Company Background:

Structured Finance Association (SFA) is a member-based, industry advocacy group focused on improving and strengthening the structured finance market to help its 370 institutional members and public policymakers grow credit availability and the real economy in a responsible manner while safeguarding essential protections for consumers and the financial system. SFA provides an inclusive network for capital markets and lending professionals to collaborate and, as industry leaders, drive necessary changes, be an advocate for the securitization community, share best practices and innovative ideas, and educate industry members through conferences and other programs. Members of SFA represent all sectors of the structured finance market including bond issuers, institutional investors, financial intermediaries, law firms, accounting firms, technology firms, rating agencies, servicers, and trustees. Further information can be found at https://structuredfinance.org/.

Our association is a unique blend of public policy, finance, consensus building, strategic communication and membership education and networking services. We’re a tight-knit team that values collaboration. And while our mission is big and our strategic goals achievably ambitious, we try to keep things light.

Job Description:

The Policy Director leads the development and advancement of regulatory policy positions before federal and international regulators and policy-making bodies with impact to the non-mortgage asset-backed securities (“ABS”) markets. Under the director’s leadership, SFA members and staff will work collaboratively to identify and influence significant regulatory policy issues and ensure a fulsome and consistent voice to key decision-makers regarding SFA policy objectives. In addition, s/he will monitor and identify market and regulatory developments impacting global structured finance markets, consumer and business lending, and SFA members.

Success in this role is accomplished through impactful member engagement and relationship building, to leverage resources to develop and effectively advocate on policy positions. Some current broad topics include environment, social, and governance (“ESG”)-focused investing, the discontinuation of widely used benchmark rates, and issues essential to maintaining healthy markets, supporting our economic recovery through the pandemic and advancing financial inclusion across all communities.

The Policy Director is an integral member of the SFA staff, reports to the Head of Policy, and responsible for ongoing coordination with the Advocacy, Research and Events teams to achieve our policy goals. S/he will interact directly and regularly with the SFA executive leadership team[, supervise a Policy analyst,] and often partner with the Director of MBS Policy and Vice President of Policy Development.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:
This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic yet down-to-earth and approachable individual who thrives in a fast paced but light-hearted environment. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of developing and cultivating relationships in order to enhance and further develop SFA’s profile with our members, relevant policymakers and other trade associations.

For this important position we are seeking a strong, confident leader skilled at guiding a large, diverse group toward consensus by encouraging and facilitating constructive engagement, listening to varying views and identifying common ground. It is critical that the individual have outstanding interpersonal acumen and strong written and oral communication skills in order to effectively convey SFA’s issues and positions. Ideally the candidate will have experience within the structured finance or broader financial services sector and/or a strong record of public policy effectiveness. If the candidate does not have a background in public policy, s/he should possess the ability to cultivate critical relationships with key policymakers.

A limited amount of out-of-town travel is required to attend SFA events and in-person meeting with SFA members once such SFA business travel resumes.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Working with the Head of Policy to lead the development and implementation of market standards, regulatory policy positions and advocacy strategies, in collaboration with our Government Relations team, for issues critical to the non-mortgage ABS market and the consumers and businesses the market finances
• Create rich external policy content and communication targeted to inform our members, policymakers and/or other policy constituencies, including blog posts, email alerts, policy briefs and other publications
• Drive proactive early identification of the direction of regulatory change to members in order to consider potential impacts to our market and the consumer and business borrowers our market finances
• Establish policy objectives, in coordination with SFA and member leadership
• Build and drive consensus across our diverse membership to further our established policy goals including setting and meeting timeline milestones while ensuring productive interaction with and among our members and partners
• Collaborate with other industry groups, where possible, to further collective goals
• Assist SFA leadership with advancing SFA’s profile among regulators, legislators, think tanks, trade associations and other key influencers
• Build and maintain relationships, and on a regular cadence secure time with policymakers and their staff who influence policies in our space
• Drive results through the management of industry-wide projects in support of policy initiatives
• Produce internal and external materials to advance policy positions
• Determine and present recommendations of effective advocacy plans to SFA leadership and members
• Provide leadership during SFA-sponsored conferences and special events
• Lead, develop and mentor junior staff to facilitate and inspire strong performance

Professional Experience, Skills & Qualifications:

REQUIRED

• 6+ years of relevant work experience in policy, law, or financial services
• A self-directed leader and team player with exceptional writing and project management skills
• Ability to drive discussions among disparate perspectives and mediate conversations to identify points of consensus
• Proven track record of proactive project management involving significant stakeholder coordination to achieve successful results on time
• Skilled relationship manager to secure partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in undertaking common goals
• Communicate directly, respectfully

PREFERRED

• Creative problem solver that inspires thought-leadership of others
• Ability to synthesize disparate opinions and identify big picture impacts
• A strong network in DC with an understanding of the financial regulation landscape and the related enforcement agencies
• Strong computer skills and fluency with enterprise software — MS Office Suite required: Word, Excel and PowerPoint

As a representative of the premier securitization trade organization, the successful candidate is expected to have strong written and verbal communication skills, exemplify SFA’s high professional standards, as well as a collaborative work style in order to support various policy objectives across the organization.

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is a plus. A concentration in public policy, law, finance or economics is a plus.

How to Apply:

Please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. The subject line should read “Policy Director”.

Writing samples will be requested and skills assessments may be conducted as part of the interview and evaluation process.

Due to the anticipated volume of responses, we will contact only those candidates who most closely match our requirements. No phone calls please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Local candidates only.

Recruiters: please do not contact.

Job Type: Full-time. Relocation expenses are not reimbursed.