Head of Policy and External Affairs

Cedar•Washington, DC

11d

About The Position

As Head of Policy & External Affairs at Cedar, you will own Cedar’s engagement with regulators, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and mission-aligned organizations. This role is responsible for ensuring Cedar’s products are understood, viewed favorably, and able to operate and scale within the evolving regulatory landscape. You will serve as Cedar’s primary interface with federal housing and finance institutions (including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA), Congressional stakeholders, industry participants, and nonprofits. You will work closely with the CEO, Product Lead, VP Growth, and external advisors to align policy, messaging, and go-to-market strategy. This is a senior, high-trust role for someone who understands housing policy, financial regulation, and how to build durable relationships across government, industry, and advocacy groups.

Requirements

We are looking for a policy and external affairs leader with strong judgment, credibility, and relationship-building skills.
You should have direct experience working with housing finance institutions, regulators, policymakers, or closely related industry participants.
You understand how regulation, enforcement, and public perception shape the success of financial and housing products.
You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, influencing without authority, and translating complex policy dynamics into clear guidance for internal teams.
Experience in housing policy, mortgage finance, government affairs, or regulated financial services is essential.
This role requires someone who can operate strategically while also executing tactically.
As a start-up, this will be an individual contributor role to start working with colleagues - can expect some headcount support in late '26.
7+ years of experience in public policy, government affairs, regulatory strategy, or related roles
Direct experience engaging with housing finance institutions, regulators, or legislative bodies
Strong understanding of housing, mortgage, or consumer finance policy
Experience working with industry groups, nonprofits, or advocacy organizations
Ability to collaborate closely with product, marketing, and sales teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

Regulatory & Policy Engagement
Build and manage relationships with key federal housing and finance institutions (e.g., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA)
Engage with Congressional offices, regulators, and policy staff on housing affordability issues
Help ensure Cedar operates within existing regulatory frameworks while advocating for clear, fair enforcement
Monitor and interpret changes in housing, finance, and regulatory policy that impact Cedar’s business
External Affairs & Industry Relationships
Represent Cedar with industry participants, trade groups, and nonprofit organizations
Build coalitions with mission-aligned partners focused on housing affordability and access
Position Cedar as a constructive, credible participant in policy and industry discussions
Product & Messaging Alignment
Partner with Product and Engineering to ensure regulatory considerations inform product design
Work closely with Marketing and external PR partners to ensure consistent, accurate, and effective messaging
Help shape how Cedar’s model is explained to regulators, partners, media, and the public
Go-To-Market Enablement
Support Sales and Partnerships by helping build trust-based distribution channels
Assist in opening doors with regulated institutions and large partners
Provide policy and regulatory context that accelerates deal-making