American Leadership Forum of Oregon Seeks Its Next Leader

The Opportunity

American Leadership Forum of Oregon (ALFO) seeks a strategic, visionary, and collaborative Executive Director to lead and advance Oregon’s pre-eminent executive leadership program. As a leader of leaders, the ALFO Executive Director will have a passion for activating a diverse community of leaders to shape Oregon’s future together and will act as the “heart and soul” of the ALF Network. This is a hands-on position focused on networking, community engagement, resource development, and program development and implementation. Experience as an ALFO Senior Fellow is preferred but not required. A proven track record in advancing and elevating diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of an organization's efforts is required.

Founded in 1986, ALFO is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that brings a diverse range of corporate, public and non-profit leaders together to build effective networks of collaboration, service, and community. By establishing bonds of trust and mutual support, ALFO strengthens the skills and commitment of leaders to collaborate on complex community and statewide issues to help create change in our communities and the state of Oregon.

One thousand leaders have participated in ALFO’s Fellows Program, which is made up of two components:

The first is the annual recruitment and support of a statewide cohort of leaders from across the state. Each cohort of Fellows participates in a five-day residential community building experience followed by monthly two-day gatherings in different communities across Oregon, which are designed to build awareness of challenges faced by each community and to provide peer leadership learning spaces.
The second component is the ongoing engagement with and strengthening of the Senior Fellow Network to further advance the health and well-being of Oregon.

With an annual budget of approximately $550,000, ALFO’s Executive Director will build, lead, and share leadership with a capable staff team, including one direct report and two faculty members, a dedicated Board of Directors, and a diverse network of Senior Fellows.

Priorities for the incoming Executive Director include:

Engage the ALFO Network for Increased Impact: Design and lead efforts to engage and activate the ALFO Senior Fellow Network to sustain connections, build relationships, and collectively address complex public issues. Record and promote the results of ALFO’s impacts on Oregon.
Strengthen the ALFO Recruitment & Facilitation of Future Classes: Lead the ongoing evaluation of the annual ALFO curriculum, the recruitment and management of the ALFO class facilitation team, and the support of each new cohort of leaders.
Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Continue to advance ALFO’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice across the organization and within all programs and partnerships.
Ensure Organizational Sustainability: Lead the development of an ALFO business model with a more blended set of revenue streams, including but not limited to recruitment/tuition, foundation grants, annual giving campaigns, corporate support, planned giving, and special events.
Build the Brand: Amplify ALFO's awareness, particularly among underrepresented sectors. Continue to increase ALFO’s presence and influence statewide.
Visioning and Strategic Thinking: Strategic thinker and creative problem solver who can build upon ALFO’s current vision and leave their own bold mark on ALFO, especially in the areas of equity, inclusion, and justice.
Partner with the ALF Oregon Board: Collaborate with the Board, particularly through activating committee-level work that leverages the connections, skills, and wisdom of board members and other Senior Fellows.
Partner with ALF National: ALFO is a chapter of ALF National, and each chapter's Executive Director serves on the National Board. Responsibilities include attending quarterly National Board Meetings. February, May, and August meetings happen virtually and the November meeting is an annual retreat that happens in person.

Experience, Capabilities, and Education

The ideal candidate will have the following experience, skills, and capabilities:

Leadership: Demonstrated leadership experience inspiring and engaging diverse networks of leaders. Skilled in organizing groups to collaborate on shared goals; includes the ability to facilitate and navigate group dynamics in a variety of contexts. Proven commitment to community, as demonstrated through previous community, board, or other leadership roles.
Engaging Diversity: Cultural self-awareness and demonstrated ability to lead and manage courageous conversations around all types of difference. A commitment to inclusion based on differences in race/ethnicity, class, political perspectives, urban and rural perspectives, gender, sexual orientation, and industry/sector. The ability to create spaces where people can learn, challenge, and be challenged around how we engage across differences.
Program Development: Experience developing programs, from concept to execution, and evolving programs in response to a dynamic environment and the emerging needs and interests of stakeholders across the state in both rural and urban areas.
Recruitment and Relationship Management: A proven ability to communicate an organization’s story in compelling ways to diverse groups of community partners, and to recruit and retain program participants and supporters over time.
Resource Development: A track record of successful resource development, including earned income (e.g., tuition, program fees) and fundraising (e.g., annual campaigns, corporate sponsorships, grants, and fundraising events); includes creating fund development plans and achieving fundraising goals. Familiar with area foundations and fund development software.
Communications: Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including presenting to large and small audiences. Experience representing an organization to a wide range of community members and partners, including Tribal communities, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, elected officials, media, and foundations. Digital fluency with social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), Squarespace (ALF Oregon’s website platform), Constant Contact (ALF Oregon’s Newsletter), Google Drive and Calendar, Calendly, and other communication platforms.
Management: Minimum 7 years of organizational management, program design and implementation, and administrative experience that includes supervising professional and support staff. Successful experience working with a board of directors.
Experience with conflict resilience, repair, and accountability: Leadership of the ALF program requires experience in and a willingness to be in a space of discomfort alongside others who share that experience. Supporting others and guiding them through a journey of self-awareness and learning will present opportunities to provide this support, often for Fellows Program participants and others. Experience with conflict resilience, repair, and accountability practices is essential for this role.

Additional Preferred Experience and Knowledge

Participation in ALFO’s Fellows Program
Relationships within Oregon’s public, nonprofit, business and philanthropic sectors, including rural Oregon
Knowledge of Oregon’s history and public policy landscape

We are especially interested in applicants with the following lived experiences:

People from communities that have been historically and systemically marginalized and underrepresented
People living outside the Portland Metro area and in rural Oregon
ALFO Senior Fellow
Senior Fellow from another ALF chapter

Desired Personal Qualities: Integrity, flexibility, patience, sense of humor, curiosity, creativity, self-motivated, passion for learning, and strong leadership.

Travel: This position may require up to 3 days of travel each month from October through May, as well as travel to Community Building week in September. August also requires two days and two nights in Portland for Orientation events.

Compensation: The salary range for the Executive Director is $115,000–$125,000, with the exact salary to be negotiated upon hire based on individual life circumstances and benefit needs. This is a full-time (35 hours) exempt position that includes 15 paid holidays; PTO (accruing 2 weeks in years one and two, and 3 weeks after 2 years); accrued sick pay; fully paid medical, dental and vision care for employees (with the ability to add family members for cost); retirement contribution; flexibility to work hybrid (from home and an office in downtown Portland) with funds available for parking.

To apply, please submit the following:

A cover letter that reflects how your experience qualifies you to become the Executive Director of ALF Oregon
A complete chronological resume
Email both as a .pdf attachment to kathleen@alfo.org. Please combine your letter and resume into one file if possible and name your files using the following format: “your last name, your first name ALF ED materials”

All inquiries will be handled confidentially. Please use this email address if you have any questions or need to request an accommodation.

Priority application deadline is May 15, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

ALF Oregon prioritizes diversity and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, pregnancy, union activity, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

American Leadership Forum of Oregon

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