Director, Public Policy Outreach

Overview

The Director of Public Policy Outreach is an external-facing, leadership role within the Academy’s Public Policy department and in support of the Academy’s public policy mission, strategy, and goals. The Director works with other Department leaders and under the direction of the Senior Director to promote and support the Academy with two primary responsibilities: external outreach strategy and management and development of the internal strategy for public policy at the Academy. The Director will interact and develop relationships with external stakeholders but is not working in a lobbying capacity.

The Director will support and influence the development and execution of a strategic plan to enhance and grow the organization’s outreach and awareness with identified policymakers, including federal and state legislators and regulators, trade associations, and other industry-related organizations. Working with two direct reports and in partnership with the other Director, this role has a strong emphasis on cross-department and cross-organizational collaboration and external engagement. Internally, the Director is responsible for effectively managing and empowering policy staff to advance the Academy’s strategy and the assigned practice council agendas. The Director will assist the Senior Director and department leadership to build strong team spirit, create professional growth opportunities, and foster a work environment that reinforces our core values and encourages independent judgement and a self-starter mentality.

Responsibilities and Duties

Policy Stakeholder Engagement (40%)

• Plan, conceptualize and implement external strategies to understand stakeholder needs and market opportunities while emphasizing public policy issues across the actuarial practice spectrum and the broader insurance industry.
• Assess and track national and state political landscapes relevant to the actuarial profession, identifying opportunities and needs.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of key public policy issues related to the actuarial profession, leveraging the knowledge of broader political and policy landscapes to develop and inform work products that support the public policy mission of the Academy and its volunteers.
• Collaborate with Department leadership team to devise comprehensive outreach tactics to enhance and refine strategic priorities.
• Using source materials including analytical reports and technical comments made by Academy members, translate the technical material into digestible and accessible materials that are more understandable by mainstream readership or other target audiences, such as policymakers, Hill staff, trade members, and consumer advocates.
• Collaborate with policy staff in the development of Academy external outreach, specifically via blog posts, podcasts, and other Academy produced communication vehicles.
• Develop standards of practice (SOPs) related to external engagement, particularly related to hill visits, NAIC meetings, and other public events with public stakeholders and the broader membership base.
• Maintain strong network of contacts to strengthen ongoing relationships to advance policies and further strengthen awareness of the Academy’s role and work products.

Department Management (40%)

• Assist Senior Director and work with other directors in managing various administrative duties related to the policy team, including overseeing aspects of the team’s operations and work. This includes project management and SOP development; assisting with the drafting annual budgets for assigned practice councils and the overall Department; monitoring annual budgets; managing practice council and department annual strategic planning and work product deployment; and other organizational needs.
• Leverage and refine department processes and protocols related to the monitoring, analyzing, and reporting of market development and Public Policy-related activities concerning department work products, external events, and other opportunities to help inform volunteers, engage with identified key external constituents, and Academy leadership, furnishing insights for decision-making and strategic planning.
• Supervise and manage direct staff. Under the direction of the Senior Director and other Directors, serve as a mentor and resource for department staff. Assist the Senior Director in ensuring that department staff are well trained in the substantive areas of their practices and in all relevant organizational policies and procedures.
• Provide robust review of public policy publications as needed, ensuring that public statements are responsive to stakeholder needs and market dynamics, drafted with appropriate tone, awareness of the policy environment and in accordance with Academy policies and procedures.
• Participate in and/or organize roundtables and briefings with federal and state legislators, federal and state regulators, federal and state agency officials, and other key stakeholders (including but not limited to the NAIC, NCOIL, and trade organizations) across practice areas.

Collaborative Engagement (20%)

• Work with public policy staff to synthesize analytical reports and technical comments made by Academy members into more understandable publications by mainstream, non-actuarial audiences.
• Meet with policy analysts, department leadership, and other departments on a regular basis to discuss practice area priorities, opportunities for external engagement, and discuss future strategic priorities that will inform our external engagement strategy.
• Assist the Department, Academy leadership, Practice Council leadership, Senior Fellows, and other key volunteers to develop and maintain relationships with influential individuals, associations, and organizations to engage on shared priorities.
• Coordinate with senior leaders across practice councils and internal departments to ensure holistic policy alignment and strategic engagement.

Travel: 20%, primarily domestic with occasional weekends/overnight attendance required

Other duties as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive expertise in policy, relationship management, and strategic engagement.
• Strong interpersonal communications, leadership ability, and organizational skills.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Overall resourcefulness and ability to take initiative.
• Extensive expertise in relationship building and understanding of stakeholder relationship development.
• Keen acumen to assess risks and opportunities in public policy engagement.
• Ability to prioritize and lead/manage multiple projects, coordinate, and actively work on several projects at once while working under strict deadlines.
• Strong project management skills, with experience using Asana or other project management tools.
• Experience navigating and understanding of federal and state legislative and regulatory processes, political landscape, and insurance environment.
• Collaborative work ethic.

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of policy, advocacy, or legislative experience in a Congressional office and a minimum of 5 years of management experience.
• Familiarity with insurance and financial solvency issues in the U.S., as well as the current legislative and regulatory landscape.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior experience in member associations or trade organizations.
• Former lobbying experience is a plus.
• Project management experience and experience with Asana is a plus.

Please submit a COVER LETTER and expected SALARY RANGE.

Hybrid work schedule.

This is an exempt position.

The American Academy of Actuaries is an EEO Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Commuter assistance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• On-site gym
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance