Senior Specialist, CREF Policy

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 inclusion is embraced for all.

Benefits Include:

Competitive salary and benefit packages including Medical, Dental, and Vision

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!

SUMMARY

The Senior Specialist, Policy contributes to public policy, business, and member engagement activities of MBA’s Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF) Group. The incumbent will report directly to the VP, CREF Policy and will support MBA members, Councils, and Committees, contribute to achieving industry advocacy objectives, and have a meaningful impact on policy issues – including those related to promoting affordable rental housing – that can substantially affect the industry.

The incumbent works with MBA members and the VP CREF Policy to manage MBA Councils and Committees, formulate MBA’s commercial and multifamily advocacy positions, manage complex regulatory policy-focused projects, communicate orally and in writing with policymakers and members, and coordinate across MBA and other trade associations. The Senior Specialist Policy also enhances MBA member engagement by preparing communications with members, identifying policy trends, issues, and concerns of interest to members, and convening members.

Recent, current, and future areas of policy may include:

Housing policy

State and local legislative and regulatory policy

FHFA regulatory actions, the GSEs, and GSE release

Capital standards for life insurance companies and banks

Private credit

CMBS

Tax policy

Accounting treatment of commercial real estate and mortgages

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

FHA and HUD multifamily policy

Affordable housing

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Work with the VP of CREF Policy to support MBA Councils and Committees and CREF policy advocacy objectives. Under the supervision of the VP, manage multiple complex regulatory policy/advocacy-focused projects.

Identify, track, analyze, and write about policy developments affecting MBA members. Prepare communications to members; identify policy trends, issues, and concerns of interest to members; and convene members in standing or ad hoc calls or meetings.

Advocate and represent MBA and its members by communicating orally and in writing to policymakers, members, other parts of MBA, and other trade associations. Promote member awareness of CREF policy work and activities through dissemination on MBA’s website and other member communication platforms. Coordinate communications with Public Affairs, Legislative & Political Affairs, and other MBA departments.

Work with team to help coordinate and execute CREF member events. Coordinate across MBA Departments as necessary to ensure the event reaches an appropriate set of members and provides a positive member experience. Memorialize and prepare materials for conferences, councils, committees, working group meetings, and calls. May help identify and recommend members for speaking opportunities on conference calls, webinars, meetings, and conferences.

Affirmatively advise the CREF senior staff of priorities, deadlines, and meetings and follow up on necessary details to contribute to overall CREF success across policy and member engagement. Facilitate exchange of information among CREF staff on common priorities and responsibilities within the group. As assigned or within areas of responsibility, work collaboratively with CREF Group colleagues to coordinate interdepartmental reports or initiatives.

Respond to inquiries from MBA members, the public, and MBA staff as assigned or within areas of responsibility. Draft replies to correspondence under the supervision of the VP.

Develop a deep understanding of the CREF industry and its various sectors through MBA educational offerings, other educational and training opportunities, and continual self-study.

Collaborate to accomplish specific projects or to manage areas of responsibility in accordance with CREF priorities, strategies, and workflow. Understand and comply with MBA’s policies, practices, and operations and support a culture of inclusion.

This position description is illustrative only and should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required by an incumbent in this job. Actual role and level of responsibility will be commensurate with the incumbent’s demonstrated ability to fulfill that role or responsibility.

SPECIFICATIONS

The position requires high levels of analysis, communication, organization, judgment and discretion, clarity of thought, proactivity, appetite for gaining deep knowledge and growing expertise in the CREF industry, and a willingness to operate outside of current comfort zones in an environment that can change quickly. Knowledge of affordable housing issues preferred.

The incumbent will be a self-starter, motivated, with strong oral and written communication skills, and comfortable operating independently and as part of a team. Must have demonstrated ability to take ownership of areas of responsibility and for the ultimate success of assigned projects. Self-sufficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Aptify or other member database software preferred.

An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline combined with a minimum of three to five years of progressive commercial real estate finance, affordable housing, policy, trade association, or regulatory/legislative experience is required. The incumbent should have knowledge and experience in some or all of the following areas:

Advocacy

Policy and legal matters

Trade association practice

Regulatory or legislative processes

Communicating clearly to a variety of audiences

Drafting complex documents on deadline with multiple inputs

The current recruitment range for this role is $80,000 – $82,000.

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 disability.

MBA is an E-Verify employer. Please note that MBA will not sponsor employment.

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