Head of Policy

We believe that the way people interact with their finances will drastically improve in the next few years. We’re dedicated to empowering this transformation by building the tools and experiences that thousands of developers use to create their own products. Plaid powers the tools millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life. We work with thousands of companies like Venmo, SoFi, several of the Fortune 500, and many of the largest banks to make it easy for people to connect their financial accounts to the apps and services they want to use. Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London and Amsterdam.

Plaid is at the forefront of making open finance a reality. As a leader in financial innovation, Plaid is committed to expanding access to financial services and fostering a competitive environment that benefits consumers and businesses. Our Policy team plays a crucial role in shaping and influencing regulatory landscapes by engaging with lawmakers, regulators, consumer advocates, and industry leaders.

The Role

Plaid’s Public Policy Lead is at the forefront of this work, advocating with government policymakers, consumer groups, trade associations, and think tanks to advocate for a robust, secure, and consumer-friendly financial services ecosystem. You will work closely with government policymakers, trade associations, think tanks and other key stakeholders to ensure consumers can use their financial data to access the products and services they need. This role will place you at the intersection of critical and evolving public policy issues, ranging from cybersecurity and privacy to data use and competition.

We seek a proactive, strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex political and regulatory dynamics. The ideal candidate is an exceptional communicator who can translate technical and business concepts into meaningful policy insights and vice versa. You will develop and maintain strong relationships with regulators, financial institutions, and trade organizations while identifying opportunities to advance Plaid’s business and policy goals.

Plaid’s Public Policy team is part of the Policy, Privacy, Legal, and Compliance (PPLC) organization and reports directly to Plaid’s Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. We regularly engage in policy development, regulatory affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement with key legislative, regulatory, and industry bodies to support Plaid’s mission of democratizing financial services.

Responsibilities

• Build and sustain strong, strategic relationships with regulators, legislators and staff, consumer groups, trade associations, financial institutions, and other key stakeholders.
• Participate in industry working groups focused on consumer financial data sharing, cybersecurity, and privacy.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, Privacy, Public Affairs, and Industry Relations to align Plaid’s policy initiatives with business objectives.
• Drive policy analysis, regulatory engagement, and advocacy efforts, contributing to Plaid’s broader business strategy and reputation-building activities.
• Lead and manage the Public Policy team, including recruitment, development, and mentorship.
• Represent Plaid in critical forums, ensuring the company advocates for open finance, data privacy, and competition.
• Stay abreast of evolving policy trends and identify new opportunities for Plaid to influence industry standards and regulatory frameworks.

Requirements

• Location: Washington D.C. is strongly preferred. An exception may be made for exceptional candidates in San Francisco or New York. Must be willing to travel (20-30%).
• 10+ years of experience in federal policy, ideally with experience at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), on Capitol Hill, with prudential regulators, or in a financial services trade association.
• Proven track record of success in advocacy and policy influence within the financial services sector.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
• High-level analytical ability, capable of understanding complex technical and policy issues quickly and thoroughly.
• Technical and product affinity, with the ability to bridge the gap between business strategy, technology, and policy.
• Positive, collaborative, and organized approach, with the tenacity to drive initiatives to completion.