Initial Posting Date:

04/25/2025

Application Deadline:

05/13/2025

Agency:

Department of Early Learning and Care

Salary Range:

$7,353 - $10,827

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Strategic Action Coordinator (Operations & Policy Analyst 4)

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is excited to announce a permanent opening for a Strategic Action Coordinator (Operations & Policy Analyst 4).

Join DELC as our Strategic Action Coordinator—a dynamic, high-profile leadership role where you’ll drive bold, cross-agency initiatives that define the future of early learning in Oregon. If you're passionate about strategic innovation, organizational transformation, and embedding equity at the heart of public service, this is your opportunity to make a lasting statewide impact.

This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both remotely and in the office. In office requirements are roughly 2-3 times per quarter, or as needed.

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 is a high-profile leadership position that drives agency-wide initiatives to advance DELC’s mission and priorities. This role leads the implementation of DELC’s first strategic plan (Growing Oregon Together) and DEI Action Plan—both foundational roadmaps for the agency’s formative years. Working closely with executive leadership, the coordinator ensures alignment across departments, manages key cross-functional projects, and supports staff in turning strategy into action. As a trusted advisor to the Director and senior leadership, the position also provides guidance on policy, legislation, budget, and organizational improvement, all through the lens of DELC’s strategic and equity goals.

To view a complete job description, click here

What we are looking for (minimum qualifications):

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

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

• Demonstrates the ability to design, implement, and oversee large-scale, agency-wide strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals and values.
• Expertise in integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into organizational processes using tools like the Oregon Equity Lens to address systemic disparities.
• Strong ability to build partnerships and work effectively with internal teams, state agencies, tribal entities, and external partners to achieve aligned goals.
• Proven ability to analyze complex issues, use data to inform decisions, and develop solutions to improve program outcomes and strategic plan success.
• Skilled in advising leadership, delivering clear and impactful presentations, and developing strategic communications for diverse audiences.

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.

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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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.