The Vice President of State and Local Policy for Community Development Finance leads Opportunity Finance Network’s state and local policy strategy, advancing the conditions that enable community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to thrive. This role focuses on strengthening statewide community development finance ecosystems; supporting the formation, growth, and effectiveness of state CDFI coalitions; and engaging with policymakers, partners, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings strong policy acumen, deep knowledge of CDFIs, and a proven ability to build relationships, drive advocacy, and provide strategic support across diverse coalitions.

OFN is the nation’s leading investment intermediary and network CDFIs serving rural, urban, and Native communities across the United States. With over $1 billion in total assets under management, OFN manages a national membership network of over 490 mission-driven lenders and CDFIs, including community development loan funds, credit unions, green banks, community development banks, minority depository institutions, and venture capital funds. OFN is a trusted investment partner to the public, private, and philanthropic sectors – foundations, corporations, banks, government agencies, and others. For more than 40 years, our team has helped partners invest in communities to catalyze change and create economic opportunities for people and places traditional finance doesn’t reach.
To learn more, visit www.ofn.org
People who work at OFN come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds. If you have:

• Passion for the mission and true believer in our core purpose.
• Courage to be a fearless advocate who is confident and resilient in our fight to drive capital into low-income communities.
• Smart, quick seekers of knowledge who thrive on creating and developing new strategies, products, and programs for increasing capital to communities we serve.
• Desire to be a collaborative team player who possesses humility and a willingness to lean in all areas of our work.

Come be a part of our growing diverse, highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff. At OFN, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply nonetheless. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

This position is based in Washington, D.C. All staff currently work a hybrid schedule.  

Key Responsibilities

1. Policy Development and Advocacy

• Lead development and execution of comprehensive state and local policy strategies that expand, protect, and sustain CDFIs.
• Monitor, assess, and forecast legislative and regulatory activity at the state and local levels with implications for community development finance.
• Produce OFN’s annual CDFI State Legislation and Advocacy Report, providing analysis of policy trends, opportunities, and emerging threats across states.
• Provide rapid-response analysis and recommendations on state/local policy issues as they arise.

2. Coalition Support and Capacity Building

• Design and lead OFN’s national strategy to support, strengthen, and partner with state CDFI coalitions.
• Conduct a national landscape assessment of emerging and established coalitions to identify needs, challenges, and opportunities for collective impact.
• Deliver targeted technical assistance—including policy analysis, training, and strategic advising—to coalition leaders and members.
• Develop and disseminate training curricula, tools, and resource materials that elevate advocacy capacity and policy engagement across state coalitions.

3. Strategic Relationships and External Engagement

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with organizations engaged in state and local policy, community finance, and economic development.
• Represent OFN in meetings with policymakers, coalitions, advocacy partners, and sector stakeholders.
• Serve as an internal subject-matter expert on state and local policy, supporting cross-department collaboration, education, and strategic initiatives.
• Elevate field perspectives by ensuring state-level insights inform OFN’s national policy priorities, research, and advocacy efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, finance, economics, community development, or related field. 

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in state and local policy, community development, policy and advocacy, or related fields.

• Demonstrated success in policy advocacy, legislative engagement, and relationship building at the state or local levels.

• Strong understanding of community development finance and the role of CDFIs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including policymaker-facing and coalition-facing communication.

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to manage complex policy initiatives.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge, Skill, Abilities, and Physical Requirements:

• Must possess a strong passion for, understanding of, and commitment to OFN’s mission, vision, and values. In addition, be a fearless advocate, who is confident and resilient in OFN’s fight to drive capital into low-income communities.
• A collaborative team player who possesses the interpersonal skills to work across all levels of the organization, humility, and a willingness to learn in all areas of our work. Be a strong team contributor, effective and comfortable in leading as well as supporting roles within teams.
• Be a smart, quick seeker of knowledge with the ability to think strategically, creatively, and tactically to analyze results and assist in implementing plans for increasing capital to communities we serve.
• Deep understanding of the financial regulatory environment and the legislative process.
• Excellent communication skills in public and private settings both in presentation and written formats with the ability to adapt the message to the needs of constituents. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks independently in an effective and efficient manner. 
• Ability to define and set priorities and delegate tasks effectively.
• Ability to be self-motivated and take initiative for new projects and departmental needs.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and write legislative, policy and regulatory proposals.
• Moderate travel required (20%-25% of time).
•  Job involves normal physical requirements for an office position; no extraordinary physical requirements beyond ability to travel.

EOE

Supervisor: EVP, Chief Public Policy Officer and Head of Government Affairs

FLSA Status: Exempt

The target salary range for this position is $110,000 - $124,000. The salary offered will depend on internal pay equity and the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and job market data. Exceptional performers in this role who make an outsized contribution can make well in excess of this range.

Salary is one part of OFN’s comprehensive total rewards package, which includes benefits like dental, health, and vision care plans, and family-building benefits like hybrid work arrangements to promote a better work-life balance. OFN also offers Lifestyle Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, and mental health benefits. To maximize teammate financial well-being, OFN offers financial education and auto-enrollment in the company's 403(b) plan with employer contributions. To maximize professional growth, OFN provides professional development dollars for each employee, alongside learning and development opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in joining the OFN team in our effort and commitment to create opportunity for all.