Policy and Government Affairs Lead

“The only thing wrong with democratic process is the failure to use it.”

-Seymour Graubard

From the founding of the national banking system to today’s fintech innovations, politics and finance have been intricately connected. From the creation of the national banking system to today’s fintech revolution, the rules that govern financial services don’t just emerge from the market; they are shaped by policymakers, regulators, and the voices that engage with them.

At Mercury, we enable ambitious companies to operate at their highest level, with banking* and credit cards engineered for the startup journey. A key part of fulfilling this mission is navigating the ever-evolving political and regulatory landscape.

That’s why we’re looking for a Policy and Government Affairs Manager to help us navigate and shape these discussions, advocating for smart, innovation-friendly fintech policy and ensuring that the needs of startups and entrepreneurs—our customers—are represented in policy conversations. Startups are the backbone of the modern economy, but too often, policy is constructed with incumbents in mind, making it harder for ambitious founders to access the tools they need to scale. We want to change that.

In this role, you’ll work alongside our Head of Policy and Government Affairs to track key legislative and regulatory developments, engage with policymakers, and champion policies that both enable fintech innovation and empower startups to grow.

If you believe that the best way to shape the future is to be part of the conversation, and if you’re eager to ensure that both fintech companies and the startups they serve have a voice in Washington and beyond—this is your chance.

*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.

What You’ll Do:

• Be Mercury’s eyes and ears in the Policy world. Track policy and regulatory changes that impact fintech and startups, and turn insights into action.
• Build relationships that matter. Connect with regulators, lawmakers, and industry groups to make sure Mercury has a voice in key conversations.
• Advocate for innovation. Represent Mercury at meetings, conferences, and events—pushing for policies that support fintech and the startups we serve.
• Craft our policy story. Help shape Mercury’s stance on key issues and communicate it in a way that resonates with policymakers and the public.
• Work across teams. Partner with legal, compliance, and product teams to ensure Mercury stays aligned with evolving regulations while continuing to innovate.

What We’re Looking For:

• 5+ years of experience in policy, government affairs, or a related role, with exposure to federal banking regulators (e.g., FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve).
• Knowledge of the fintech or tech industry is a plus, but not required.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to craft compelling policy narratives and build relationships.
• A proactive, zero-to-one mindset – you’re excited to build something new and thrive in ambiguous environments.
• Willingness to attend relevant conferences, networking events, and engage directly with external stakeholders.

Why Join Mercury?

We’re a team of innovators working to redefine how startups and ambitious companies manage their finances. By joining us, you’ll have the chance to shape Mercury’s voice in the policy world and make a meaningful impact on the future of fintech.

Compensation

The total rewards package at Mercury includes base salary, equity (stock options), and benefits.

Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers.

Our target new hire base salary ranges for this role are the following:

• US employees in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $203,100 - 225,800
• US employees outside of New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $182,800 - 203,200
• Canadian employees (any location): CAD 184,800 - 213,400

Mercury values diversity & belonging and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All individuals seeking employment at Mercury are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If you need assistance, or an accommodation, please let your recruiter know once you are contacted about a role.

We use Covey as part of our hiring and / or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on January 22, 2024. Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here.

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