VICE PRESIDENT STATE AND LOCAL POLICY

Description

The Vice President of State and Local Policy for Community Development Finance leads Opportunity Finance Network’s state and local policy strategy, advancing the conditions that enable community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to thrive. This role focuses on strengthening statewide community development finance ecosystems; supporting the formation, growth, and effectiveness of state CDFI coalitions; and engaging with policymakers, partners, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings strong policy acumen, deep knowledge of CDFIs, and a proven ability to build relationships, drive advocacy, and provide strategic support across diverse coalitions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Policy Development and Advocacy

• Lead development and execution of comprehensive state and local policy strategies that expand, protect, and sustain CDFIs.
• Monitor, assess, and forecast legislative and regulatory activity at the state and local levels with implications for community development finance.
• Produce OFN’s annual CDFI State Legislation and Advocacy Report, providing analysis of policy trends, opportunities, and emerging threats across states.
• Provide rapid-response analysis and recommendations on state/local policy issues as they arise.

2. Coalition Support and Capacity Building

• Design and lead OFN’s national strategy to support, strengthen, and partner with state CDFI coalitions.
• Conduct a national landscape assessment of emerging and established coalitions to identify needs, challenges, and opportunities for collective impact.
• Deliver targeted technical assistance—including policy analysis, training, and strategic advising—to coalition leaders and members.
• Develop and disseminate training curricula, tools, and resource materials that elevate advocacy capacity and policy engagement across state coalitions.

3. Strategic Relationships and External Engagement

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with organizations engaged in state and local policy, community finance, and economic development.
• Represent OFN in meetings with policymakers, coalitions, advocacy partners, and sector stakeholders.
• Serve as an internal subject-matter expert on state and local policy, supporting cross-department collaboration, education, and strategic initiatives.
• Elevate field perspectives by ensuring state-level insights inform OFN’s national policy priorities, research, and advocacy efforts.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, finance, economics, community development, or related field. 

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in state and local policy, community development, policy and advocacy, or related fields.

• Demonstrated success in policy advocacy, legislative engagement, and relationship building at the state or local levels.

• Strong understanding of community development finance and the role of CDFIs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including policymaker-facing and coalition-facing communication.

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to manage complex policy initiatives.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge, Skill, Abilities, and Physical Requirements:

• Must possess a strong passion for, understanding of, and commitment to OFN’s mission, vision, and values. In addition, be a fearless advocate, who is confident and resilient in OFN’s fight to drive capital into low-income communities.
• A collaborative team player who possesses the interpersonal skills to work across all levels of the organization, humility, and a willingness to learn in all areas of our work. Be a strong team contributor, effective and comfortable in leading as well as supporting roles within teams.
• Be a smart, quick seeker of knowledge with the ability to think strategically, creatively, and tactically to analyze results and assist in implementing plans for increasing capital to communities we serve.
• Deep understanding of the financial regulatory environment and the legislative process.
• Excellent communication skills in public and private settings both in presentation and written formats with the ability to adapt the message to the needs of constituents. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks independently in an effective and efficient manner. 
• Ability to define and set priorities and delegate tasks effectively.
• Ability to be self-motivated and take initiative for new projects and departmental needs.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and write legislative, policy and regulatory proposals.
• Moderate travel required (20%-25% of time).
•  Job involves normal physical requirements for an office position; no extraordinary physical requirements beyond ability to travel.