Senior Policy Strategist

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.

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.

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.

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…