Strategic Initiatives Officer

JOB OVERVIEW

The strategic initiatives officer (SIO) identifies, designs, and executes strategic initiatives that bring resources or expertise to LOR communities and the region. The work is research-based, grounded in an understanding of rural conditions, and responsive to expressed local need; the SIO is responsible for using local data and regional knowledge to identify opportunities for leverage, help, and reputation development.

LOR’s strategic initiatives generate learning and produce tangible resources for community benefit. They are rooted in quality of life issues that are meaningful to rural communities and that could support infrastructure development, policy change, tool kits, education, or other areas of livability. Those initiatives might include engaging subject matter experts and resources, and they often connect to local, state, or federal policy and associated funding channels.

The SIO will coordinate work with LOR’s executive leadership. The ideal candidate comes to LOR with Mountain West connections, an understanding of life in the small town West, policy acumen relevant to rural communities, strong analytical skills, and experience managing and/or leading research projects.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and research strategies to improve quality of life in rural Mountain West communities, considering specific data and opportunities in LOR communities across each quality of life issue.
• Identify, launch, and manage strategic initiatives as prioritized quarterly or identified as immediate needs; scope and present new and updated initiatives to executive leadership for discussion and action.
• Track federal and state policy changes that have an impact on rural livability in the Mountain West.
• Track federal and state funding channels and grant programs relevant to community need.
• Identify and establish relationships with national and regional subject matter experts, state and local policy staff, academics, and other thought leaders to understand challenges, opportunities, and priorities in rural Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico communities.
• Connect local program staff to information and resources that can elevate community solutions, including funding opportunities, technical services, and policy changes.
• Follow relevant national and regional media, and conduct research and listening activities to identify significant developments and trends.
• Prepare and manage strategic initiative grants using established workflows.
• Support organization-wide efforts to advance how LOR measures change and impact in the communities we serve; collaborate with the community program team on impact and process learning initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

While no one candidate will have all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Education

• College degree required, advanced degree a plus, preferably in an area connecting to quality of life issue areas, research methods, or public policy.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years related work experience preferred (e.g., business development, government affairs, project management, legal and technical assistance)

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated reliability, and attention to detail; excellent written and oral communication;
• Experience and comfort using various technology systems for lead generation/tracking, proposal development, internal communications, and task management, e.g. Salesforce, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Slack
• Self-motivated and able to successfully complete assigned work with minimal supervision; exhibits solid judgment, critical thinking, and a sense of teamwork and community

TO APPLY

Applications, including a cover letter describing the candidate’s interest and qualifications, resumé, and where the candidate learned of the position, should be sent to: jobs@lorfoundation.org. 

The LOR Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

ABOUT LOR

LOR is a private foundation that works with rural communities in the Mountain West to improve quality of life. Our name shares our values: livability, opportunity, and responsibility, and we believe that many small actions can create lasting change. Our goal is to be nimble, moving quickly to help solve problems communities have identified as priorities. Sometimes that help is funding, and sometimes it’s simply connecting people and organizations with resources—and to each other.

Our work is place-based and driven by a community’s vision for its future—that’s why we hire local community officers who are well-connected to their towns. We listen to communities to better understand what they need and how we can help. Today, we are working within Taos County, New Mexico; Lander, Wyoming; Cortez, Colorado, and we will begin working with a community in Montana and a second in Colorado soon.

To learn more about our community-driven approach, read our solution stories at lorfoundation.org.