Senior VP, Agricultural & Rural Banking Policy

ABA - American Bankers Association; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 290,000 - 393,000; Full time

Job summary

American Bankers Association, based in Washington, D.C., seeks a Senior Vice President of agricultural and rural banking policy to lead ABA’s advocacy, develop policy positions, and represent ABA before Congress, regulators, and industry groups. The role requires deep agricultural policy expertise and strong collaboration across ABA functions to advance a vibrant agricultural economy.

The SVP will lobby committees, prepare testimony, manage coalitions, and translate policy positions for diverse

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience engaging with Congress, regulatory agencies, and Washington-based stakeholders.
• 15+ years of progressive experience including a deep understanding of commercial banking and the agricultural and rural housing lending function and policy.
• Working knowledge of other non-bank lending landscape in the same area preferred.
• Experience and existing relationships within the agricultural and rural economy policy community preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across policy disciplines and organizational functions.
• Ability to connect specialized agricultural and rural banking issues to broader commercial banking and financial services policy.
• Strong judgment and communication skills, including the ability to advise senior executives and work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience developing policy positions and coordinating advocacy across legislative, regulatory, communications, and member-engagement channels.
• Ability to balance external member and stakeholder engagement with sustained participation in the work of a Washington-based policy organization.
• Ability to travel (less than 20%).

Responsibilities

• Lead agricultural and rural banking policy and advocacy: Serve as ABA’s primary subject matter expert on agricultural and rural banking issues and develop, advance, and communicate ABA policy positions to promote a vibrant agricultural economy.
• Represent ABA with policymakers and external stakeholders: In coordination with the broader Congressional Relations team, advocate before Congress, including the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, regulators, industry coalitions, allied organizations, and the media.
• Build strong relationships with other Agricultural and rural-focused advocacy groups with shared priorities.
• Integrate agricultural and rural banking priorities across ABA: Partner with colleagues across Policy and other ABA functions to incorporate agricultural and rural banking perspectives into association-wide legislative, regulatory, communications, research, grassroots, and membership strategies.
• Engage and support ABA’s agricultural banking membership: Lead the Agricultural Bankers Committee, build relationships with bankers across institutions of all sizes, and ensure member perspectives inform ABA advocacy and priorities.
• Provide executive-level expertise and communications: Brief senior bankers and ABA leadership, prepare testimony and advocacy materials, speak at industry events, and translate broader ABA positions for agricultural and rural banking audiences.
• Support industry programming and strategic initiatives: Lead policy support for the Agricultural Bankers Conference, ensure timely agriculture-focused communications, coordinate outside consultants and partners, and provide market intelligence to support ABA products, services, and membership initiatives.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Public speaking

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

American Bankers Association, based in Washington, D.C., seeks a Senior Vice President of agricultural and rural banking policy to lead ABA’s advocacy, develop policy positions, and represent ABA before Congress, regulators, and industry groups. The role requires deep agricultural policy expertise and strong collaboration across ABA functions to advance a vibrant agricultural economy.

The SVP will lobby committees, prepare testimony, manage coalitions, and translate policy positions for diverse