The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is excited to announce a permanent opening for an Administrative Rules Coordinator (Operations & Policy Analyst 3). Join DELC in leading the charge in transforming policy into action. In this role, you will oversee the creation and revision of rules that support Oregon’s youngest learners through Raise Up Oregon, working side-by-side with state leaders, communities, and partners. From child care licensing to legislative alignment, you will guide the full rulemaking journey—ensuring clarity, compliance, and community engagement every step of the way. Be the connector between policy and practice—where your leadership shapes a stronger, more inclusive early learning system for all.
This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both remotely and in the office. Please note, there will be a few times every month where this position will need to work in the evenings to support the Early Learning Council and legislative work. In addition, this position will report to DELC headquarters or make visits to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem as necessary.
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:
As DELC’s Administrative Rules Coordinator, you will drive the creation and revision of administrative rules that bring to life the vision of Raise Up Oregon and the Early Learning Council. In this pivotal role, you will work closely with the Government Affairs Manager to align rules and legislation, ensure agency-wide policy coherence, and guide rulemaking from start to finish—including for child care licensing. In addition, you will work with the Government Affairs Manager and Policy and Strategy Director on DELC’s legislative agenda during legislative sessions.
You will partner with team members, state agencies, internal experts, and most importantly, collaborate with community members and organizational partners to ensure administrative rules reflect the mission of DELC, and the voices and needs of Oregon families. Your leadership will prioritize transparency, equity, and legal soundness, making sure DELC’s rules not only meet legal standards but also empower communities and support children across the state.
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, Political Science or related degree; and four years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work related to rulemaking (e.g., reviewing legislation, drafting rule language, engaging the public for feedback, presenting information to groups). OR;
- Any combination of experience and education equivalent to seven years of professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work related to rulemaking (e.g., reviewing legislation, drafting rule language, engaging the public for feedback, presenting information to groups).
In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills):
- Policy and legal analysis skills – Experience assessing statutes, legislation, rules, and regulations for alignment, risk, and clarity.
- Community engagement experience – Skilled in outreach, gathering input, and incorporating feedback from diverse communities.
- Collaborative leadership – Works effectively across teams, including legal, other agencies and partners.
- Knowledge of rulemaking and legislative processes – Understands administrative law, agency rulemaking steps, and legislative systems.
- Facilitation – Experience leading workgroups or advisory committees to develop rules or policy options, leading diverse viewpoints to consensus.
- Legislative experience – Reviews legislation, interfacing with legislators and staff, attending and preparing for committee hearings, and developing materials for a legislative audience.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills – Communicates with a wide variety of audiences in person and in writing.
- Strategic thinking – Identifies legal risks, equity gaps, and opportunities to align rules with agency goals.
- Equity-focused mindset – Proactively addresses equity considerations in policy and rule development.
- Project and process management – Demonstrated experience managing timelines, strong attention to detail, ensuring procedural compliance, and producing formal reports.
- Training and technical assistance ability – Capable of educating staff on rulemaking, legal compliance, and public transparency laws.
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.
This position closes on 5/19/2025.