Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
The Community You Will Join:
Airbnb's various functional teams are committed to embodying the company's core values and innovative spirit, and leading the industry as a 21st century company. In the same vein, the Public Policy Team aims to achieve the goal by working closely with various central and local governments, legislature and law-makers, regulators and law-enforcement agencies, public entities, industry associations, research institutions and academia, user communities, as well as the broader public, to introduce them to the numerous benefits of sharing/collaborative economy exemplified by Airbnb and its corporate values. The team highlights the significant socio-economic contributions our business makes to the nation and local communities, and showcase best practices from around the world.
On one hand, we want policy-makers to understand the regulatory challenges that affect our host communities and find models that are good for cities/towns and their inhabitants. On the other hand, we want to help our societies embrace an innovative, collaborative economy, where we can all belong. Belonging to a wider regional policy department, we are engaged in multiple conversations and negotiations with governments, and our experienced colleagues and network of activists across the region engage not only governments at local, regional and national levels directly but also use effective policy strategies that actively involve our community and thought partners in making the case for fair, progressive home-sharing rules, and innovative approaches to local experiences. We structure our work in local campaign pods, drawing on a wide range of policy tools and campaign disciplines - from detailed policy work, through high-impact strategic partnerships, proactive policy media engagements, community organizing, creative digital tactics and initiatives, informative polling, innovative data science and research, and persuasive policy narratives and messages.
The Difference You Will Make:
The main role of the Public Policy Manager is to support the Public Policy lead with the daily operations to ensure the conception and execution of successful policy campaigns. The Public Policy Manager will draft, develop and execute integrated tactical/ground-level policy engagement plans and projects to attain key policy objectives by utilizing various in-person and digital tools to engage key stakeholders toward specific policy and political goals in response to active or developing legislation or regulation. The scope of work goes much further as an important team partner who will also help devise and establish overarching strategic aspects of all campaigns and policy decisions alongside the team lead.
As a Public Policy Manager, you must be meticulously organized, detail- and solutions-oriented. You are also able to see the big picture and prioritize projects strategically when needed, while understanding how to synthesize necessary information/data that should be escalated to leadership. You should have a strong work ethic and excellent communication skills, and an ability to take big ideas and translate them into policy with a positive and creative outlook. The ability to develop and maintain good and strong relationships with key internal functions and stakeholders in the region and globally within Airbnb will be highly valued.
A Typical Day:
- Develop and implement Airbnb’s legislative and public policy activities; including helping determine advocacy priorities, positions, and strategies.
- Review language, draft comments, and research issues to provide analysis and critical thinking on legislation affecting Airbnb’s priorities.
- Maintain relationships with an extensive network of contacts in local, regional, and national legislative, executive, and administrative offices, as well as with allied groups and coalition partners.
- Represent Airbnb in meetings with government and elected officials, as well as industry associations, Airbnb hosts, and other stakeholders.
- Represent Airbnb at public speaking engagements as directed by the Head of Public Policy.
- Recruit and manage consultants and agencies to support campaign plans.
- Ensure progress is reported accurately and regularly, and roadblocks flagged in a timely fashion.
- Works closely with local business partners to make sure that campaign plans fit with other local business priorities and outcomes.
- Monitor and track legislation and regulatory matters as directed.
- Support as needed to help implement Airbnb’s legislative and public policy activities.
Your Expertise:
- At least 8 years experience working with policy issues in a relevant business, political, governmental, legislative or regulatory context such as tourism and accommodation business, e-commerce / internet / platform regulation, housing and landlord/tenant law, or tax issues.
- Ability to quickly get up to speed on complex technical and regulatory issues.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and navigate complex matrix organization with multiple stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; planning, memo-writing and budgeting/basic accounting skills with proficiency in major computer applications.
- Extremely creative; takes an entrepreneurial approach to the work with a proven track record of being proactive.
- Highly results-driven and strives to find the most efficient way to do things without sacrificing a high quality of work and/or results.
- Excellent communicator with great presentation and writing skills both in English and local language.
- Acute attention to detail; extremely organized and able to help keep others organized.
- Strong work ethic, and exhibits professionalism, courtesy and strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to exercise judgment and maintain confidentiality.
- Flexible with the ability to remain poised under pressure; adapts to situations as they arise.
- Embraces change and challenges with a positive and solutions-oriented approach.
- Self-starter with a sense of humor and the ability to thrive in a fast moving and sometimes stressful environment; ability to resolve complex and unfamiliar problems in a timely and efficient manner.
- Passion for home-sharing and the mission of the company.
- Leadership skills and experience in managing other people and developing teams will be nice to have.
- Willingness to travel.
What We Do
Airbnb is a community based on connection and belonging—a community that was born in 2008 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million hosts who have welcomed over 800 million guest arrivals to about 100,000 cities in almost every country and region across the globe. Hosts on Airbnb are everyday people who share their worlds to provide guests with the feeling of connection and being at home. At Airbnb, we believe that hosts, guests and the communities where we operate are all stakeholders we have a responsibility to serve, and that by serving them alongside our employees and investors, we will build an enduringly successful company.