Manager, Public Affairs

Overview

Manager, Public Affairs

At Capital One, we’re building a leading technology company. Founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One helps our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit. We are succeeding because they are succeeding.                                               

Guided by our shared values, we thrive in an environment where collaboration and openness are valued. We believe that innovation is powered by perspective and that teamwork and respect for each other lead to superior results. We elevate each other and obsess about doing the right thing. Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our customers achieve their goals and realize their dreams. Together, we are on a quest to change banking for good.

Working for one of the world’s most recognized brands that is ranked #106 on the Fortune 500 and #15 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Capital One provides multiple opportunities to learn and grow while engaging with world-class business leaders across the enterprise.

About the Role:

Capital One is looking for a strategic, creative and results-driven communications professional to join our 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, you will lead the development of comprehensive, multi-channel campaigns that advance our 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. You will serve as a strategic advisor to internal business partners, ensuring that our 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 your own are essential to the success of this role. Humility, adaptability and a sense of humor will also serve you well. 

Primary 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 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or military experience

• At least five years of communications experience 

• At least three years of public affairs experience 

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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  

At this time, Capital One will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

McLean, VA: $134,400 - $153,300 for Communications Manager

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).