Policy Director and Chief Operating Officer

About the job

Better Markets is a high-profile, influential, mission-driven non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, it has an exciting and consequential mission: It fights for economic and social justice by advocating for an economy that works for all Americans. That requires a strong, balanced financial system that supports the real economy and creates broad-based wealth. Better Markets also promotes democracy and civic participation by ensuring that the voices and interests of hardworking Main Street Americans are represented throughout the Washington policymaking process, which private interests usually dominate if not monopolize. Better Markets’ advocacy is focused on a financial system that creates wealth for the many rather than extracting wealth for the few. Our advocacy work serves as an important—and often the only—counterweight to the financial industry and its allies that too often seek to put their interests above the public interest.

Better Markets has a team of senior, deeply experienced, substantive experts in banking, securities, derivatives and commodities, and consumer protection. We pursue our mission objectives through a variety of advocacy activities, including engaging with all the financial regulators throughout the rulemaking process, providing expertise to Congress and the White House, developing independent analysis and data-driven research, engaging in litigation in the courts, and messaging through all media channels.

We are seeking a Policy Director and Chief Operating Officer (PD/COO) to oversee and manage our work across the range of issues we address and throughout the rulemaking process as reflected in our Arc of Advocacy™. The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of financial and economic policy and regulation across all of Washington, broad and deep experience managing people, exceptional leadership abilities and communications skills, and a proven track record of driving organizational success.

The PD/COO will play a pivotal role in running the organization’s day-to-day operations as well as in shaping the organization’s strategic direction in all arenas. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, the PD/COO will oversee the organization’s policy program areas and lead the team of dedicated professionals. The responsibilities will encompass a wide range of strategic, managerial, and operational tasks, with a focus on achieving our mission of promoting economic security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans, particularly those who are too often left out of the policymaking process.

Responsibilities:

Policy Program Oversight:

• Lead and oversee the development and implementation of strategic initiatives within the policy program areas.
• Stay abreast of legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments related to economic and financial policy.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify emerging policy issues and opportunities for advocacy.

Team Management:

• Directly manage a team of policy directors and staff, providing guidance, support, and mentorship.
• Set clear performance objectives and provide regular feedback to ensure the team’s success.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the organization.

Strategic Planning:

• Work closely with the President & CEO to develop and execute strategic plans that align with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Identify opportunities for growth and expansion within the policy program areas.
• Monitor key performance indicators and adjust strategies as needed to drive results.

Donor Engagement:

• Collaborate with the President and CEO and the Development Director to cultivate and maintain relationships with existing donors, including regular communication and updates on organizational activities.
• Collaborate with the Development Director to identify prospective donors and strategize on donor engagement initiatives.
• Assist in the planning and execution of donor events, meetings, and outreach activities to demonstrate impact, enhance engagement, and foster philanthropic connections.
• Collaborate with colleagues across departments to ensure alignment and integration of donor engagement efforts with organizational goals and initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including elected and unelected policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, media, and partner organizations.
• Represent the organization at meetings, conferences, and other events to promote our mission and initiatives.
• Advocate for our policy priorities through effective communication and collaboration with key stakeholders.

Media Relations and Spokesperson Role:

• Collaborate with the communications team on media outreach, strategic positioning, media relations, and consistent messaging across all channels.
• Facilitate compelling messaging in all appropriate formats to effectively communicate the organization’s positions on economic and financial policy and regulatory issues.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the organization, representing our views and perspectives in media interviews on all platforms, public speaking engagements, and other external forums.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required and an advanced degree in law, economics, finance, or a related field is highly desirable.
• At least fifteen years of experience in law, economics, finance, public service, or a related field with at least seven years in a senior management role is required and experience in the public and/or nonprofit sectors is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience with, and a deep understanding of, economics, finance, financial markets, regulatory frameworks, and policy development processes is required.
• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission and values of Better Markets.
• Be focused and goal-oriented, but flexible and able to multitask while working in a fast-paced environment.
• Be a demonstrated collaborative team leader while being resourceful and creative in setting priorities and achieving goals.
• Have a proven track record of leadership and management, including experience supervising teams and overseeing multiple, simultaneous, complex projects.
• Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset and attention to detail.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range starts at $300,000 and is dependent upon qualifications and experience. We offer an excellent benefits package including no-monthly-contribution health insurance (dental and vision included), a 401(k) plan with a 5% annual employer contribution, tax-deferred flexible spending accounts, vacation and sick leave, a home office allowance, and commuter benefits.

Location:

Better Markets’ office is located in downtown Washington, DC, conveniently close to the Blue, Silver, and Orange line stations at Foggy Bottom and Farragut North. This position is hybrid, offering both in-office and work-from-home opportunities, but this position requires the successful candidate to be based in D.C.

To Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Better Markets is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.