Director of Federal Policy

Job Description:

Who We Are:

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a non-partisan, nonprofit research and policy advocacy organization that promotes financial fairness and economic opportunity for all, including families of color, rural residents, women, military personnel, low-income borrowers, low-wealth individuals, and early-career workers.

CRL provides a strong voice on both the state and national levels for these families to expand family wealth and financial stability through sustainable homeownership, affordable higher education, and support for small businesses, and protect their financial stability by preventing abusive products that trap families in debt and strip away their income, by ending payday lending and other predatory high-cost lending, exorbitant bank fees, and abusive debt collection practices. CRL’s staff, allies, and funders reflect a collective commitment to eliminating systemic injustice in America’s financial services.

CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, a community development lender founded in 1980 that has provided more than 9 billion dollars in financing to help over 185,000 low-wealth borrowers buy homes, build businesses, and strengthen community resources.

We are seeking a Director of Federal Policy for our Washington, DC team!

Position Summary:

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role where your voice carries weight: you'll set strategy alongside CRL's President, supervise a talented policy and litigation team, and represent CRL as a spokesperson in the media and on the Hill. If you're driven by the belief that financial systems should work fairly for everyone, not just those with wealth and power, this role puts that belief into action every day.

What You’ll Do:

Shape Federal Policy

• You'll lead CRL's strategy for advancing our legislative and regulatory agenda, monitoring proposed legislation, drafting policy proposals, and guiding our positions on everything from mortgage lending to payday loans. You'll oversee our Hill and regulatory engagement, working closely with issue teams to make sure CRL's voice is heard where it matters.

Lead a Team You Believe In

• You'll supervise our federal policy staff, setting goals, coaching for growth, and building a team culture rooted in inclusion and shared purpose. You'll help your team navigate competing priorities and make the call on where CRL's resources can have the most impact.

Be the Face of CRL's Federal Work

• Whether it's a coalition meeting, a congressional briefing, or a media interview, you'll represent CRL with credibility and clarity. You'll build and deepen relationships with coalition partners, industry contacts, and allies across the consumer protection and civil rights space.

Connect Strategy to Impact

• You'll sit at the table for CRL's broader strategic conversations, helping leadership understand how federal opportunities and constraints shape what's possible — and you'll track and report on your team's work so we can keep learning and improving.

What You’ll Bring

• 8+ years of progressive senior experience in federal policy, for example: Hill, regulatory agency, or comparable experience strongly preferred.
• Supervisory experience and a track record of building strong, motivated teams.
• Sharp strategic thinking paired with strong writing and communication skills e.g., you can write a comment letter and deliver testimony with equal confidence
• Comfort in representing an organization publicly, including in the media and on the Hill.
• A collaborative spirit: this role thrives on partnership, not solo work.
• A genuine, demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, including an understanding of how policy has shaped racial wealth disparities.
• Passion for CRL’s mission; interest and commitment to social justice work.

Nice to Have

• A JD, master's in public policy, or background in consumer financial law, but we care more about what you've done than what's on your diploma.
• Experience in civil rights, housing/mortgage lending, predatory lending, consumer law, or banking law.
• Experience and skill at building relationships with external partners and cultivating collaboration.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, families of modest means, communities of color, and experience in racial justice analysis and understanding of how federal/state/local policies contributed to and sustained racial wealth disparities.

WORK ARRANGEMENTS

• The Director of Federal Policy is a hybrid role, based out of Washington, D.C. Staff are expected to be in the office three days per week, with Monday and Wednesday as communal days and the third day determined by each individual. This role may include occasional travel. Similarly, because we work across three time zones, leaders often make themselves available to connect during evening hours.

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY & BENEFITS

• CRL believes that wealth inequality undermines the security and strength of families, communities, and the US economy. For that reason, we maintain a minimum salary floor well above the federal minimum wage for our staff, to help them meet their basic needs and save for the future. We also cap salaries at the higher end of our compensation scale, where many staff, including the CEO and other senior leaders, earn the same salary, subject only to geographic adjustments.
• Anticipated Compensation Range: $117,000-$153,738 (DC CAP)
• Compensation ranges are based on local market rates and are determined by geography, role, and experience. The higher end of each range represents the current organizational salary cap for each location, which increases annually based on cost of living and organizational performance.

Health

• Medical, dental & vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, with 80% to 100% of premiums paid by Self-Help depending on coverage levels selected.
• Employee Assistance Program Access.

Paid Time Off

• Vacation accrued at 15 days/year; sick time accrued at 12 days/year.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave of 12-16 weeks, prorated for staff with less than 1 year of service.

Financial Wellbeing

• 401k match - 3% company contribution, plus an additional $1 for $1 on first 6% that the employee contributes.
• CRL-paid life insurance of $50,000, plus long-term disability and accidental death & dismemberment coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• As a 501(c)(3) organization, employment with CRL may provide an opportunity for student loan forgiveness. Candidates should review the provisions of their student loans to determine if this is applicable.

CRL’s work focuses on those who may be marginalized or underserved by the existing financial marketplace, or in many cases, people who are targeted for unfair and abusive financial products that leave them worse off. This includes people of color, women, rural residents, and low-wealth families and communities. We strongly encourage applicants from these communities to apply, even if they may not meet every listed qualification. Diverse perspectives drive innovation, and we are committed to building a team that reflects the identities and experiences of the communities we serve.

Interview Process

CRL’s aim is that the hiring process is both robust and efficient, ensuring that there is time for mutual discovery along the way. For this role, candidates can expect a phone screen, video interview with the hiring manager, a panel interview, and an on-site final interview. Once the interview process begins, we anticipate it will take 4-6 weeks until an offer is made and communicated.

Self-Help is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Company Disclaimer: 

Self-Help is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status.