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Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs

Washington, DC

About Us:

Forage, a mission-driven payments company, assists merchants in accepting government benefits via a unified API. Over 42 million Americans utilize government assistance, such as SNAP, for groceries.

Forage is building the financial infrastructure, starting with EBT SNAP online, to enable merchants of all sizes to serve these customers online.

While we are headquartered in San Francisco, due to the nature of this role, we are seeking a candidate who will be based in Washington, DC with some travel across the United States.

Role Overview:

As the Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs at Forage, you’ll be at the forefront of our efforts to influence policy and ensure compliance across a broad array of industry standards and federal and state regulations. You'll track, analyze, and shape the strategic dialogue between our company and a broad array of stakeholders—addressing everything from the Farm Bill to fraud protection to broader regulatory concerns affecting benefits-related payment methods. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Policy Tracking & Analysis:

    • Monitor public policy developments at both federal and state levels that could impact the company and our community.
    • Keep relevant teams and partners informed and involved in policy discussions and developments.

  • Strategic Partnership & Advocacy:

    • Partner with internal stakeholders to develop policy positions on a diverse array of issues—ranging from technology policy to challenges in processing payments.
    • Identify strategic targets and cultivate relationships with government officials and allied stakeholders

  • Engagement & Representation:

    • Organize and lead meetings between elected officials, company leadership, and community representatives.
    • Lead the company’s engagement with trade associations, coalitions, and lobbying firms as needed.
    • Represent the company at meetings, events, conferences, panels, and public forums.

  • Executive Support:

    • Support executive team engagement with the federal government by drafting remarks, preparing briefing materials, and providing comprehensive follow-up support.
    • Engage with community partners in policy campaigns, offering support to community-led initiatives that align with our mission.

  • Regulatory Guidance:

    • Advise on and ensure adherence to all relevant laws, rules, and regulations governing our products and services—including NACHA’s ACH Rules, the Farm Bill, privacy regulations, and consumer protection statutes.
    • Guide on the implications of regulatory changes, ensuring that our practices remain compliant and ahead of the curve.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration:

    • Work closely with product, engineering, and business teams to integrate compliance and policy insights into products, operational strategies, and guidance for working with partners.
    • Translate complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, actionable recommendations.

Requirements:

  • Experience crafting strategy and delivering results
  • Experience working with US regulators (state or federal) and elected members of Congress
  • A policy and compliance enthusiast
  • Self-starter and collaborative individual contributor
  • Strategic communicator
  • A plus: A law degree (JD) and license to practice law in the United States

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with payment solutions
  • Knowledge of PCI DSS, BSA/AML, third-party risk management, Nacha requirements
  • Experience as a Congressional staffer, particularly for a member on the Senate or House Agriculture Committee

Our Offer:

Your base salary would fall within the bands below. Please keep in mind that the equity portion of your offer is not included in these numbers and represents a significant part of your total compensation.

  • Compensation $150k-$175k USD base + equity + benefits
  • Meaningful work that makes a positive impact on our society.
  • 100% of Medical, Dental and Vision premium coverage for yourself and dependents. 
  • A remote-first work environment with opportunity for onsite meetings.
  • A fun and caring environment that prioritizes transparency, growth, and ownership.
  • A talented, diverse, high-achieving, and humble team with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries at our headquarters in San Francisco, California. Individual pay is determined by work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

We aim to review every application within 3 business days of submission and provide feedback on each of your interviews within 2 business days of completion. If you don't hear from us, please reach out to your recruiter or careers@joinforage.com directly to get an update on your candidacy. Max, our AI recruiter, may reach out with follow-up questions. 



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