Public Policy Associate, Caribbean & Central America

The Community You Will Join:

We are looking for excellent candidates to serve as Policy Associate on our Caribbean and Central America Public Policy team, working closely with internal cross functional teams, elected officials, and other tourism and digital economy stakeholders.

The Difference You will Make:

Airbnb’s Public Policy & Communications team aims to work closely with elected officials, regulators, and other key stakeholders to introduce them to Airbnb, highlight the significant social and economic contribution our business makes to local areas and its inhabitants, and showcase regulatory best practices from around the world. We want policymakers to understand the challenges that affect our community and find models that are good for cities and our thriving local communities. 

Across the Americas, we are engaged in well over a hundred local conversations and negotiations with governments big and small, and our skilled colleagues and network of activists across the region engage not only governments at local, regional and national levels directly but also use innovative advocacy strategies that actively involve our community in making the case for fair, progressive home sharing rules, and innovative approaches to local experiences.

The Policy Associate will support our government relations and broader stakeholder engagement strategy in the Caribbean and Central America.  We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Policy Associate to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of policy programs in various markets. The ideal candidate will have strong multitasking abilities, exceptional organizational skills, and experience in budget management. This role requires serving as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders and implementing partners to ensure the successful execution of program activities. Additionally, the Policy Associate will play a key role in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the impact of these programs in support of policy goals.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about Airbnb and the sharing economy, and have proven experience with complex regulatory and political issues. An ideal profile would be either as an in-house policy or communications professional or as a consultant - or within politics, communications, grassroots campaigns or other advocacy efforts. 

This role will be remote and will report to the Senior Campaign Manager for the Caribbean and Central America.

A Typical Day: 

Program Design & Implementation:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to design and plan program activities tailored to various markets
• Oversee the effective execution of program activities, ensuring adherence to project timelines and goals.
• Provide input and recommendations on program enhancements based on market-specific needs and challenges.

Budget Preparation & Management:

• Prepare and manage program budgets
• Track expenditures and monitor budget adherence.

Coordination with Implementing Partners:

• Serve as the primary contact for implementing partners, ensuring clear communication and coordination across all stages of program implementation.
• Support partners in overcoming any challenges related to program execution and provide guidance on best practices.

Cross-Functional Team Coordination:

• Successfully collaborate with and coordinate efforts across multiple cross-functional teams to ensure seamless program execution.
• Facilitate communication and alignment of efforts between various departments (e.g., Communications, Legal, Tax, Community, etc.) to meet program objectives.
• Ensure that all teams are effectively working together to achieve program goals and overcome unforeseen challenges.

Multitasking & Organizational Support:

• Prioritize and manage multiple tasks across various program markets while maintaining high attention to detail.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to the program team, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Develop and implement systems for monitoring and evaluating the impact of program activities.
• Collect, analyze, and report on data related to program outcomes, making recommendations for adjustments as needed.
• Prepare regular progress reports for internal teams, partners, and stakeholders

Your Expertise:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, International Studies, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 4-6 years of experience in government affairs, program management, policy analysis, or related roles.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Experience with budget preparation, financial management, and reporting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Office Suite software and with Asana or other project management software.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating program impact, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• At least 6+ years experience direct lobbying or working in public policy in a political, governmental or regulatory context.
• First-rate personal, political, analytical and organizational skills. 
• Excellent communicator with great interpersonal and presentation skills. 
• Ability to work independently as well as a team player in a multi-task work environment while producing the highest caliber work product in a timely manner.
• Acute attention to detail; extremely organized and able to help keep others organized. 
• Strong work ethic, and exhibits professionalism, courtesy and strong interpersonal skills.
• Embraces challenges with a positive and solutions oriented approach. 
• Fluency (reading/writing/speaking) in English and Spanish is essential.
• Willingness to travel frequently to priority markets.

Desired Skills

• Experience with the sharing-economy, digital services, home-sharing, and tourism sectors.
• Knowledge of relevant policies and regulations within the markets in which the programs are being implemented.
• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities in program execution within diverse global contexts.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to think critically in a fast-paced environment

 

The role is remote eligible but must be based in Mexico City. All applicants must be OK with up to 25% travel. 

 

Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging:

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.