Head Waitress

The Consumer Bankers Association is the only member-driven trade association focused exclusively on retail banking. CBA partners with the nation's leading retail banks to promote sound policy, prepare the next generation of diverse bankers to lead the industry, and finance the dreams of consumers and small businesses.

We work with Congress, regulators, the administration, and the national press corps to advance the interest of our members and highlight the role the nation's well-regulated banking industry plays in helping Americans finance their dreams.

General Description

Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) seeks a new Head of Legislative Affairs to lead its federal advocacy and lobbying efforts and serve as a key member of the senior leadership team. Partnering and coordinating closely with the management team at CBA, member company executives, as well as with other relevant constituencies, the Head of Legislative Affairs will lead the association's effort to use federal public policy, regulatory and advocacy tools to protect and advance the interests of the industry and CBA's members.

Based in Washington, DC, he / she will lead a high-performing and well-resourced team of professionals. He / she will work closely with the CBA senior management team to develop federal affairs strategic and tactical implementation measures that are integrated with the association's broader legislative affairs priorities that also encompass regulatory matters. This includes the development and execution of strategies to advance policy positions which support a healthy retail banking industry. In addition, the Head of Legislative Affairs works with the Head of Policy, Head of Communications, the Head of Regulation / General Counsel, and data analysis functions to ensure CBA's Government Relations (GR) Department is effectively advancing CBA's goals on behalf of our members.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• In coordination with CBA's CEO and senior leadership team, including CBA's Head of Policy, as well as through engagement with CBA members, develop the legislative priorities of CBA.
• Execute a strategic legislative plan to meet the legislative objectives that are part of the broader policy priorities for CBA and our members.
• Advance CBA's agenda and its ability to influence policy debates with lawmakers, regulators and other key stakeholders including, where appropriate, members of the media.
• Educate Members of Congress, Capitol Hill, Executive offices, and regulators on retail banking issues and raise CBA's profile with key stakeholders.
• Develop, execute, and manage key issue campaigns which help facilitate a healthy and robust retail banking industry.
• Oversee, manage, and grow CBA's political action committee.
• Engage with other policy-oriented teams including regulatory, communications and data to help with messaging on important policy and political issues.
• Engage and Liaison to CBA's Government Relations Council, which is CBA's policymaking council and consists of high-level industry executives.
• Develop, manage, and foster strong relationships with CBA's member-company government relations teams. This includes keeping them apprised of important developments, hosting meetings and regular contact to ensure a consistent flow of information.
• Manage and maintain relationships with consultants and other outside vendors relating to the Legislative Affairs team.
• Assist Membership team when the Legislative Affairs team's perspective is needed in recruiting and retaining CBA members.

Requirements as a member of the CBA Senior Management Team:

• Must possess leadership qualities: strength of character, general maturity, patience, commonsense, trustworthiness, reliability, creativity, and empathy.
• Should have a strong track record of effectively leading and managing a team.
• Must be a team player (able to interact in a positive manner with fellow teammates).
• Growth mindset.
• Willingness to accept accountability.
• Assist in the development and execution of CBA's Strategic Policy Priorities.
• Plan, direct, and oversee operating and fiscal health of department.
• Develop team members through management and mentoring.

Strive for employee retention, growth mindset, continuous improvement, and consistently high standards.

Oversee accomplishments (goals) and job performance for direct reports.

Provide constructive feedback and promote open communication.

• Assist in the development and enforcement of corporate policies.

Successful Candidate

Steeped Experience in Legislative Process. The successful candidate will be a team-oriented individual with significant experience in Federal Government relations and policy. He / she must be an effective strategic thinker and tactical implementer with a history of delivering results. The Head of Legislative Affairs must possess business acumen, understanding the intersection of business, economic and policy issues, and the complex implications government affairs and policy issues may have on the financial services industry. Because of the very fast-paced and changing environment facing the industry, it is desirable that the new Head of Legislative Affairs have previous knowledge of / experience in financial services and consumer financial issues. While the Head of Legislative Affairs' experience can come from a variety of settings, experience in a corporate or association environment would be preferred.

Bi-Partisan Relationships. The successful candidate will possess established, bi-partisan relationships with key policymakers and regulators and should have experience leveraging and maximizing a company's and / or an organization's involvement in coalitions and issue campaigns. They must have the ability to communicate with Members of Congress and key business / decision makers in the banking industry and possess an understanding of the legislative and political process and how to properly influence the policy process.

Business-minded Executive. He / she should have a reputation as a substantive, business-minded policy executive who is viewed as an honest broker by policymakers, colleagues, and peers. The Head of Legislative Affairs will ensure that the association is engaged in the dialogue regarding public policy issues that could potentially affect the industry's interests and must be comfortable as both a public face of CBA but will also support members of the senior management team and the association's committees. A demonstrated growth mindset and proven ability to manage high profile issue campaigns are essential.

Strategic Leadership: Setting Strategy and Executing for Results

Proven ability to develop a comprehensive legislative affairs vision and strategic plan for an organization or company and then execute to deliver results, driving positive change for the entity.

A visionary leader capable of helping develop and implement sophisticated legislative and regulatory policy strategies for the dynamic financial services industry during a time of great evolution and change.

Strong grasp of the public policymaking process, including the ability to identify emerging issues and opportunities and to formulate appropriate strategies.

Skilled at working with members and Association leadership to determine how legislative affairs function can promote the business objectives of the industry.

A creative and independent thinker, with a clear growth mindset, who can develop and persuasively articulate public policy ideas and solutions that may be different from the prevailing or conventional view.

Strong ability to see around corners, and to anticipate the need to adjust our legislative tactics to meet our objectives.

A strong performer, with proven ability to communicate verbally and written to effectuate desired outcomes.

A strong leader that provides the necessary and right amount of direction and guidance to the legislative team, as well as others within the CBA team, to achieve specific outcomes.

Superb Personal Skills and Interpersonal Acumen

Outstanding ability to build relationships and use effective influence in a variety of settings, both within the organization and with external constituencies, including members, public officials, other trade associations or key stakeholders.

A skilled diplomat who has a strong, positive executive presence.

Strong interpersonal acumen to deal with a broad range of individuals, backgrounds, and perspectives in a collaborative, strategic, and consensus-driven manner.

Ability to work in a heavily matrixed environment; strong influence and conflict management skills; ability to bring consensus around a common purpose and deliver the collaborative solutions that the matrix requires.

Highly skilled at advocacy, influence, and persuasion - able to convince others to act on information or recommendations based on compelling logic or common best interests.

Strong organizational skills.

Detail-oriented, able to multi-task and handle high-stress situations.

Ability to communicate relevant and necessary updates internally to senior leadership, and externally to key stakeholders.

Ability to present to the CEO, Board of Directors, association members, and other important stakeholders.

Leading Teams and Inspiring Others to Action

Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and motivate individuals – including those who are not in their reporting structure – charged with advancing goals related to complicated public policy and legislative issues.

Skilled at relating to multiple internal constituencies and engaging them in legislative affairs initiatives that can be beneficial to them, the association, and the industry overall.

Qualifications

15+ years' experience with government, financial and / or political affairs.

An advanced degree – Juris Doctorate, MBA, or advanced policy degree is preferred but not required.