Policy Analyst, Pension - American Academy of Actuaries

Washington, DC 20036

About the Job

Title: Policy Analyst, Retirement

Department: Public Policy

Reports to: Director, Public Policy

Direct report(s): N/A

OVERVIEW:

The Retirement Policy Analyst supports the American Academy of Actuaries’ Retirement Practice Council, which leads the actuarial public policy work within the Retirement portfolio, including multiemployer plans, pensions, public plans, retirement policy, and social security. Working collaboratively with the Practice Council Vice President and Senior Retirement Fellow, the policy analyst is the primary point of contact for a cadre of active volunteer members within the Retirement practice area. The policy analyst routinely monitors and analyzes relevant legislation and regulations for potential impact to Academy members and the actuarial profession and provides that information to the Council and appropriate Committees and Task Forces. The role incorporates policy analysis and project management responsibilities, requiring the ability to multi-task effectively and manage multiple projects with competing prioritization by exercising independent judgement and following established organizational and departmental processes. The policy analyst will identify, maintain, and grow relationships with volunteers, state and federal policymakers, and other key external stakeholders. The policy analyst, working with the Senior Director and other staff leadership, develops and monitors the Practice Council budget. On an annual basis, the policy analyst collaborates with the Senior Director and Director of Public Policy, as well as the Practice Council Vice President, Senior Retirement Fellow, and committee leadership in strategic planning. The policy analyst will develop a strong public policy understanding of the landscape and specific issues of interest to the Practice Council to represent the Practice Council, the Public Policy department, and the Academy’s public policy vision and mission before stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Policy Analysis:

Proactively identifies and shares public policy issues and related activity with department and Practice Council, to help stimulate discussion and propose future engagement through work product development, presentations, or other outreach.
Collaborates with the Senior Retirement Fellow to support the Practice Council, identify key external opportunities to spotlight the work of the Practice Council and its membership, and engage with internal and external stakeholders to enhance and support the Academy’s public policy mission.
Collaborates with department colleagues and other Academy staff to develop content that highlights key policy issues related to Retirement insurance and the broader marketplace. Content includes blog posts, newsletter and magazine content, podcasts, and external presentations.
Monitors, analyzes, and briefs Practice Council and department colleagues on primarily federal legislative and regulatory proposals of importance to the actuarial profession and the Academy’s public policy mission.
Develops reports and shares briefing materials with Senior Director and Vice President for use at Board meetings and other internal updates. This includes monthly action reports, quarterly cycle reports, and other materials as directed by senior leadership.

Project Management:

Working collaboratively with the Practice Council and related committees, supports the identification and lifecycle of public policy work products (comment letters, issue briefs, monographs, practice notes, presentation materials, etc.).
Leveraging project management tools (Asana), responsible for creating, tracking, reporting, and finalizing work products for the Practice Council. Using Academy supported technology, captures, and identifies opportunities to improve processes, develops department best practices, and drafts standards of practice (SOPs).
As chief liaison and staff support for the Practice Council and its Committees and Task Forces, in consultation with the Vice President, Senior Retirement Fellow and other leadership, responsible for agenda development, maintaining accurate records of meetings and work products, managing the Practice Council budget, and governance compliance. This also includes governance functions related to volunteer tenure, volunteer recruitment, volunteer on-boarding, and succession planning.
Working with other internal staff, including the Education and Events team, manages and supports the successful delivery of in-person events, including the regular Practice Council and committee meetings, Academy annual meeting break-out sessions, annual hill visits, and federal agency meetings.

Collaborative Communication:

Working with internal staff, including Education and Events and Communications/Marketing staff, identifies, schedules, and organizes retirement-related webinars that highlight Practice Council work products, key public policy issues, and facilitates discussions with external stakeholders.
In consultation with the Vice President, Senior Retirement Fellow, Senior Director, and other Academy leadership, promote panels and other external speaking events that spotlight the work and policy positions of the Practice Council.
Serves as a resource on the Academy’s retirement public policy issues for external stakeholders.
Builds and maintains relationships with public policy decision-makers to increase awareness of the Academy’s role as a source of independent analysis and actuarial expertise. To support ongoing engagement with key external stakeholders and other interested parties, identifies and regularly maintains contact records.
Supports the Academy’s membership by highlighting the value of volunteering, promotes the work of the Practice Council and other volunteers, and emphasizes the value that actuaries bring to the public policy process.
Other duties as assigned.

Travel: Less than 5%

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Excellent interpersonal communication, public speaking, writing, and editing skills.
Overall resourcefulness and ability to take initiative.
Experience in successful relationship building and understanding of stakeholder relationship development.
Effective time management, project management and organizational skills.
Working knowledge of state and federal legislative and regulatory processes, political landscape, and insurance environment.
Ability to work independently, meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks in a busy environment.
Collaborative work ethic.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

College degree and a minimum of four years of association, trade, or legislative/regulatory public policy experience. Understanding of retirement policy issues or insurance more broadly is preferred. Project management experience and experience with Asana is a plus.

SALARY RANGE: $73,000-85,000.

FLSA Classification: Exempt.

About American Academy of Actuaries:

The American Academy of Actuaries is a D.C.-based 20,000+ member professional association whose mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. Academy members include consultants, corporate executives and staff, regulators, government officials, academics, and retired actuaries. Their areas of practice cover pensions, life insurance, casualty insurance, health insurance, financial reporting, risk management, and more.The Academy assists public policymakers on all levels by providing leadership, objective expertise, and actuarial advice on risk and financial security issues. The Academy also sets qualification, practice, and professionalism standards for actuaries credentialed by one or more of the five U.S.-based actuarial organizations in the United States.Many of today's most pressing public policy issues require the sound application of actuarial principles. The Academy provides actuarial expertise and advice to public policy decision makers on a wide array of issues that require the special set of skills and qualifications that actuaries offer.

Source : American Academy of Actuaries