Senior Policy Strategist

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 53 employees located in two office locations and in rural communities throughout Oregon.
 

Purpose/The Opportunity 

The Ford Family Foundation is committed to strengthening rural communities and improving outcomes for children and families across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. We work alongside community leaders, public systems, Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and other partners to advance lasting change through community engagement, leadership development, convening, policy engagement, research, grantmaking, and capacity-building efforts.
 

The Senior Policy Strategist advances the Foundation's policy and systems-change priorities in support of rural children, families, and communities. Reporting to the Director of Policy, the Senior Policy Strategist serves as a trusted advisor, strategist, and external representative, helping shape and advance the Foundation's policy and systems-change work.
 

The Senior Policy Strategist works closely with advocacy organizations, grantees, public agencies, community leaders, and Foundation staff to advance shared goals using policy and systems-change tools, including but not limited to: rural policy research and data, policy development, public education, coalition building, strategy development and implementation, and supporting the development of external organizations that work on behalf of rural. The position helps ensure rural perspectives, experiences, and priorities are reflected in policy discussions, public systems, and decision-making environments that affect rural children, families, and communities.
 

This position offers a unique opportunity to help shape statewide conversations, strengthen rural policy ecosystems, build powerful partnerships, and advance lasting systems change on issues that matter to rural Oregon.
 

This is an exempt position, and the annual salary range is $134,000-$142,000 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.

Employee Profile
The ideal Senior Policy Strategist understands how meaningful policy and systems change occurs and is motivated by improving outcomes for rural children, families, and communities. They combine strategic thinking, policy and systems change expertise, political awareness, and relationship-building skills with the ability to build and advance outcomes-oriented policy and systems change initiatives. 

The successful candidate is a trusted convener and coalition builder who excels at navigating complexity, facilitating constructive dialogue, and building alignment across diverse stakeholders. They bring credibility, sound judgment, humility, and the ability to influence without formal authority while ensuring rural voices and perspectives are reflected in policy conversations and decision-making.

Most importantly, they are motivated by the opportunity to strengthen rural communities by advancing effective policy solutions, supporting systems change, and building the partnerships necessary for lasting impact.

Location & Residency Preference 

We welcome applications from individuals currently residing in rural Oregon communities. Rural Oregon includes the small towns and unincorporated places outside the state's major urban centers of Portland, Salem, Corvallis-Albany, Eugene-Springfield, Bend, and Medford.
 

While candidates residing in rural Oregon are preferred, we also encourage applications from individuals living in Oregon's urban communities who bring significant personal, professional, or community-based experience in rural Oregon and a demonstrated understanding of the opportunities, strengths, and challenges facing rural communities.
 

Candidates interested in relocating to Roseburg are encouraged to apply. Relocation assistance may be available for the selected candidate.
 

Employees based in Roseburg are expected to work in the office at least three days per week. Employees based elsewhere in Oregon are expected to work in person approximately 20% of the time through attendance at Foundation offices, meetings, events, and collaborative work sessions. In addition, periodic travel throughout Oregon may be required to support Foundation priorities and partner engagement.
 

Deadline to submit applications, along with a thoughtful and engaging letter of interest, is Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

The letter of interest should include:

• Your personal “why”: Why you do public policy work and why you want to be part of a team and organization advancing policy and systems change for rural children and communities.
• Insight into why you believe you would be a strong fit for the role, including examples of strategic policy and systems change work you have led. 
• Insight into your connection to rural places and how it has shaped your understanding of, curiosity about, and commitment to rural kids and communities.

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Policy Strategy, Influence and Leadership 

