Position Overview

The Society is seeking to hire a Director of Policy Engagement & Advocacy, who will be responsible for the Society’s efforts to monitor, educate its members, engage with policymakers, and advocate on behalf of its members regarding public policy at the federal, state, and international levels. 

The Director of Policy Engagement & Advocacy will report directly to the Society’s President and CEO, while working closely with the Society’s General Counsel and Chief Knowledge Officer, as well as with the Society’s Policy Advisory Committee (which oversees the Society’s policy activities on behalf of the Board of Directors), the Society’s Securities Law Committee (which is actively engaged in the Society’s ongoing interactions with the Securities and Exchange Commission), and with the Society’s member working groups that inform its policy activities at the state and international levels. 

The position requires an attorney with significant knowledge and expertise in the fields of US corporate governance, US securities law, and US and international sustainability disclosure and compliance laws, regulations, and standards. The individual must have an advanced level of planning, communication, and legal analysis skills; the ability to quickly and concisely digest information from various sources; sound legal, policy, and business judgment; a strong and collaborative work ethic to leverage the resources of the Society and collaborate effectively with other organizations; and the ability to represent the Society effectively with legislative, regulatory, judicial, and other standard-setting entities.

Core Responsibilities

The Director of Policy Engagement and Advocacy will be responsible for:

• Developing, executing, and tracking the implementation of the Society’s annual policy advocacy plan, which sets forth the Society’s priorities, including specific steps and timeframes, for advancing the Society’s policy goals with respect to the SEC, other federal agencies, Congress, federal and state courts; state policymakers; international policymakers; and other standard-setting bodies.
• Serving as the key staff person supporting the Society’s Policy Advisory Committee and Securities Law Committee, and other Society committees and working groups, taking a lead role in their coordination and engagement on policy matters.
• Coordinating and drafting regular status reports and ad-hoc internal reports to other internal and external constituents.
• Monitoring policy developments in governance, disclosure, compliance, sustainability, and related areas at the federal, state, and international levels.
• Collaborating with the General Counsel and Chief Knowledge Officer, as well as other national staff and chapter leaders, in educating our members about relevant policy developments, as well in developing and executing the Society’s strategy for engaging and advocating with policymakers.
• Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with policymakers and their staffs, as well as serving as the primary conduit for receiving requests from policymakers and their staffs.
• Drafting, editing, and coordinating the Society’s written comment letters, amicus briefs, and other filings and written submissions with policymakers.
• Briefing policymakers and their staff through in-person meetings and written communications and arranging meetings with the Society’s leadership and members with policymakers, as well as meeting independently with such policymakers.
• Serving as the key liaison with other similar organizations in coordinating on policy matters, as well as with consultants and others the Society may retain from time to time to assist with policy matters.
• Representing the Society at key events and soliciting speakers for Society programs.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the President and CEO.

Qualifications and Experience

• JD required.
• Significant experience required in US securities law, US corporate governance, and sustainability disclosure and compliance regulation.
• Experience in working for, or closely with, government entities.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Advanced project management abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze public policy proposals, effectively collect and use data to shape positions, and communicate complex legal and policy matters in a clear manner to different audiences.