Strategic Partnerships Director

Job Title:

Strategic Partnerships Director Company:

First Story Location:

Bend, OR (in office)

Career Area:

Non-Profit Education:

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, or related field preferred.

Experience:

3-5 years of experience in event planning, public relations, or marketing. Strong background in event management and public speaking.

Tra vel:

After 1 year, travel will require up to 4 weeks, 2 times / year across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We are proud to be Great Place to Work Certified® and selected as a Fortune 100 Best Workplaces!

About First Story:

First Story is a nonprofit organization and lender committed to changing lives through affordable homeownership opportunities. We work alongside our founders Hayden Homes and Simplicity by Hayden Homes to break down barriers to homeownership and build brighter futures for under-resourced families across the Northwest.

How You Will Contribute:

The Strategic Partnerships Director will strengthen and expand First Story's impact by deepening relationships with its founding partners— Hayden Homes and Simplicity by Hayden Homes—and cultivating meaningful community connections across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They will lead the planning and execution of signature events and outreach initiatives that celebrate shared impact, inspire engagement, and increase the number of families served each year. In the first year, the Strategic Partnerships Director will build strong institutional knowledge and a holistic understanding of First Story, while working closely with the Business Development Manager and independently, ensuring continuity across core operational functions and daily workflows. During this time, this position will provide hands-on support for the systems, programs, and relationships that power First Story's work.

Responsibilities Include:

Event Coordination & Leadership Design and deliver high-impact engagement experiences in collaboration with the ED that strengthen relationships with founding partners, donors, community partners, and homeowners—serving in lead or support roles as needed. Plan and execute signature events from concept to completion by overseeing logistics, vendor coordination, timelines, and follow-up reporting. Serve as emcee or speaker and develop compelling, mission-aligned event materials that create memorable experiences and celebrate the impact of affordable homeownership. Social Media Management Develop and execute a mission-driven content strategy that expands audience reach and deepens engagement. Manage and grow First Story's social media channels. Monitor analytics and engagement to inform strategy and expand audience reach. Fundraising & Donor Engagement Support Contribute to event planning, donor experiences, and relationship building initiatives. Shape thoughtful, authentic approaches to donor stewardship that align with First Story's mission and values. Business Development Administrative Support Marketing, graphic design, social media, and website management. Manage the data entry and monthly reconciliation for charitable covenant program, while maintaining accurate reports and processing covenant removals. Event planning and coordination for team builds, annual events. Manage and process incoming applications, responding to emails and inquiries regarding the nonprofit and lending program, including insurance for borrowers, HOA payments, etc. Process donations. Provide notary support. Process year end requirements for tax letters and annual impact report. Other duties as assigned

How You Will Succeed:

Success in this role is driven by embracing both the heart and hustle of a small, mission-driven team—stepping in wherever needed to advance First Story's work, from day-to-day administrative support to big-picture strategy and future visioning. Willingness to collaborate, stay flexible, and take ownership will strengthen the organization at every level. Leaning into opportunities for professional growth, you'll expand your leadership capacity and strategic impact—growing alongside the organization and helping guide it toward even greater community impact.

What You Can Offer:

Education Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, or related field preferred. Specialized knowledge Strong background in event management with proven ability to plan and execute events of varying size and complexity. Comfortable with public speaking. Skills Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with design tools (Canva, Adobe, etc.) and social media management platforms required. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Abilities Flexible, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, small-team environment Ability to travel throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho Flexibility and willingness to work some evenings and weekends to support events. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, to various audiences. Ability to creatively solve problems and work under time constraints with minimal supervision. Experience Minimum 3-5 years of experience in event planning, public relations, or marketing.

How You Will Be Rewarded:

First Story's compensation and benefits package consists of a competitive nonprofit annual salary, along with bonus opportunities, generous health care coverage including medical, dental and vision benefits for team members and dependents, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, 401(k) plan with a generous company match, a team member home purchase discount, paid time off, and volunteer time off. Strategic Partnerships Director 3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 2464 SW Glacier Place, Redmond, OR 97756 Hayden Homes LLC 30 reviews

Job Title:

Strategic Partnerships Director Company:

First Story Location:

Bend, OR (in office)

Career Area:

Non-Profit Education:

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, or related field preferred.

