Policy Director Jobs
Policy Director jobs are open across government, nonprofit, healthcare, education, and advocacy organizations, from senior manager to chief policy officer level, with specializations in regulatory affairs, public policy, and legislative strategy. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 161+ Policy Director jobs
Who We Are:
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization working to ensure a fair, inclusive financial marketplace that creates opportunities for all. Through research, legal analysis, policy development, and state and national advocacy engagement, CRL fights for economic equity for underserved communities—including Black and brown communities, low-to-middle-income families, and rural families. CRL’s staff, allies, and funders reflect a collective commitment to eliminating systemic injustice in America’s financial services.
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. We also protect their financial stability by preventing harmful products that trap families in debt and strip away their income, including predatory high-cost lending and other unfair financial practices. CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, a community development lender founded in 1980.
The Julian Bond Institute (JBI) produces research that illuminates the financial barriers families face, builds the evidence base for policy change, and holds the financial system accountable to the communities it must serve — with the rigor of academic research and the urgency of a civil rights mandate. JBI was launched in early 2025 as part of CRL.
We are seeking a Director of Federal Policy. This role is located in Washington, DC.
How to Apply
To be considered for this position, all applicants must apply through our official recruitment website.
Applications submitted through Indeed will not be reviewed or considered, and we will not respond to applications submitted via Indeed.
What You’ll Do:
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.
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
Experience
- 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.
Skills
- 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.
Values & Commitment
- 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.
Salary:
● Washington, D.C.: $117,000 - $153,400 (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.
JOIN THE TEAM!
Visit the Center for Responsible Lending Careers page to submit your resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
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.
The Center for Responsible Lending 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.
Pay: $117,000.00 - $153,738.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Commuter assistance
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Family leave
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Senior level: 8 years (Required)
Location:
- Washington, DC 20006 (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20006
Who We Are:
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization working to ensure a fair, inclusive financial marketplace that creates opportunities for all. Through research, legal analysis, policy development, and state and national advocacy engagement, CRL fights for economic equity for underserved communities—including Black and brown communities, low-to-middle-income families, and rural families. CRL’s staff, allies, and funders reflect a collective commitment to eliminating systemic injustice in America’s financial services.
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. We also protect their financial stability by preventing harmful products that trap families in debt and strip away their income, including predatory high-cost lending and other unfair financial practices. CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, a community development lender founded in 1980.
The Julian Bond Institute (JBI) produces research that illuminates the financial barriers families face, builds the evidence base for policy change, and holds the financial system accountable to the communities it must serve — with the rigor of academic research and the urgency of a civil rights mandate. JBI was launched in early 2025 as part of CRL.
We are seeking a Director of Federal Policy. This role is located in Washington, DC.
How to Apply
To be considered for this position, all applicants must apply through our official recruitment website.
Applications submitted through Indeed will not be reviewed or considered, and we will not respond to applications submitted via Indeed.
What You’ll Do:
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.
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
Experience
- 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.
Skills
- 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.
Values & Commitment
- 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.
Salary:
● Washington, D.C.: $117,000 - $153,400 (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.
JOIN THE TEAM!
Visit the Center for Responsible Lending Careers page to submit your resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
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.
The Center for Responsible Lending 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.
Pay: $117,000.00 - $153,738.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Commuter assistance
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Family leave
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Senior level: 8 years (Required)
Location:
- Washington, DC 20006 (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20006
See All 161+ Policy Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Policy Director JobsPolicy Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Insurance
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in policy director jobs.
- 7 or more years of experience in public policy, government affairs, or regulatory work
- Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, law, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing policy advocacy strategies
- Proven ability to build relationships with legislators, regulators, and government officials
- Strong written and oral communication skills for briefings, testimony, and stakeholder engagement
- Experience managing cross-functional teams, coalitions, or external policy consultants
Tips for Your Policy Director Job Search
Tailor your resume to policy outcomes
Policy directors are hired on results, not activities. Reframe every bullet around a measurable outcome: legislation passed, regulation shaped, coalition built, or program funded. Generic descriptions of responsibilities won't separate you from other senior candidates.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists policy director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Match your subject matter to the posting
Policy director roles are domain-specific. A posting focused on health equity and a posting focused on financial regulation call for different resumes. Swap in the exact policy area language from each job description rather than sending one version everywhere.
Show your government relations experience clearly
Many hiring managers screen for direct government or legislative experience before reading anything else. Put your time working with agencies, legislatures, or regulatory bodies near the top of your resume, not buried under a long career history.
Prepare a policy brief as a work sample
Interviews for policy director roles often include a written exercise or request for samples. Having a polished, anonymized policy brief ready to share demonstrates analytical depth and professional writing quality before the final-round stage.
Negotiate scope and budget authority upfront
In final-round conversations, ask directly about the size of the team you'll lead, the budget you'll manage, and your authority to represent the organization externally. These define whether the role matches your experience level, not just the title.
Policy Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most policy directors?
The companies hiring the most policy directors right now include Meta, Walmart, and BD, with the largest share of openings in District of Columbia, California, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is concentrated in organizations with active regulatory or legislative exposure, including large health systems, advocacy nonprofits, and technology companies.
How many policy director jobs are remote?
About 86% of policy director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by sector. Roles focused on research, strategy, and written policy work tend to offer more flexibility, while positions requiring regular government relations or lobbying activity are more likely to require an in-person presence near a state capital or Washington, D.C.
How do you become a policy director?
Most policy directors build their careers through a combination of an advanced degree in public policy, law, or a related field and several years of progressively senior roles in government, advocacy, or regulatory affairs. Starting as a policy analyst or legislative staffer, moving into a manager or senior policy role, and developing a specialization in a specific policy area are the typical steps before reaching director level.
Can you get a policy director job without direct government experience?
Yes, but you'll need to demonstrate equivalent exposure to policy processes from another angle. Candidates from think tanks, advocacy organizations, law firms with regulatory practices, or large corporations with government affairs functions have made this transition successfully. Hiring managers look for evidence that you've shaped or influenced policy outcomes, not necessarily that you held a government title.
What does the policy director interview process look like?
The process typically starts with a recruiter or HR screen, followed by a panel interview with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders such as legal, communications, or program teams. Many organizations include a written exercise, such as drafting a policy memo or responding to a regulatory scenario. Final rounds often involve a presentation to executives or board members and a conversation about strategic priorities.
Where can I find and apply to policy director jobs?
You can find and apply to policy director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from organizations across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that fit your policy area, sector, and experience level, then apply directly to each one that matches.
See All 161+ Policy Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Policy Director Jobs