Policy Manager

Founded in 1990, the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL) is dedicated to expanding economic opportunity through responsible private financing for affordable housing and equitable community development. NAAHL is the only national association that brings together banks, CDFIs, and other capital providers to share best practices and advocate for supportive public policies.

At NAAHL, you’ll be part of a committed team behind one of the national leading voices in affordable housing and community development policy that manages an impressive, national membership base of practitioners and leaders. You’ll be empowered to be entrepreneurial, strategic, and bold at an organization that is solutions-oriented and committed to equitable policy outcomes that serve communities nationwide.

The Policy Manager will work with the CEO to develop and execute NAAHL’s policy agenda and advance the organization’s policy priorities related to housing supply and affordability, wealth-building, and equitable community development. NAAHL’s policy platform includes legislative and regulatory priorities, as well as state and local engagement strategies and the monitoring of judicial developments.

The Policy Manager will also be responsible for representing NAAHL at external events, staffing the organization’s events, coordinating with membership engagement and strategic communications, and supporting the organization’s research agenda.
The Policy Manager reports to the CEO and President. The Policy Manager must be locally based in the Washington, DC-area and will be expected to travel at least one time a year for a multiple-day engagement.

Specific responsibilities include:

Policy Management 

• Support the development and execution of NAAHL’s policy platform and strategic plan;
• Manage policy coalition(s) with responsibilities that include coalition member management, project management, facilitating meetings, and tracking deliverables;
• Conduct legislative and policy research and provide analysis on a wide range of issues that are of interest to NAAHL members and the organization’s mission;
• Support strategic legislative strategies, including but not limited to Congressional engagement on key legislation and tracking and analysis of legislation;
• Provide regulatory analysis, including but not limited, to preparing comment letters;
• Maintain healthy relationships and engage with Congressional offices, policymakers, and other policy partners and coalitions;
• Advance other policy strategies including state and local engagement; and 

• Provide written policy materials such as talking points and policy analysis for NAAHL’s stakeholders.

   

Member Engagement and Strategic Communication

• Collaborate with the NAAHL Communications Director, and other NAAHL team members, on membership and partner engagement;
• Collaborate with the NAAHL Communications Director on strategic communications about NAAHL’s member impact and policy priorities;

• Produce written policy content for NAAHL’s external communications including newsletters, memos, talking points for media engagement, and social media.

   

Event Duties

• Represent NAAHL and its members in various external meetings including coalition meetings; 
• Support the planning and execution of NAAHL events including Board and Member meetings and the annual Policy & Practice Conference; and
• Plan and prep for Hill engagement with the CEO and potentially members. 

Other Duties as Assigned

• Support the CEO with other tasks as assigned that further the impact of NAAHL and the Center for Community Lending, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts and sponsors research about community lending. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree – an undergraduate degree is required. A graduate degree in public policy or other related fields is preferrable. 
• Three to five years related experience is required; five or more years is preferred. 
• Strong project management skills and the ability to handle multiple deadlines and prioritize appropriately.
• Demonstrated experience of managing projects and responsibilities that demand high organization skills and strong attention to detail. 
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills to address concerns and efficiently implement solutions.
• Effective leadership skills to help develop trusting relationships among staff and key stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Responsive and willing attitude in the execution of duties.
• The ability to conduct accurate and timely research on pressing matters and provide insightful policy analysis. 
• Experience conducting written policy analysis or applied research is strongly preferred. 
• Subject matter expertise in any of the following fields is preferred:
  • Affordable housing
  • Community development
  • Banking
  • Public-private partnerships and other finance models
  • Community Reinvestment Act
  • Tax policy 
• Strong experience and/or interest in working collaboratively both internally and externally to advance advocacy efforts.
• A commitment to advancing economic opportunities for low-income communities through affordable housing and equitable community development investments.