• Support the development and advancement of policy and systems change strategies that support the Foundation’s mission and strategic priorities, serving as a senior advisor and thought partner on policy opportunities, risks, and strategic direction and helping shape organizational priorities related to public policy and systems change. 
• Identify emerging policy opportunities, barriers, and trends affecting rural children, families, and communities and proactively advise Foundation leaders on strategic implications and response options. 
• Maintain strong partnerships with statewide advocacy organizations aligned with the Foundation’s strategic priorities and support these organizations in strengthening their rural lens and their ability to incorporate rural realities into their policy solutions and campaigns. 
• Maintain strong partnerships with rural serving organizations and leaders focused on policy and systems change work for rural communities. 
• Translate complex policy environments into practical strategies the Foundation can implement and inform that effectively influence public systems, funding streams, and institutional decision-making to improve outcomes for rural kids and communities.
• Advance policy and systems-change strategies directly and indirectly using the following tools: rural data, policy research and analysis, policy development, power mapping, coalition-building, advocacy, and leadership development activities consistent with the legal requirements applicable to private foundations.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to Foundation leadership regarding policy developments and systems-change opportunities and contribute to organizational decision-making involving public systems, policy trends, and external partnerships.
• Provide leadership in developing policy priorities, strategic recommendations, and frameworks that guide the Foundation’s policy engagement and systems-change efforts. 
• Help shape policy priorities and strategic recommendations informed by rural realities, community voice, and evidence-based practices.
• Ensure all policy-related activities are conducted in compliance with legal and ethical requirements applicable to private foundations, including restrictions related to lobbying, partisan political activity, and electioneering. 
• Elevate rural perspectives, experiences, and challenges in policy discussions and public discourse.

Policy Execution & External Engagement 

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with rural serving organizations and leaders, policy and advocacy organizations, public agencies, and philanthropic partners in a manner consistent with applicable legal and ethical requirements governing private foundations. 
• Represent the Foundation in policy-related meetings, coalitions, convenings, and collaborative initiatives and assume leadership roles where appropriate to advance strategic policy objectives. 
• Facilitate productive dialogue among stakeholders with competing interests and perspectives.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments and advise Foundation leadership on implications and opportunities.
• Lead the development and dissemination of policy briefs, presentations, white papers, issue analyses, research summaries, and educational materials. 
• Support Foundation strategy teams in developing and implementing policy and systems change elements of their strategies by strengthening rural policy ecosystems, building effective coalitions, ensuring policy solutions reflect rural realities, and helping create the conditions necessary for improved outcomes for rural children, families, and communities.
• Advance systems change initiatives by fostering rural literacy, policy strategy capacity development, and alignment among diverse stakeholders and partners.

Rural Partnership & Capacity Building 

• Work closely with grantees, community partners, and rural leaders to identify policy opportunities and systems barriers.
• Support partners in strengthening their understanding of public systems, policy environments, and systems-change strategies. 
• Facilitate learning opportunities, convenings, and peer exchanges focused on policy and systems change.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and capacity-building support to partners engaged in policy and systems change efforts and help strengthen the broader rural policy ecosystem through relationship development, knowledge sharing, and field-building activities.
• Promote approaches that center rural voices, lived experience, and community leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Collaborate with Communications to align policy goals, messaging, storytelling, and public engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with Learning & Impact to integrate evaluation, research, and data into policy strategy development.
• Work closely with program staff to ensure policy and systems change strategies complement grantmaking and community investment approaches.
• Contribute policy expertise to cross-departmental initiatives and organizational priorities.

 Team & Organizational Leadership 

• Contribute to a culture of collaboration, learning, accountability, and shared leadership.
• Lead efforts to strengthen internal policy knowledge, tools, and practices.
• Mentor colleagues and help strengthen organizational capacity related to policy and systems change by sharing expertise, developing internal capabilities, and fostering policy and systems-thinking across the Foundation.
• Manage consultants or external partners 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 public policy, public administration, or a related field and seven to ten years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in a related field and three to five years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated record of advancing outcomes-oriented policy across all stages; problem definition, policy development, advocacy, coalition building, implementation and evaluation. 
• Demonstrated record of influencing policy, public systems, or institutional practices.
• Strong understanding of how policy change occurs within public systems, including the external factors required for major policy change efforts.
• Experience working with coalitions, community organizations, public agencies, and cross-sector partners.
• Knowledge of policy issues affecting rural communities strongly preferred.
• Experience facilitating difficult conversations, navigating conflict, and building alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Skills & Attributes

• Deep understanding of policy development and systems change.
• Strong political acumen and strategic judgment.
• Skilled relationship builder with the ability to influence without formal authority.
• Comfortable engaging in productive conflict and holding partners accountable while maintaining trust.
• Exceptional listening skills and ability to facilitate learning among diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated humility, curiosity, and commitment to continuous learning.
• Pragmatic and outcomes oriented. 
• Strong commitment to rural communities and place-based change.