Policy Change Director jobs in Oregon

Policy and Advocacy Director

• Do you envision an Oregon where each child is seen, nurtured, and valued for the unique contributions they bring to our state?
• Would you like to be part of bringing that vision to life?
• Do you value working with a team of committed, creative, and inclusive individuals?
• Then this may be just the opportunity you’ve been seeking!
• Our Children Oregon, located in Portland, is ready to welcome a Policy and Advocacy Director to our team. We are in continuous pursuit of great outcomes, for our employees just as much as for the children of Oregon.

Position Description

• The Policy and Advocacy Director of Our Children Oregon serves as a thought partner and key champion for the organization’s mission, vision, and values. The Policy and Advocacy Director serves to support and nurture a high-functioning, thriving, and impactful team. This role’s primary focus is to direct the Policy, Advocacy, and Data efforts of the organization and lead the policy, advocacy, and data team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads legislative and administrative advocacy efforts in support of the Children’s Agenda. initiatives, including developing and managing the implementation of outreach and advocacy strategies.
• Leads the development of the Children’s Agenda coordinates the Children’s Agenda Steering Committee and works to unite and grow the coalition.
• Strengthens relationships with Children’s Agenda partners through one-on-one meetings, partner communications, and engagement strategies.
• Represents Our Children Oregon in the Oregon Capitol through written and verbal testimony and in meetings with members of the Oregon Legislature.
• Manages the Data team to integrate data into policy and advocacy campaigns and strategies.
• Serves on select state and federal coalitions, work groups, and advisory councils related to issue areas within children’s health, safety, education, and economic security.
• Represents Our Children Oregon in public presentations, community outreach efforts, and media.
• Supervises and develops staff, interns, and fellows.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with medical limitations or disabilities to perform essential functions.

• ​​​Excellent organizational and management skills.
• Problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and capability to plan, multi-task, and maintain flexibility as priorities change.
• Flexible, innovative, energetic, strategic, and excited to work as a member of a team.
• Committed to seeking diverse perspectives through diverse backgrounds, with an ability to lead or participate in discussions that are considered inviting and safe.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written, with an ability to relate to and win the trust of vendors, partners, leaders, and team members at all levels.
• Self-motivated, with a dedication to keeping up to date professionally and technically, and applying new knowledge to the job.
• Demonstrates initiative to explore available tools and resources to autonomously solve challenges, with a good understanding of when a leader needs to be involved in decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in policy or related field required, or a related Master’s Degree preferred; and/or
• Seven years of experience in government relations, political campaigns, coalition management and/or lobbying; and/or
• Five years of experience in organizational development and/or executive management;
• Any appropriate and effective combination of any of the above.
• Strong familiarity with Children’s Agenda policy issues and the domains of child well-being.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and advance multiple projects at once.
• Resides in Oregon, within a reasonable commuting distance of zip code 97232 to ensure the ability to attend onsite meetings up to three days a week.
• ​​​​​Consistent access to transportation to be able to frequently attend onsite meetings and community events, as well as to pick up necessary supplies for meetings and events.
• ​​​​​Consistent access to a reasonably distraction-free workspace, reliable smartphone/mobile device, and reliable access to private and secure high-speed internet.
• Technologically savvy, with strong computer skills and the ability to embrace and adapt to changes in work-related technology.
• Good working knowledge of the primary Google and Microsoft Office business, productivity, and collaboration tools/software.
• Good working knowledge of utilizing CRM and Project Management software, i.e. Every Action, & Asana.

Additional Qualifications Desired

• Enjoys being part of a small team and pitching in as required.
• Valid driver’s license.

Pay and Benefits

• This is a full-time, exempt position.

Organization Overview

Our Children Oregon's mission is to be a voice and a force for the common good of all Oregon children, ensuring all children have the resources and opportunities needed to reach their full potential. Our Children Oregon focuses on child abuse prevention, improving child well-being through legislative and policy solutions, and on research and data that elevates the needs of children and youth in Oregon. Our Children Oregon centers the needs of BIPOC communities as our path toward moving the needle on our most persistent and pervasive societal concerns. Our role is to lift these voices to better direct vital state resources to improve outcomes across the state for all our children and their families. For more information on who we are, we invite you to visit https://ourchildrenoregon.org/.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Our Children Oregon is an equal-opportunity employer that values workplace diversity and strives to be an inclusive organization. Our Children Oregon proactively ensures that discrimination does not occur against an employee or applicant based on race, creed, color, traits historically associated with race, such as natural and protective hairstyles and hair texture, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, religious or political affiliation, expunged juvenile records, performance of duty in a uniformed service, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Portland, OR 97232: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Portland, OR 97232