Careers
Director of Housing
Public Policy Internship
Director of Housing
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), one of the nation’s leading nonprofit consumer advocacy organizations, seeks a full-time Housing Director to lead CFA’s research, educational and advocacy efforts on housing issues such as consumer access to affordable mortgages, ensuring the broad housing supports like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA are effectively focused on serving low- and moderate- income (LMI) consumers, strengthening fair lending practices at the federal level, and working with regulators like the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Administration, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to identify and encourage policies that advance and protect the interests of LMI consumers.
About CFA
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Today, more than 250 of these groups participate in the federation and govern it through their representatives on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
- Advocate for housing affordability and consumer protection policies before Congress and at regulatory agencies.
- Serve as CFA spokesperson on housing issues and communicate policy positions to the press, policymakers, and the public.
- Generate, undertake, and oversee research and identify useful research from other credible sources.
- Engage in dialogues with businesses and industry groups.
- Represent CFA on relevant consumer advisory committees.
- Work in coalition with other advocates on housing affordability and consumer protection issues.
- Provide educational tools for consumers to help them deal with an increasingly complex marketplace.
Advocacy
- Communicate and build relationships with Members of Congress and regulators.
- Produce content for legislative and regulatory efforts, including authoring and collaborating on comments on proposed regulations affecting consumer access to mortgage credit and other relevant issues.
- Organize and participate in meetings with stakeholders on housing issues.
- Work with other members of the CFA team on overlapping issues.
- Develop coalitions with colleague organizations to promote pro-consumer housing policies.
Research
- Develop and implement research projects to expose consumer problems, promote solutions, and provide consumer education on housing issues.
- Identify research from credible sources to validate policy positions and inform advocacy and consumer education efforts.
Press
- Prepare press releases and social media outreach promoting issues, exposing problems, and presenting research results.
- Identify and cultivate relationships with key reporters covering housing issues.
- Participate in the development of overall communication strategies associated with housing issues.
- Where appropriate, write and publish blog articles on the CFA website explaining and promoting CFA positions on pending housing policy matters.
Conference and Event Support
- Develop themes and sessions for CFA conferences, inviting panelists and keynotes, and supporting conference planning efforts.
Qualifications
- BA (required), MA, JD (a plus).
- Ten-plus years’ experience in housing policy or other housing-adjacent policy areas.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and manage comments on proposed regulatory initiatives and regulations, as well as draft legislation and prepare for pending hearings on relevant topics.
- Effective communication skills, including written, interpersonal, and verbal.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Experience working with nonprofit advocacy-oriented organizations.
Benefits
- 100% employer-paid health care, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance.
- Three weeks paid vacation to start and three personal days.
- Federal holidays.
- Generous paid sick leave
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution after the first year.
- Hybrid position with two days in the office and three days work from home per week.
- Salary Range, depending on experience: $100,000 – $125,000
Please send your cover letter and resume to scooper@consumerfed.org.
Consumer Federation of America is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status, or to other non-work-related factors.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: Sara Cooper, 202-939-1014, scooper@consumerfed.org.
Public Policy Internship
The Consumer Federation of America, a Washington, DC-based non-profit that works to advance the rights of consumers through research, advocacy and education, is seeking talented, motivated interns with an interest in food and product safety, consumer protection, and financial services.
Interns work with advocates to advance pro-consumer policy on a variety of issues before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and the courts. They also assist with research to investigate consumer issues, such as high-cost credit, privacy, the safety of children’s products, and fish, meat and poultry inspection. CFA seeks applicants who are pursuing a graduate or law degree and who possess a high level of oral and written communication skills.
Based at the Consumer Federation of America’s office in Washington, DC, the internship is unpaid, though course credit can be given if the intern makes appropriate arrangements. In-city transportation stipends may be available. Full or part time.
To apply for an internship, submit a cover letter and resume to Sara Cooper. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Start and end dates flexible.