The Center for Responsible Lending is seeking a Director of California Policy to join our team in Oakland, CA. As part of CRL’s State Policy Team supporting stakeholders throughout the 50 states, the Director of California Policy will work with stakeholders in California to develop and advance strategies for advancing strong consumer protection and responsible lending policies in the state.
The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to CRL’s culture of collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and its mission to eliminate the racial wealth gap and provide opportunities for wealth building and economic security for underserved communities.
Identify opportunities and determine priorities in California for CRL policy goals to curb abusive financial services practices.
Develop and lead implementation of advocacy strategies for policy reform in California.
Monitor and develop plans to address significant market and policy developments in California that affect CRL goals.
Document and produce policy briefs on abusive lending practices in California.
Assist in implementation of state-level regulatory and enforcement strategies, particularly in California.
Represent CRL with California elected representatives and other stakeholders, such as the state and federal legislators, and the press.
Ensure strong relationships between CRL and Self-Help branches in California.
Assist in fundraising responsibilities for support of CRL’s work in California.
Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.
Credentials, Experience and Skills:
Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years’ experience in policy analysis in related field or equivalent relevant experience. Experience in finance, economics, civil rights, or consumer protection or advance degree in law or policy preferred.
Experience working with and supporting strong partnerships and coalitions.
Experience and existing relationship with financial services providers and policy makers, particularly in California preferred.
Experience with building partnerships and coalitions in California preferred.
Experience in legislative work and knowledge of financial services preferred.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, low-income families, communities of color, and experience in racial justice analysis and understanding of how federal/state/local policies contributed to and sustained racial wealth disparities.
Passion for CRL’s mission; interest and commitment to social justice work.
Strong commitment to our mission – creating economic opportunity for tradition
Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration.
Sensitivity to issues of low-wealth borrowers and communities and families and communities of color and a desire to work in a racially and socially diverse organization.
Self-starter, able to initiate and juggle multiple projects and work independently.
Demonstrated facility in fostering relationships with diverse constituencies.
Excellent verbal, written, and critical thinking skills.
Excellent public speaking skills.
Ability to facilitate meetings and build consensus.
Excellent research and analytical skills.
Ability to travel throughout the state of California approximately 20%.
Ability to create and deliver presentations.
Proficient in Word, Excel and Power Point.
Spanish language ability a plus.
Ability and willingness to work beyond normal work hours, as needed.
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—particularly Black and brown communities and low-to-middle income families.
CRL’s staff 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, 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.
