AI Policy Advisor

State of Utah Office of the Governor • Salt Lake City, UT

4d • $32 - $38 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Utah Department of Commerce, Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, is seeking an AI Policy Advisor to help drive policy research, analysis, and strategic translation for Utah’s AI Learning Lab. This is an applied policy-translation and communications role operating at the intersection of legislative strategy, regulatory innovation, and public administration. The AI Policy Advisor's work will directly inform regulatory decisions, legislative recommendations, regulatory mitigation agreements, and stakeholder strategy. This role focuses on policy formulation and strategic synthesis. It relies heavily on a keen sense for stakeholder needs, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to operate effectively alongside colleagues with technical, business, regulatory, and legal expertise. The right candidate will be a skilled translator capable of taking complex technical findings, expert data, and ambiguous AI-policy questions, structuring them clearly, and turning them into usable, persuasive recommendations for state decision-makers. It will also require strong judgment, clear writing, and the ability to operate in a small multidisciplinary team alongside colleagues with technical, business, regulatory, and legal expertise. The right candidate will be comfortable taking ambiguous AI-policy questions, structuring them, evaluating the evidence, talking to experts, and producing usable recommendations for decision-makers. The Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy was created in May 2024 as part of Utah’s effort to systematically develop sensible AI policy across major impact areas such as healthcare, education, finance, transportation, and consumer technology. Central to the Office is the AI Learning Lab, where industry experts, academics, regulators, and policymakers work toward appropriate regulatory responses to emerging AI applications. The Office also has authority to create regulatory mitigation agreements that allow responsible AI businesses to test products in Utah under structured conditions while the state gathers evidence and develops longer-term policy solutions. A hybrid telework schedule may be available, although regular in-person work will be needed.

Requirements

• Proven experience analyzing public policy, tracking legislation, navigating state government or regulatory environments, and demonstrating the political acumen necessary to manage competing stakeholder interests.
• Outstanding written communication skills, with a verified ability to synthesize highly complex, ambiguous information into clear, concise, and professional legislative briefings and executive memos.
• A strong conceptual understanding of AI technologies, data privacy paradigms, and emerging tech trends. You do not need to write code or analyze statistics, but you must be able to understand technical findings and explain their real-world policy implications.
• Solid familiarity with the emerging AI governance landscape, risk mitigation frameworks, consumer protection challenges, and the operational mechanics of regulatory sandboxes or learning labs.
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to write clearly for policy, legal, regulatory, business, and technical audiences.
• Interest in AI policy, responsible innovation, regulatory design, and the business implications of AI deployment.
• Ability to work effectively in agile teams with diverse expertise and under conditions of uncertainty.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in legislative staffing, public administration, regulatory design, or government relations.
• Expertise in public policy, law, regulatory design, or government decision-making.
• Advanced degrees in public policy, law (JD), public administration (MPA), strategic communications, or a related field. Equivalent preference given to a high-level of related experience.
• Experience translating technical, scientific, or medical concepts for political or executive decision-makers.
• Specific experience evaluating consumer protection, privacy, or healthcare policy.
• Experience supporting AI deployment in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Independently scope and execute research projects on emerging AI policy questions, translating complex technical and empirical evidence into practical, actionable policy options for nontechnical decision-makers.
• Monitor, track, and analyze state and national AI-related legislation. Participate in the legislative process, collaborate with legislative drafters to refine statutory language, and form flexible regulatory definitions.
• Draft executive policy memos, legislative briefings, technical explainers, risk assessments, and regulatory mitigation analyses that are clear, objective, and tailored to state and agency leadership.
• Interface with business leaders, technologists, researchers, regulators, legislators, and lawyers to understand AI applications and help diverse stakeholders align on well-reasoned regulatory responses.
• Evaluate incoming proposals from AI vendors seeking regulatory mitigation agreements, assessing policy impacts, consumer risk, and establishing compliance expectations without needing to run technical audits yourself.
• Advise on the development of regulatory and legal standards as the Office’s recommendations move through agency, legislative, and stakeholder processes.
• Help design, streamline, and optimize internal office workflows, including building standardized tracking systems for sandbox proposals, intake evaluations, and public feedback loops.
• Work with experts across disciplines to understand the benefits, risks, evidence gaps, and practical constraints associated with AI deployment in Utah.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed