model with a minimum of three days per week in the office. Residency within 40 miles of Roseburg is required. A generous relocation package is available for candidates who need to relocate to meet the residency requirement.

Deadline to submit applications, along with a thoughtful and engaging letter of interest, is Friday, October 16th, 2026 @ 5:00 PM.  

The letter of interest should include: 

• Insight into why you believe you would be a strong fit for the role. 
• Insight into what draws you to work at the Foundation. 
• Specific examples of your experience developing and implementing social media strategies, leading digital engagement efforts, creating compelling content, and using communications to advance organizational goals. 

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a portfolio, communications work samples, and/or examples of social media content calendars, campaign plans, or similar materials that demonstrate their experience and approach.  

We recognize that many applicants use tools, including AI, to support their application materials. While these tools can be helpful, we encourage you to submit a letter of interest that reflects your authentic voice and perspective. We are most interested in hearing directly from you. Thoughtful, genuine submissions are more valuable to us than polished perfection.
 

Please note that the application deadline is subject to change. The position may close sooner than the deadline listed based on the number of applicants.  

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. 

Employee Profile
The ideal Senior Communications Associate is a strategic and creative communications professional who combines strong judgment with exceptional storytelling, digital engagement, and audience-development skills. They are comfortable balancing long-term planning with day-to-day execution and thrive in environments that require initiative, adaptability, and collaboration.
 

They are a trusted partner and relationship-builder who communicates clearly, works effectively across teams, and can translate complex ideas into engaging, accessible communications. They are highly organized, accountable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities while delivering high-quality work with limited day-to-day direction.
 

Above all, they are mission-driven and energized by the opportunity to elevate rural voices, strengthen communities, and advance meaningful outcomes through thoughtful, effective communications. They demonstrate humility, curiosity, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit while advancing the Foundation's mission and values in their daily work. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 
Social Media Strategy and Digital Engagement  

• Lead the Foundation's social media planning, implementation, and ongoing management across platforms, ensuring content supports organizational priorities, audience engagement goals, and brand standards. 
• Develop and maintain social media editorial calendars, content plans, and campaign strategies that elevate Foundation priorities and rural community voices.  
• Create, edit, and publish compelling written, visual, and multimedia content tailored to platform-specific audiences and goals.  
• Monitor audience engagement, platform trends, emerging issues, and digital communications best practices, recommending opportunities to strengthen the Foundation's digital presence.  
• Manage audience engagement and community management activities across social media channels while exercising sound judgment regarding public interactions and responses.  
• Design and execute digital campaigns that support Foundation initiatives, research, publications, partnerships, events, and organizational announcements.  
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on social media and digital engagement practices, providing guidance and recommendations to Foundation staff. 

Digital Content Development and Storytelling 

• Create, edit, publish, and oversee platform-specific written, visual, and multimedia content designed to engage audiences and advance Foundation priorities.  
• Collaborate with program, policy, learning, and leadership teams to identify, develop, and publish stories that demonstrate the Foundation's mission, investments, partnerships, and impact.  
• Translate complex programmatic, policy, research, and organizational content into clear, compelling, and accessible communications for diverse audiences.  
• Manage website updates and enhancements to ensure content remains current, accurate, and aligned with Foundation priorities.  
• Coordinate content development efforts with external vendors, contractors, photographers, videographers, and creative partners as needed.

Communications Planning and Brand Stewardship 

• Serve as a key contributor to communications planning activities and develop digital communications plans, campaigns, and content approaches that advance Foundation priorities. 
• Ensure communications efforts align with approved messaging, brand standards, tone, voice, accessibility requirements, and community-centered communications principles.  
• Manage communications projects and digital campaigns from concept through implementation, coordinating timelines, approvals, dependencies, and deliverables.  
• Identify emerging communications opportunities and recommend effective approaches that increase awareness, engagement, and mission impact. 

Analytics, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement 

• Define, track, and evaluate digital communications metrics across social media, website, email, and other communication channels.  
• Analyze audience behavior, content performance, engagement trends, and platform effectiveness to identify opportunities and inform communications decision-making.  
• Develop reports and actionable insights that help guide communications priorities and strategy.  
• Utilize analytics and audience insights to recommend improvements to content strategy, audience engagement approaches, channel utilization, and campaign performance.  
• Test, evaluate, and implement new approaches, tools, and practices that strengthen digital communications effectiveness. 

Organizational Collaboration 

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships across Foundation departments to ensure communications efforts effectively support organizational priorities.  
• Participate in cross-functional teams and communications planning processes.  
• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and productive work environment that reflects the Foundation's values and commitment to collaboration.  
• Participate in Foundation meetings, trainings, retreats, and professional development opportunities.  
• Other duties as assigned. 

Foundation-Wide Expectations 

These expectations define the core behaviors and mindsets that help employees advance the Foundation’s mission and strengthen impact. 

• Mission Alignment: Demonstrates a Mission-first orientation by grounding decisions and daily work in the Foundation’s core values, community impact, and desired outcomes, with a focus on organizational effectiveness and results. 
• Initiative and Problem Solving: Identifies needs or challenges proactively, takes appropriate action within one’s sphere of control, and brings forward practical recommendations. 
• Collaboration: Builds relationships and effectively collaborates to maximize progress toward strategic outcomes. 
• Performance and Accountability: Delivers high-quality work, takes ownership of results, and pursues excellence in service to the Mission above all. 
• Learning and Adaptability: Actively seeks feedback, remains open to new ideas, adapts to changing needs, and applies learning to drive continuous improvement. 

Required/Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, digital media, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.  
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, digital engagement, social media management, marketing, public relations, journalism, or related communications work. 
• Demonstrated experience independently developing, executing, and evaluating organizational social media strategy across multiple platforms. Social media expertise is essential to success in this role.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating social media strategy, digital storytelling, excellent writing, platform fluency, audience awareness, visual judgment, and measurable engagement outcomes. 
• Experience developing editorial calendars, integrated campaigns, platform-specific content, community-management practices, and social media performance reporting.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex information and tailor content for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to use analytics and audience insights to evaluate effectiveness, exercise judgment, and recommend improvements to communications approaches.
• Experience managing multiple projects, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines with a high level of ownership and limited day-to-day direction.
• Working knowledge of website content management systems, email marketing platforms, social media management and analytics tools, accessibility practices, search optimization, and common communications technologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, personal integrity, and a collaborative, service-oriented approach aligned with the Foundation's mission.
• Experience creating communications for nonprofit, philanthropic, rural, community-based, or public-interest organizations preferred.