Sr. Specialist, Engagement (State & Local Association)

As the leading advocate for the real estate finance industry, MBA is committed to providing our members with unmatched value and unparalleled benefits. In doing so, we recognize that our most valuable resource is our employees. MBA prides itself on sourcing top talent from all fields and is committed to investing in a culture where communication is essential, diverse voices are encouraged, and embrace inclusion for all.

• Competitive salary and benefit packages including Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• A culture committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Hybrid work schedule that supports work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities

If you are looking for a career-defining opportunity, share similar values, and are ready to make a difference in the real estate finance industry, look no further. Apply today!

Position Summary:

The incumbent’s key responsibilities will be in support of the Vice President, State Government Affairs and Industry Relations, in various assignments related to state, county or municipal policy and relations with state and local mortgage banking/lending associations. Generally, this will include serving as lead staff of the MBA State Relations Committee, programming the MBA annual State and Local Workshop, administering the business partnership components of the State Relations Initiative, ad-hoc presentations to local associations to ensure their alignment with national MBA and Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) policy objectives, and regular briefing of MBA State Ambassadors. The incumbent will also collaborate with the Commercial Multifamily Finance (CREF) Department to continue to foster the creation of CREF capacities (members and policy focus) among state and local associations nationwide. Lastly, the incumbent will, as directed, assist in researching policy and advocacy issues including the preparation and updating of talking points, PowerPoints and general briefing and communications materials.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage MBA’s State Relations Initiative (SRI) to achieve MBA Strategic Operating Plan objectives in Communications, Business Development, and Advocacy by engaging with the more than 100 independent state and local real estate finance industry associations nationwide:

Advocacy

• Serve as a first point of contact for the 65+ independent local industry associations.
• Develop and maintain a “generalist” grasp of key residential and CREF mortgage policy issues and the opportunities for industry professionals to engage in MBA committees, councils, and the MAA grassroots program.
• Serve as an MBA spokesperson at events, including local association events, on a wide range of industry policy and engagement issues.
• Support efforts to align local associations with MBA’s advocacy objectives by supporting MAA enrollment campaigns, special events, and federal and state Calls to Action.
• Collaborate with the residential and CREF team members and other MBA departments in support of the state and local government affairs function.
• Help maintain the CREF and residential state issues pages of mba.org.

Communications

• Serve as staff to the MBA State Relations Committee (SRC) and work with SRC co-chairs to plan/hold quarterly meetings that help align state and local group priorities with those of MBA while also receiving partner association feedback.
• Serve as staff MBA’s Ambassador Program and grow the program to all 50 states by holding regular briefings, issuing dedicated communications, and maintaining key materials for Ambassadors, e.g., a “stock” MBA Update presentation and talking points.
• Serve as lead staff for several SRC communications, including: SRC Co-Chair reports to the MBA Board of Directors; the SRC Bimonthly Newsletter, and SRC website resources.
• Maintain the MBA online community for state and local associations by responding to member questions and providing contemporaneous updates on policy developments and other MBA news.
• Collaborate with CREF Department to communicate advocacy issues, positions and outcomes through its Weekly Policy Updates memorandum to members.

Business Development

• Collaborate with the MBA’s Membership Department to assist state associations in helping them recruit new MBA members as well as new state and local association members.
• Collaborate with MBA Education on promoting educational resources and offering discounts based on state and local partners’ needs.
• Collaborate with the CREF Department to encourage the development of CREF membership and committees among state and local partner associations.
• Where practicable, work with the Meetings Department to create opportunities for state associations to offer discounts for members of state groups for MBA events.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with MBA staff on the development of MBA events and serve as lead staff on the annual MBA State and Local Workshop by working with state and local association leaders to solicit content, develop a program, confirm and brief speakers, help coordinate marketing and communications, and help grow Workshop attendance and carry over attendance for the MBA National Advocacy Conference.
• Lead in the development of virtual meetings of state and local associations to foster year-round collaboration among the groups and with MBA.
• Compose routine correspondence, electronic communications, talking points, briefing papers, PowerPoints and other materials on specific issues related to MBA’s residential regulatory and legislative priorities. Maintain partner association information on the “about us” page of MBA.org.
• Serve on ad-hoc internal cross departmental working groups.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree.
• Three to five years relevant experience, such as political issue advocacy and/or association management and engagement. Experience should include all aspects of organizing, planning and execution of campaigns.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to think and act strategically.
• Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation ability.
• Ability to operate successfully in a collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated flexibility when approaching complex situations.
• Desire to improve processes, take initiative, and create solutions.
• Strong knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Connect.

The current recruitment range for this role is $77,000 – $80,000.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

MBA is an E-Verify employer.

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