Strategic Policy & Projects Coordinator; Operations & Policy Analyst

Initial Posting Date: 12/05/2025
Final date to receive applications: 12/18/2025
Agency:
Department of Early Learning and Care
Salary Range: $7,353 – $10,827
Position Type:
Employee

Position Title:

Strategic Policy & Projects Coordinator (Operations & Policy Analyst
4)

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for a Strategic Policy & Projects Coordinator. We’re seeking a strategic leader to drive high-impact policy development, guide agency-wide initiatives, and steer complex, high-profile projects. In this role, you’ll partner across divisions, state agencies, and community organizations to advance collaborative, equitable, and trauma-informed solutions. If you’re ready to influence executive-level decision-making and help shape the agency’s future, we want to hear from you.

This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both in the office and at an alternate location (home). In office work is expected a few times per month. Join us for a virtual Informational Session on December 10, 2025, 12:00‑12:30 PM via TEAMS.

Comprehensive Benefits:
Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional benefits such as life and disability insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending accounts.

Work‑Life Balance: 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 1 special day, monthly sick leave, and vacation accruals that increase every 5 years.

Student Loan Forgiveness:
Potential federal loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.

Inclusive Culture: A diverse, welcoming workplace committed to equity and continuous improvement.

This position leads complex policy analysis, development, and implementation across Oregon’s early learning system by examining emerging issues, evaluating policies and administrative rules, advising leadership, and using data to inform strategies. It facilitates cross-program and statewide work groups, integrates budget and operational considerations into policy decisions, and supports agency responses to urgent or politically sensitive issues. The role also manages high-profile strategic projects from initiation through completion, ensuring alignment, risk management, and effective change management in coordination with internal teams and partners.

Additionally, it represents the agency in diverse policy forums; builds collaborative partnerships; develops strategic communications; supports legislative analysis and testimony; and centers equity by elevating community voices, particularly from underserved and marginalized groups.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Early Learning or related degree; and five years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.
• OR any combination of experience and education equivalent to eight years of professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.

• Ability to analyze complex, cross-agency policy issues; see interdependencies across programs, legislation, funding, and operations; and recommend long-range strategies that strengthen the early learning system.
• Expertise and experience building strong, trusting relationships with diverse partners (state agencies, culturally specific organizations, providers, legislators, advocacy groups).
• Skilled at convening and facilitating groups to reach shared goals.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, high-profile initiatives with confidence, managing scope, risk, timelines, and partner engagement while driving change management strategies.
• Skilled at translating complex policy, data, and strategy into clear, compelling messages for executive leadership, legislators, community partners, and the public, including in politically sensitive or high-pressure situations.
• Consistently able to apply an equity and trauma-informed lens to policy development, project implementation, partnerships, and communication.
• Actively elevates underserved and disproportionately impacted communities in shaping policy and strategy.
• Experience with budgetary and operational policy…