The American Bankers Association is the banking industry's champion. Joining ABA makes you part of a team that: • has Extraordinary People - ABA experts are the "go to" sources for bankers, policy makers and the media for credible information and insights for the banking industry. • has Unmatched Scope and Scale - ABA's unparalleled information and services keep members current, knowledgeable and prepared. • is Impact-Driven - ABA has a proven record of bringing about positive change for our members and the industry. We take action and achieve results. Plus competitive pay, an outstanding benefits package, a convenient DC location, a professional collegial work environment and an opportunity to work on issues of national significance equals a winning combination!
Did you know that women and other marginalized groups are often reluctant to submit job applications if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements? We encourage you to take a chance! If you don’t satisfy every criterion, but know you can excel in the role, we urge you to apply! We’d love to connect and talk with you about joining our team.
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Job Description:
The VP & Senior Counsel will be responsible for policy analysis and advocacy efforts related to Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). The VP & Senior Counsel will work within ABA’s Policy division in the Office of Strategic Engagement and will collaborate both cross-vertically, and functionally with key stakeholders across Policy, Member Engagement, Communications, and the ABA Foundation.
The VP & Senior Counsel will drive congressional advocacy on CDFI and MDI issues. This role will draft comment letters to the Department of Treasury and other banking agencies, oversee the MDI Advisory Council and lead planning for MDI Partnership events in collaboration with the National Bankers Association.
This role will develop maintain relationships with external stakeholders on MDI/CDFI issues, such as policymakers and their staff, banking and financial services industry leaders, academics, advocacy organizations, etc. and represent ABA in forums related to MDI/CDFI policy. As a member of ABA’s Office of Strategic Engagement, the VP & Senior Counsel may be assigned to work on other policy issues as needed.
A strong candidate must have a demonstrated leadership record of motivating teams and achieving results in a fast-paced, collaborative, creative, inclusive, bipartisan environment.
Key Responsibilities:
• Develop ABA policy positions on MDI/CDFI specific proposals, including funding opportunities specific to this sector and CDFI certification standards and processes. Draft comment letters, statements, testimony, and other material as needed to support and advance identified priorities before Congress and regulatory agencies. Create mechanisms to gather feedback from and share information with ABA MDI/CDFI member banks.
• Develop and execute the MDIAC Partnership Summit series, including working closely with the National Bankers Association to develop the scope and format of Summit events, including agenda development, speaker identification, and attendee marketing and management.
• Oversee the ABA MDI Advisory Council, including managing succession for committee leadership, planning, and vetting of meeting agendas and presentations, managing committee communications, spearheading strategic initiatives on behalf of the committee, oversight of the committee budget, and ensuring committee alignment with overall ABA advocacy priorities.
• Lead internal coordination of ABA’s engagement with existing and potential MDI/CDFI members, including understanding current engagement rates, and developing strategic initiatives to better meet the needs of this segment of ABA’s membership.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders in the MDI/CDFI space including Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, FDIC’s Office of Minority and Community Development Banking, OCC’s Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee (MDIAC), and other external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key Congressional stakeholders on MDI/CDFI issues, including the CDFI Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and other stakeholders as relevant, in coordination with ABA’s Congressional Affairs team.
• Serve as an ABA staff, ABA member, and banking industry resource on financial inclusion issues, including access to banking and Bank On accounts.
Requirements:
• Juris Doctorate.
• 10+ years of Congressional and/or Executive Branch experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in mission driven bank programs.
• Demonstrative experience building and leverage relationships with key stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal, written and analytical skills.
• Must have a demonstrated leadership record of motivating cross-vertical teams and achieving results in a fast-paced, collaborative, creative, inclusive, bipartisan environment.
• Experience developing and executing successful events with partnership organization or multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to travel <20%.
American Bankers Association (ABA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
ABA encourages and celebrates diversity so if you are motivated, hardworking and want to make a difference, come as you are!
The American Bankers Association is the united voice of America’s hometown bankers—small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million women and men, hold nearly $17 trillion in assets, safeguard $12.8 trillion in deposits and extend more than $9 trillion in loans. ABA believes that government policies should recognize the industry’s diversity. Laws and regulations should be tailored to correspond to a bank’s charter, business model, hometown markets and risk profile. This policymaking approach avoids the negative economic consequences of burdensome, unsuitable and inefficient bank regulation. Through a broad array of information, training, staff expertise and other resources, ABA supports America’s hometown bankers as they perform their critical role as drivers of America’s economic growth and job creation.
