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Job Description:

The Director maintains and strengthens ABA’s alliance with state bankers associations by supporting leadership in managing relationships with 52 state partners. This position ensures each association is actively engaged across key areas, including political advocacy, policy, volunteer leadership, education, training, and member services.

Key Responsibilities: 

Relationship Management

• Process, understand, and analyze information on banking policy, membership, advocacy, products/services, technology, governance, and other vital association functions to make decisions to effectively grow engagement between ABA and the state associations. 

• Work with other key stakeholders across the organization, track state-by-state engagement, and develop strategies to build and grow relationships in specific areas. 

• Conduct outreach to state associations to build relationships with leadership and determine opportunities to grow and tailor engagement. 

• Serve as a liaison to state association peer groups, including Communication Directors and Education Directors. 

Manage all aspects of the Washington Visit Program, including budget, program structure, and coordination with ABA and state association leadership and federal regulatory agency contacts

• Develop and maintain relationships with key agency contacts at CFPB, FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC, Treasury, and other banking regulators. 

• Schedule and execute 30 policy briefings and approximately. 200 agency meetings annually. 

Meeting Planning/Execution

• Plan and execute the annual Alliance Advocacy Workshop and, in collaboration with Advocacy & Innovation team colleagues, the annual State Issues Summit. 

• Work with SVP and Alliance Leadership to plan and coordinate additional Alliance engagements, including State Executives Workshop and Alliance meetings in conjunction with the Conference for Community Bankers, Washington Summit, Summer Leadership Meeting, and Annual Convention. 

Communications/Other Support

• Manage all Alliance communications, including weekly Zoom meetings and newsletters, event marketing, and the Higher Logic group for state executives and state association communications professionals.

• Manage and support key Alliance initiatives, including surveys and ad hoc working groups, etc. 

• Represent the alliance team in interdepartmental meetings to promote the value and impact of ABA’s strong relationships with state associations.

• Support Emerging Leader initiatives, including council meetings, forums, awards program, and programming at ABA conferences.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, public affairs, association management, or stakeholder engagement, ideally within the financial services sector or a member-driven organization. 

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.

• Demonstrated experience in policy, advocacy, or regulatory engagement, with working knowledge of financial services issues strongly preferred. 

• Exceptional project and program management skills, with experience planning and executing high-profile meetings, workshops, and events involving senior executives and government representatives. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience presenting to senior audiences and facilitating collaboration across departments. 

• Skilled at analyzing and synthesizing information related to policy, governance, and membership engagement to develop actionable strategies. 

• Strong understanding of how to navigate complex organizations and align multiple stakeholder interests toward common goals. 

• Proven ability to build and sustain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders, including association partners, government agencies, and industry leaders. 

• Experience managing communications and outreach initiatives, including newsletters, digital platforms, and virtual engagement tools such as Higher Logic or similar systems. 

• Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional initiatives and partner effectively with internal teams, including advocacy, communications, education, and member engagement. 

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines. 

• Collaborative, diplomatic, and highly responsive, with a strong commitment to member service and partnership. 

• Ability to travel (less than 20%).

Target Salary Range:

$120,000 - $130,000

Salary Band Range:

$85,120.00 - $112,810.00 - $140,500.00

American Bankers Association (ABA) is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.