Experience:

3-5 years of experience in event planning, public relations, or marketing. Strong background in event management and public speaking.

Tra vel:

After 1 year, travel will require up to 4 weeks, 2 times / year across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We are proud to be Great Place to Work Certified® and selected as a Fortune 100 Best Workplaces!

About First Story:

First Story is a nonprofit organization and lender committed to changing lives through affordable homeownership opportunities. We work alongside our founders Hayden Homes and Simplicity by Hayden Homes to break down barriers to homeownership and build brighter futures for under-resourced families across the Northwest.

How You Will Contribute:

The Strategic Partnerships Director will strengthen and expand First Story's impact by deepening relationships with its founding partners— Hayden Homes and Simplicity by Hayden Homes—and cultivating meaningful community connections across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They will lead the planning and execution of signature events and outreach initiatives that celebrate shared impact, inspire engagement, and increase the number of families served each year. In the first year, the Strategic Partnerships Director will build strong institutional knowledge and a holistic understanding of First Story, while working closely with the Business Development Manager and independently, ensuring continuity across core operational functions and daily workflows. During this time, this position will provide hands-on support for the systems, programs, and relationships that power First Story's work.

Responsibilities Include:

Event Coordination & Leadership Design and deliver high-impact engagement experiences in collaboration with the ED that strengthen relationships with founding partners, donors, community partners, and homeowners—serving in lead or support roles as needed. Plan and execute signature events from concept to completion by overseeing logistics, vendor coordination, timelines, and follow-up reporting. Serve as emcee or speaker and develop compelling, mission-aligned event materials that create memorable experiences and celebrate the impact of affordable homeownership. Social Media Management Develop and execute a mission-driven content strategy that expands audience reach and deepens engagement. Manage and grow First Story's social media channels. Monitor analytics and engagement to inform strategy and expand audience reach. Fundraising & Donor Engagement Support Contribute to event planning, donor experiences, and relationship building initiatives. Shape thoughtful, authentic approaches to donor stewardship that align with First Story's mission and values. Business Development Administrative Support Marketing, graphic design, social media, and website management. Manage the data entry and monthly reconciliation for charitable covenant program, while maintaining accurate reports and processing covenant removals. Event planning and coordination for team builds, annual events. Manage and process incoming applications, responding to emails and inquiries regarding the nonprofit and lending program, including insurance for borrowers, HOA payments, etc. Process donations. Provide notary support. Process year end requirements for tax letters and annual impact report. Other duties as assigned

How You Will Succeed:

Success in this role is driven by embracing both the heart and hustle of a small, mission-driven team—stepping in wherever needed to advance First Story's work, from day-to-day administrative support to big-picture strategy and future visioning. Willingness to collaborate, stay flexible, and take ownership will strengthen the organization at every level. Leaning into opportunities for professional growth, you'll expand your leadership capacity and strategic impact—growing alongside the organization and helping guide it toward even greater community impact.

What You Can Offer:

Education Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, or related field preferred. Specialized knowledge Strong background in event management with proven ability to plan and execute events of varying size and complexity. Comfortable with public speaking. Skills Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with design tools (Canva, Adobe, etc.) and social media management platforms required. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Abilities Flexible, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, small-team environment Ability to travel throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho Flexibility and willingness to work some evenings and weekends to support events. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, to various audiences. Ability to creatively solve problems and work under time constraints with minimal supervision. Experience Minimum 3-5 years of experience in event planning, public relations, or marketing.

How You Will Be Rewarded:

First Story's compensation and benefits package consists of a competitive nonprofit annual salary, along with bonus opportunities, generous health care coverage including medical, dental and vision benefits for team members and dependents, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, 401(k) plan with a generous company match, a team member home purchase discount, paid time off, and volunteer time off.