Chief Advocacy Officer

CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICERReports to: Chief Executive OfficerJob Summary: Manages all aspects of Finseca's Advocacy efforts, including Department oversight, budget and resource management, policy development, lobbying, and political strategy, outside counsel utilization, coalition development, industry relations, and personnel. Directly involved in the development, management, and execution of Finseca's lobbying and political strategy through engagement with the pertinent Board, partnership with the CEO, and Executive Leadership Team. Serves on Finseca Executive Leadership Team charged with the strategic direction, leadership, and execution of the Advocacy function for Finseca's team to manage the present, nurture identity, and create the future.Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganizational ManagementDrives work of Finseca's Board Advocate Committee, in setting policy agenda and positions, developing lobbying and political strategy, enhancing Finseca's member political involvement and impact, and coordinating industry advocacy efforts.Leadership role in working with Partners in Advocacy (corporate partners) business leaders and government affairs personnel to get input on Finseca's positions and strategies to maximize the effectiveness of Finseca's advocacy efforts and to strengthen ties to Finseca. The Advocacy team has the lead role in fulfillment for the largest corporate partner program and supports the CEO, President, and Corporate Partners leads in the sales process.Build and lead effective joint trades and other coalitions of like-minded players to advance Finseca's goals. Focused on being an effective leader, representing our Finseca core values; Results-driven, servant leadership, and elevate and innovate. Leading by example, motivating the team, and developing potential leaders withing the department. Serves on the Executive Leadership Team to nurture identity, manage the present, and create the future. Confers with the ELT to set Finseca's strategic direction in cooperation with the Board of Directors. Primary internal support for legal and governance, bylaw updates, and vision to operationalize the community model and ensure that all communities feel well represented within Finseca's governance. Manages Finseca's participation in litigation - outside counsel, joint trades, pleadings and briefs, etc...Public Speaking. The Chief Advocacy Officer must present Finseca and advocacy updates to support new member recruitment, membership retention, partner fulfillment, and drive engagement culture within the profession.Spokesperson. The Chief Advocacy Officer serves as an external voice with the press and media representing the profession and driving Finseca's Elevate pillar. Legislative and Political ActivitiesEstablish clear legislative and regulatory policy goals and member engagement (Ambassador fundraising and engagement, CHC participation, etc.) goals at the outset of every year.Conducts oversight and is directly engaged in the monitoring, communication, analysis, and strategy development for all legislative and regulatory issues. Oversees all member political fundraising activities, including active involvement in the Ambassador Program, with a particular focus on candidate selection, endorsed candidate meetings (including volunteer preparation), and all communications with Members of Congress, their staff, and campaign offices on the nature of the program.Oversees all Political Affairs training, engagement, and activation activities, Capitol Hill Club, IMPACT programming, and Ambassador utilization in lobbying efforts. Acts as the primary partner and backup to each of Finsca's four advocacy functions - federal lobbying, state lobbying, policy development, and political engagement.Attends various meetings, fundraisers, and political events with federal and State policymakers, their staff, industry lobbyists, coalition partners, etc. to gather information on legislative issues, build relationships, and promote Finseca and its positions.Develops and oversees all political and legislative communications to Finseca membership, leadership, Partners in Advocacy, coalition partners, and the media (as appropriate).Advocacy General AdministrationRecruits, onboards, trains, and develops each individual member of Finseca's advocacy team to nurture their professional development and hone an effective and reinforcing team.Manages Advocacy Department personnel and administrative functions, which includes developing and monitoring all aspects of Advocacy budget.Responds to questions from the membership pertaining to an issue or political developments.Prepares reports and/or communications and makes recommendations as requested by CEO, Board, and other volunteer leadership.Executes other responsibilities and special projects as needed.Skills & ExperienceMinimum 10+ years success in association, firm, or corporate environment with Government Affairs function.8-10 years' experience managing teams and developing people.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills.Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving ability.Ability to manage under pressure and tight timelines to achieve positive outcomes.Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, working with Boards, Executives, and Principals in the political and business arenas.Understanding of, and strong interest in, the policy and political process.Legislative and regulatory background, preferably in financial services, tax, and/or retirement issues.Track record of success in providing strategic thought leadership to win advocacy campaigns and enhance industry partnerships.Education:Bachelor's degree in political science or related discipline required. Advanced degree, or equivalent skills and experience preferred.Work EnvironmentThis job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.Physical DemandsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.Position Type/Expected Hours of WorkThis is a full-time position, exempt positionTravelSome Travel is expected for this position.Compensation and Benefits:This is a full-time, exempt position. Salary commensurate with experience. We offer a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a health savings account, a 401k plan, and organizational match of up to 5% of your annual salary, a generous amount of personal time off, paid holidays, paid winter break, etc. per year. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome new and diverse people who can strengthen our team.In principle and in practice, Finseca values and seeks diversity and inclusion practices within our organization. We celebrate multiple approaches and points of view. We believe diversity drives innovation. We are building a culture where we maximize engagement and create access to leadership opportunities across different groups that include and are not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion, and sexual orientation. More importantly, we are establishing an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work by driving creativity and success.

Created: 2025-01-26