Director of Community Strategies

Organizational Background
A national leader in rural philanthropy,TheFordFamilyFoundationis 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 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 Director of Community Strategies provides strategic leadership for the Foundation's efforts to support community-driven system change through community engagement, leadership development, and rural capacity-building efforts. This role helps shape how the Foundation listens to, learns from, and partners with rural communities to strengthen local leadership, increase community influence, and support systems-level change. Working across the Foundation and throughout rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, the Director integrates community voice, field intelligence, and emerging opportunities into strategies that strengthen community capacity, inform organizational priorities, and advance long-term outcomes for rural children, families, and communities.

The Director leads a team of Community Strategists while serving as a key partner in aligning community-centered approaches with the Foundation's broader strategic priorities. The role offers a unique opportunity to help strengthen rural communities' ability to influence decisions, systems, and conditions that shape their future.

This is an exempt position, and the annual salary is $172,000-$181,800 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 field-based position must be currently based in a rural Oregon community. 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. Frequent travel (approximately 40-60%) throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County is required to support community engagement, partner relationships, Foundation events, and regional collaboration. Periodic travel to the Foundation's Roseburg office and other Foundation locations is expected. When not engaged in community-based activities, the position offers flexibility to work remotely in alignment with Foundation expectations.

Deadline tosubmitapplications, along with a thoughtful and engaging letter of interest, is Friday, September 25th, 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.
• Insight into your perspective on how rural communities can be positioned as drivers of systems change.

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 Director of Community Strategies is a strategic, relationship-centered leader who combines systems thinking with a deep respect for community knowledge and lived experience. They are energized by working alongside rural communities, building trusted partnerships, and translating local insight into meaningful action and long-term impact. They bring the leadership presence and judgment needed to navigate complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and guide cross-functional work that advances community and organizational goals.

The successful candidate is a collaborative and empowering leader who develops high-performing teams, fosters trust, and creates conditions for others to succeed. Adaptable, curious, and grounded in rural realities, they bring humility, sound judgment, and a commitment to continuous learning. Above all, they are motivated by the opportunity to strengthen rural leadership, build community capacity, and advance lasting outcomes for rural communities, children, and families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Intelligence and Field Strategy

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of community-centered strategies and initiatives that build rural capacity for systems change.
• Establish and communicate a clear vision for the Foundation's community engagement, leadership development, and rural capacity-building work.
• Ensure community knowledge, lived experience, and field intelligence are effectively integrated into Foundation decision-making and strategy development.
• Guide efforts to strengthen the ability of rural communities to be drivers of systems change through supporting rural leadership, community capacity, civic engagement, coalition development, and other means.
• Identify emerging community issues, opportunities, and trends and recommend strategic responses that advance organizational goals and community outcomes.
• Oversee planning and resource allocation to ensure community-based investments align with strategic priorities and budget goals.
• Support Board engagement by preparing materials, facilitating Board learning opportunities, and communicating strategic progress and impact.
• In partnership with Learning and Impact, monitor progress toward strategic outcomes, recommend adjustments, and continuously strengthen the effectiveness and impact of community strategies.

Community and Field Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for community-based strategies for focused capacity building across Oregon and Siskiyou County.
• Guide the development and maintenance of community intelligence, stakeholder mapping, network analysis, and community-based power-mapping efforts that inform Foundation strategy.
• Foster strong relationships with community leaders, Tribal nations, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure Community Strategists maintain deep community knowledge and strong local relationships that support trust, credibility, and strategic impact.
• Strengthen connections between rural communities and decision-makers across key systems, including education, healthcare, economic development, government, and philanthropy.
• Promote approaches that build sustainable leadership capacity, strengthen local networks, and support community-driven solutions.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as an active member of Strategy Council and contribute to organizational leadership, planning, and collaboration across the Foundation.
• Partner closely with Program Strategies, Policy, Learning and Impact, Communications, and other departments to align community insights with Foundation priorities and investments.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with the Director of Program Strategies, Director of Policy, Director of Communications, and other organizational leaders.
• Ensure community-based knowledge and expertise are thoughtfully leveraged across the Foundation to strengthen decision-making, strategy development, and organizational learning.
• Participate in and lead cross-functional initiatives that advance organizational alignment and collective impact.
• Represent the Foundation with community partners, funders, public agencies, statewide organizations, and rural leaders, cultivating strategic partnerships that advance organizational priorities and community outcomes.

Organizational Leadership

• Manage and support department recruitment, retention, and development with high-quality staff; oversee staffing structure and ensure alignment with organizational strategy.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Community Strategists, establishing clear expectations, monitoring performance, and supporting professional growth while strengthening staff capacity in community engagement, systems analysis, leadership development, and field strategy.
• Create a positive, respectful, and productive work environment. Foster teamwork within and across departmental teams and encourage shared ownership of results.
• Build staff capacity related to systems change, power building, community engagement, coalition development, facilitation, and emerging trends affecting rural communities.
• Champion a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the Foundation.
• Contribute to organizational planning, budgeting, and resource allocation within assigned areas of responsibility.

Foundation-Wide Expectations
These expectations define the core behaviors and mindsets that help employees advance the Foundations mission and strengthen impact.

• Mission Alignment: Demonstrates a Mission-first orientation by grounding decisions and daily work in the Foundations 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 ones 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 required; advanced degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in community development, systems-change initiatives, philanthropy, public policy, civic engagement, leadership development, field organizing, economic development, education, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success developing, implementing, and refining community-centered strategies that advance measurable outcomes for communities and systems.
• Five (5) or more years of experience leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development.
• Proven ability to translate community intelligence, stakeholder relationships, and systems knowledge into effective strategies, investments, partnerships, and measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated success strengthening leadership networks, community capacity, coalition efforts, and cross-sector collaboration to advance community priorities.
• Strong systems-thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex systems, power dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and emerging trends to inform strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust-based relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholders, including community leaders, Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, businesses, policymakers, funders, and philanthropic partners.
• Experience leading complex initiatives, managing budgets and resources, and balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, navigate complexity, and effectively communicate strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, continuous learning, equity, and community-centered approaches, with the ability to lead through complexity, foster innovation, and drive organizational effectiveness.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County to support community engagement and partnership activities; reliable transportation required.

PhysicalDemands of Job Duties and WorkEnvironment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. This position is fairly active and requires long periods of standing, sitting, keyboarding, and occasional driving. The employee rarely lifts or moves items over 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environment with some exposure to the outside environment. This position is rarely exposed to dust, odors, water, fumes, and noise. Work is always performed in a safety-conscious manner. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

It is the policy of The Ford Family Foundation to treat applicants and employees without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.

recblid 48jdy0sig2lbznlfkq9c2gdwmta3b3