Manager, Public Affairs

Capital One•McLean, VA

About The Position

Capital One is looking for a strategic, creative and results-driven communications professional to join their Public Affairs team. Public Affairs is a cross-functional organization within the Global Policy Affairs Group (GPAG) that advocates, champions and defends Capital One’s policy interests at the federal, state and local levels. GPAG builds and manages relationships with elected officials, third party organizations, the media and others central to the policymaking process. This role provides the opportunity to drive policy communications strategies forward in a fast-paced and dynamic external landscape, leveraging best practices across political engagement, reputation management, and campaign advocacy to enable business growth and mitigate risk. As a key member of the Public Affairs team and Policy Communications tower, the individual will lead the development of comprehensive, multi-channel campaigns that advance legislative and regulatory priorities. This role is designed for an experienced professional who can proactively identify emerging policy trends and translate complex issues into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. The Manager will serve as a strategic advisor to internal business partners, ensuring that policy objectives are integrated into the broader corporate reputation and brand narrative. This position requires exceptional judgment, creative problem solving, and an innate ability to influence. A knack for explaining complex policy issues and a curiosity about perspectives different from one's own are essential to the success of this role. Humility, adaptability and a sense of humor will also serve well.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or military experience
At least five years of communications experience
At least three years of public affairs experience

Nice To Haves

At least three years of experience working with elected officials, regulatory agencies, political campaigns, or any combination of the three
At least three years of consulting experience in a corporate setting, such as a PR agency, trade association or in-house for a private sector business
At least three years of experience working in a highly regulated industry such as financial services, tech, healthcare, or pharmaceuticals
At least one year of experience working with members of the media
At least one year of experience integrating data and research into messaging and earned media plans
At least one year of experience designing, planning and executing events

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end development of advocacy campaigns and communications programs that advance Capital One’s legislative and regulatory priorities at the federal and state levels.
Draft high-impact messaging, talking points, and rapid response materials for internal and external audiences on a range of complex policy issues.
Partner closely with industry associations, coalitions, and peer groups to conceptualize, drive, and shape initiatives that support policy and reputation goals
Provide real-time, strategic counsel to senior leaders, helping to navigate high-stakes policy environments and aligning communications with business objectives
Cultivate strong relationships with key reporters in Washington, D.C., and select markets to drive narratives and provide strategic framing
Leverage Capital One data and proprietary research to contextualize issues for policymakers and support evidence-based storytelling
Stay abreast of evolving trends in the political, policy, and media environment to proactively adjust strategies and mitigate reputational risk.
Orchestrate programs across multiple stakeholders, ensuring seamless collaboration between Government Relations, Legal, and business lines.
Work seamlessly as part of a cross-functional team, in an open and collaborative environment
Project manage and coordinate programs across multiple stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of complex action plans