OPCA celebrates both individual contributions and powerful teamwork. We thrive on innovation and collaboration. We support one another as healthy human beings who balance work with the rest of life. Our goal is to elevate and make space for candidates of all backgrounds in our hiring practices. Join our team as we lead the community health center movement with passion, vision, and courage.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the position, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for this role.

Successful candidates will commit to an inclusive workplace which celebrates people, centers accessibility, and seeks new paths forward on our journey towards health for all.

We only accept applications that follow the electronic process. No phone calls, please.

We have no open position at this time. Please check back with us again soon.

Internship Opportunities

The Oregon Primary Care Association is open to interns who can work on various projects. These internships are designed for students seeking practice or field experience as part of the completion of their graduate degree at an accredited program. Priority will be given to students pursuing their degrees in the state of Oregon.

To learn more about potential internship opportunities, please contact our Human Resources Manager Cindy Tan (ctan@orpca.org).

NEW! Communications and Policy Internships

OPCA is pleased to offer two internship opportunities for students interested in community health, advocacy, and nonprofit impact: a Communications Internship and a Policy Internship. Each role provides hands-on experience supporting Oregon’s Federally Qualified Health Centers through meaningful projects that build professional skills and contribute to OPCA’s mission. We are seeking candidates with excellent research, writing, and communication skills. Applicants are encouraged to review both tracks carefully and indicate in their cover letter which internship they wish to be considered for.

Students who are completing their degrees in Oregon are encouraged to apply.

Duration: January through May

Estimated Hours Per Week: 10 – 15 hours per week

Compensation: These internship positions will receive a stipend of $1,200

Communications Internship

The Communications Intern elevates the work of our health centers and staff through various communication strategies to further health center visibility. The intern will work alongside the Communications team to implement effective strategies to achieve OPCA’s strategic goals.

This is a voluntary internship to assist with research, graphic design, and administrative tasks to support the promotion of programs and services of OPCA’s or its members.

Reports To: Public Affairs & Development Director

Communications Internship Responsibilities:

  • Designs visuals for various platforms, including social media, slideshows, etc.
  • Tracks engagement and performance metrics on identified platforms including social media channels, blog, etc.
  • Provides administrative support for the Communications team to maintain communication processes (e.g. internal organization communications, etc.).
  • Collaborates with Communications & Engagement Manager to execute targeted marketing campaigns to maximize attendance and engagement of CHC members.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Working skills in Canva or similar creative suites.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
  • Familiarity with photo, design, website and online publishing applications and programs or ability to learn these programs.
  • Comfortable using social media accounts such as Facebook and X.

Policy Internship

The Policy Intern strengthens OPCA’s policy and advocacy efforts by supporting the development of clear, accurate, and timely analysis that uplifts the needs of Oregon’s community health centers.

This is a voluntary internship designed to assist OPCA’s Policy Team with policy research, issue tracking, writing assignments, and administrative support related to state and federal legislative and regulatory work.

Reports To: Government Affairs Director

Policy Internship Responsibilities:

  • Conducts policy research on assigned topics that impact Federally Qualified Health Centers and the communities they serve.
  • Conducts informational interviews with key informants, including policy experts, partners, and FQHC leaders, to gather insights that inform OPCA’s positions.
  • Drafts clear, concise summaries, and reports based on research findings and/or interviews.
  • Assists policy staff with administrative tasks as needed to maintain efficient policy workflows (e.g., preparing meeting materials, organizing documents).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Comfortable conducting independent research with limited oversight and able to identify credible, timely, and relevant sources.
  • Strong writing skills.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks, stay organized, and advocate for additional support when needed.

Other Notes on the Communications and Policy Intern Positions

  • This position is hybrid (special accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis). The Oregon Primary Care Association’s office is in downtown Portland.
  • The intern(s) will also have opportunities to collaborate with other members of the team depending on their selected project.

Qualifications

  • Junior or Senior standing or a graduate level student.

How To Apply

  • In your cover letter, please indicate which internship position you are applying for.
  • When crafting your cover letter, be sure to explain why you would be a strong fit for the role. We encourage you to reference the listed responsibilities and the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  • Additionally, please address the following question in your cover letter: “Why does having health insurance not always result in having access to health care?
  • Include position title in subject line.

Timeline:

Selected candidates will be invited to interview in mid-January. Final internship offers will be extended by January 30th 2026. The internship is scheduled to begin the week of February 2, 2026, and conclude by April 30, 2026.

While these dates serve as the standard timeline, limited exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. If you anticipate needing adjustments to the start or end date, please note this in your application.

3 OPCA TEAM PERKS

At OPCA, we’re focused on innovations which improve the health of Oregonians. That includes building a collaborative and balanced workplace environment within the organization. Here are a few things we did in 2023 to strengthen our team.

#1. We Implemented an Office Dog Policy

OPCA allows staff to bring their dogs into the office, provided the dogs are in good health, well-behaved, and supervised by their person. Our canine visitors inspire lots of smiles, and John Hopkins Medicine says that simply petting a dog lowers a person’s cortisol while increasing oxytocin.

#2. We Normalized a Hybrid Work Schedule

Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research claims “Hybrid is the future of work.” Generally, hybrid work enables employees to experience the benefits of in-person team building while also ensuring flexibility for work-life balance. OPCA staff work in the office Tuesdays through Thursday and have the option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays.

#3. We Learned Mental Health First Aid

OPCA staff members Brooke Linn and Ada Catanzarite earned certifications as Mental Health First Aid Instructors through a program with the National Council for Mental Well Being and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. They shared their knowledge with the rest of OPCA’s team by hosting training sessions at the office. Twenty-six members of OPCA staff earned certificates.

Bonus Perk: Staff Engagement Committee

OPCA has a staff engagement committee dedicated to planning small events for employees to bond outside of formal work projects. The committee’s events include optional brackets for March Madness and Fattest Bear Week, Valentine’s Day card swaps, a winter holiday party, happy hours, and volunteer days.