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

Initial Posting Date: 12/05/2025 Application Deadline: 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) Job

Description:

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for a Strategic Policy & Projects Coordinator (Operations & Policy Analyst 4). 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. Do you have questions

about:

the role or application process? Join us for a virtual Informational Session on December 10, 2025, from 12:00PM - 12:30.PM Speak directly with the hiring manager, learn more

about:

the position, and get your questions answered! You're welcome to join the informational session at any time, but we highly recommend joining us right at 12PM. This will help ensure the manager can share all the key details just once and leave plenty of time to answer everyone's questions. We look forward to connecting with you! Save the link below to use on the day of the session and feel free to share it with others who may be interested.

[Use this link to attend the meeting on the 10th] The informational session will be conducted using TEAMS. If you're new to TEAMS or joining from a mobile device, check out these instructions beforehand. We look forward to connecting with you!

About:

the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC): At DELC, we are dedicated to helping Oregon’s young children and families learn and thrive. As the state agency responsible for early learning programs, child care licensing, and family support services, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of Oregon’s children from birth to kindergarten.

We administer state-funded early learning programs, including home visiting and site-based infant, toddler, and preschool services. We also develop coordinated systems through Early Learning Hubs and collaborate with Child Care Resource and Referral organizations to provide training, coaching, and quality improvement opportunities for early learning providers.

With over 275,000 young children in Oregon, we have a unique

opportunity:

to transform early childhood support systems, creating a brighter future for families across the state.

• Research shows that investing in early childhood has lifelong

benefits:

, and now is your chance to be part of an agency making a lasting impact for generations to come. Why Join Our Team? We are passionate

about:

equity in early childhood

education:

At DELC, we value dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace where all employees can thrive. We challenge ourselves to lead with courage, refine practices, and drive meaningful change for children and families statewide.

What We:

Offer: Comprehensive

Benefits:

Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional

benefits:

like 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.

Our Commitment to Equity: Equity is at the heart of our mission. We strive to remove barriers, foster inclusiveness, and create meaningful change for underrepresented communities. Our goal is to ensure all DELC employees, child care providers and the children and families we support thrive. If you are ready to make a difference and help shape Oregon’s future, we would love to have you on our team!

What you:

will do: 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 workgroups, 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. In addition, it represents the agency in diverse policy forums; builds collaborative partnerships with internal and external groups; develops strategic communications; supports legislative analysis and testimony; and centers equity by elevating community voices, particularly from underserved and marginalized groups.

To view a complete job

description:

, click here

What we:

are looking for (minimum

qualifications:

): 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. In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested

skills:

): 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 that help the agency successfully implement new policies and processes.

Skilled at translating complex policy, data, and strategy into clear, compelling messages and communication 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. The person in this position must use relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events, policies and processes comply with laws, regulations and standards. The ability to synthesize voluminous information, opinions, and materials; make sense of complex information; and determine the impact of potential outcomes is crucial.

Experience:

with budgetary and operational policy development, analysis, and implementation.

Experience:

in using data to identify trends to design and evaluate initiatives and strategies for effectiveness or change. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Candidates of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as bilingual/multicultural individuals, are encouraged to apply. To Apply: The screening of candidates will be based on a review of an attached resume (limit to two pages). While a cover letter is not required, it is highly encouraged. If you submit a cover letter, please tailor it to the position and address your

experience:

with the desired attributes listed above. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely match the desired attributes and

experience:

section as outlined in this announcement will be invited to interview. For helpful tips on putting together your application materials and interviewing, visit our Resources for Job Seekers page. Please do not attach transcripts or letters of recommendation to your application, only a resume and cover letter will be reviewed.

If additional information is needed, we will follow up. Additional Information: This recruitment announcement will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur. This position is subject to both a Child Protective Services and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) check, including FBI fingerprinting, and will be required to enroll in the Central Background Registry.

Both of these checks must be completed and approved prior to starting with the agency. The results can take 1-3 weeks to get back. Adverse background data will be grounds for immediate disqualification. This position will require occasional travel to field offices and for meetings, therefore, a valid driver license and acceptable driving record is required, unless the successful applicant can provide a satisfactory alternate mode of transportation.

Eligible veterans who meet the

qualifications:

will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

The Department is an E-Verify employer. The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting. This is a management service position, not represented by a union.

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about:

our beautiful state here Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation requests, please contact the agency recruitment team at DELC.Jobs@delc.oregon.gov The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is an equal

opportunity:

, affirmative action employer committed to a diverse workforce. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our desired attributes listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the

qualifications:

of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application. Oregon state government is a large organization by nearly any standard. With over 40,000 employees working all over the state, in small communities and large, we are proving that government can be innovative. We work as a team, challenging ourselves to be better, faster and more efficient with taxpayer dollars.

After all, when every day we are responsible for caring for the needs of a diverse population and thriving business community, we simply must have the best and brightest workforce. If you take responsibility for your actions, are passionate

about:

• helping others succeed, and have a reputation for excellence and honesty, why not make Oregon state government your next career move? Joining our team means you open the door to many possibilities.

From entry level to executive, outdoor work to policy setting, we have a role for nearly every calling, expertise and background. If you’re looking at us from across the country (or beyond!), know that Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Made up of seven diverse regions, Oregon has the ocean, mountains, valleys, high desert, cities, small towns, and almost everything in between.

Oregon “flies with her own wings.”