We are looking for a Public Policy Associate to support our campaigns across the Southeast US. In this role, you will help to define policy goals and positions and implement them, working closely alongside other functional experts who support those goals through government relations, community engagement, partnerships and project management. This role will report to the Public Policy Lead for the Southeast US.

To do this role effectively you must be able to build trust and engage with a variety of stakeholders, including local and state governments, industry associations, and community organizations, to help them understand our business and the contributions of our community.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about Airbnb’s mission and tourism, and have experience in regulatory, public policy and/or political work in a relevant business or non-governmental organization, or in a public/government entity.

Frequent travel within the US should be expected once travel normalizes, along with occasional travel to our global headquarters in San Francisco.

Responsibilities:

• Support the overall Public Policy team, with a focus on the Southeast regions, by coordinating and executing the company’s public policy strategy
• Assist in the development of local stakeholder engagement strategies and partnership programs, initiating and leading pilot partnership projects with local stakeholders to promote the brand and effectively address regulatory challenges and opportunities
• Represent Airbnb in associations, meetings, and events with government and elected officials, in order to help advance the company’s advocacy initiatives
• Maintain relationships with an extensive network of contacts at the state and local government levels, as well as with allied groups and coalition partners -- building these relationships from scratch if necessary
• Develop external-facing documents, such as feedback to regulatory proposals or industry position papers, in short windows of time
• Engage in research, writing, and other activities to provide analysis and critical thinking on developments affecting the policy in home-sharing or other Airbnb verticals in states across the Southeast US
• Monitor legislation and regulatory matters and advise the company with respect to policy challenges, ensuring progress is reported regularly and roadblocks flagged in a timely fashion
• Assist in managing consultants and external resources to execute our plans

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience working on public policy issues in a relevant business or non-governmental organization, or in a political, governmental or regulatory context. Experience in direct lobbying, a plus.
• Direct government relations experience, preferably in one of the following fields: tourism, housing, or e-commerce/internet regulation – with a track record of influencing regulation and/or legislation at the local or state level. Experience in Southeast region, a plus.
• First-rate personal, political, analytical and organizational skills
• An eye for detail - with an ability to very quickly get up to speed on complex technical and regulatory issues
• Excellent communicator with great interpersonal and presentation skills, both for subject matter experts and the layperson
• Ability to work independently as well as a team player in a matrixed work environment while producing the highest caliber work product
• Ability to manage multiple projects and navigate a complex matrix organization with multiple stakeholders
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to resolve complex and unfamiliar problems in a timely manner
• Embraces challenges with a positive and solutions-oriented approach
• Acute attention to detail; extremely organized and able to help keep others organized
• Self-starter with a sense of humor and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in the use of online collaboration and productivity tools
• Fluency (reading/writing/speaking) in English. Spanish, a plus.
• Degree, or advanced degree level, in related field
• Willingness to travel potentially up to 50% of the time