Director of Community Strategies

ImpactAlpha; Oregon; Remote; USD 172,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Health savings account

Generous retirement plan

Matching gifts program

Professional development opportunities

Rejuvenation leave

Job summary

The Ford Family Foundation seeks a Director of Community Strategies to lead rural capacity-building and systems-change efforts across Oregon and Siskiyou County. The role shapes how communities engage, learn, and partner with the Foundation to drive lasting outcomes for children and families.

You'll travel 40-60% across regions, guide a team of Community Strategists, and align local insights with grantmaking priorities, reporting to senior leadership. Remote work is possible when not traveling.

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
• Five or more years of experience leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development
• Demonstrated success translating community intelligence, stakeholder relationships, and systems knowledge into effective strategies and measurable outcomes
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills with diverse audiences

Responsibilities

• Lead development and refinement of community-centered strategies that build rural capacity for systems change
• Communicate a clear vision for community engagement, leadership development, and rural capacity-building work
• Ensure community knowledge and field intelligence inform Foundation decision-making and strategy
• Oversee staffing, recruitment, retention, and development within the Community Strategists team
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align insights with Foundation priorities and investments
• Represent the Foundation with community partners, funders, and statewide organizations

Job description

About The Ford Family Foundation

The Ford Family Foundation is a national leader in rural philanthropy with a rich history of community investment. Established in 1957 by Kenneth W. Ford and Hallie E. Ford as a modest foundation to support timber communities in southwest Oregon, the organization has evolved significantly over the decades. The foundation was officially established as The Ford Family Foundation in 1996 and is now headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, with additional office locations serving communities across rural regions. With assets of $1.2 billion and an annual grantmaking budget of approximately $55 million, The Ford Family Foundation ranks among the three largest grantmaking foundations in Oregon. The organization maintains a lean and effective operational structure with 52 employees distributed across two primary office locations and throughout rural communities in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Strategic direction is provided by a nine-member Board of Directors. The foundation is deeply committed to strengthening rural communities and improving outcomes for children and families across Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Ford Family Foundation works collaboratively with community leaders, public systems, Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and other strategic partners to advance lasting change through multiple mechanisms including community engagement, leadership development, convening, policy engagement, research, grantmaking, and capacity-building efforts. The organization’s mission centers on recognizing and supporting the inherent capacity of rural communities to drive meaningful systems change and improve conditions for their residents.

About this Role

The Director of Community Strategies provides strategic leadership for The Ford Family Foundation’s efforts to support community-driven system change through community engagement, leadership development, and rural capacity-building efforts. This role is instrumental in shaping 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 and organizational vision. This position represents a unique opportunity to help strengthen rural communities’ ability to influence decisions, systems, and conditions that shape their future. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on community engagement, requiring the Director to spend approximately 40-60% of their time traveling throughout Oregon and Siskiyou County to support community partnerships, Foundation events, and regional collaboration. When not engaged in community-based activities, the position offers flexibility to work remotely. The ideal candidate will be field-based in a rural Oregon community, though applications are welcomed from Bend-area residents whose experience demonstrates strong commitment to rural Oregon communities and alignment with the Foundation’s mission. This is an exempt position with an annual salary of $172,000-$181,800 depending on experience. Performance and compensation are reviewed at least annually. The application deadline is Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 @ 12:00 PM, and applicants must submit a thoughtful and engaging letter of interest along with their application.

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Requirements

• 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 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
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis
• Strategic, relationship-centered leadership approach that combines systems thinking with deep respect for community knowledge and lived experience
• Adaptability, curiosity, and grounding in rural realities with humility, sound judgment, and commitment to continuous learning

Benefits

• Paid time off and holidays
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health savings account
• Generous retirement plan
• Matching gifts program
• Access to an employee assistance program
• Professional development opportunities
• Rejuvenation leave
• Annual performance and compensation review