Application Guide
How to Apply for Systems Change & Policy Strategy Manager
at Rebel Heart Therapy
🏢 About Rebel Heart Therapy
Rural Development Initiatives, Inc. (RDI) is a rural development hub organization serving rural communities across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Unlike many policy shops, RDI works directly alongside rural communities on leadership development, small business growth, economic development strategies, and civic engagement, giving them deep local knowledge that they connect to broader systems change. This is a chance to work at the intersection of grassroots community work and state-level policy, ensuring rural voices shape the decisions that affect them.
About This Role
As the Systems Change & Policy Strategy Manager, you will help RDI strengthen its ability to understand, shape, and act on the policies and systems that influence rural opportunity. You will work alongside RDI's programs, leadership, and external partners to identify emerging issues, shape RDI's rural policy and legislative priorities, and advocate for systems change. This role is impactful because it directly influences how rural communities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho can access funding, influence policy, and build local capacity.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve meeting with RDI program staff to discuss emerging issues from the field, analyzing pending legislation in Oregon or Washington, and drafting a policy brief or testimony. You might also have a call with a community partner to understand local needs, followed by a strategy session with the Executive Director to refine RDI's legislative priorities. Occasionally, you'll travel to a rural community to facilitate a listening session or meet with local leaders.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Rebel Heart Therapy Is Looking For
- Deep experience in policy analysis, advocacy, or systems change work, ideally with a focus on rural issues, economic development, or community development.
- Strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes in Oregon, Washington, and/or Idaho, and experience translating community needs into policy recommendations.
- Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community leaders, government officials, funders, and partner organizations.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distill complex policy issues into clear, compelling narratives for a variety of audiences.
- Self-directed and comfortable working remotely while traveling regularly to rural communities across the three-state region.
📝 Tips for Applying to Rebel Heart Therapy
Highlight any experience you have working with rural communities or on rural policy issues in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho—specificity to the region is a major plus.
Demonstrate your ability to connect grassroots community work with policy change; RDI values local knowledge and wants to see how you've bridged that with systems-level advocacy.
Show familiarity with RDI's existing programs and partnerships; mention how your skills would complement their leadership development, small business growth, and civic engagement work.
Emphasize your ability to work remotely and travel regularly; address how you manage logistics and stay connected to communities across a large geographic area.
Use your cover letter to tell a story about a time you influenced a policy or systems change that benefited rural communities, including the strategies you used and the outcomes achieved.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience with rural policy and systems change in the Pacific Northwest, including any legislative or advocacy wins.', "How you have worked alongside communities to identify issues and co-create policy solutions, reflecting RDI's collaborative approach.", 'Your ability to navigate complex policy environments and build coalitions across diverse stakeholders, from local leaders to state officials.', "Why you are drawn to RDI's hub model and how you would contribute to strengthening their policy and legislative priorities."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore RDI's website and annual reports to understand their programs, impact, and current policy priorities.
- → Research recent rural policy issues and legislation in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, such as rural broadband, healthcare access, economic development funding, and land use.
- → Identify key partners and stakeholders RDI works with, such as community foundations, state rural development offices, and advocacy groups.
- → Understand RDI's hub model and how it differs from traditional policy organizations; look for examples of their systems change work.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too generic about rural issues without demonstrating specific knowledge of the Pacific Northwest region and its unique challenges.
- Focusing only on policy analysis without showing how you've worked alongside communities or translated local knowledge into policy change.
- Neglecting to address the remote and travel requirements; failing to show you can thrive in a role that requires both independence and regular in-person engagement.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Rebel Heart Therapy!