Director, Education and Workforce Policy, U.S.

Microsoft•Redmond, WA

About The Position

Microsoft is seeking a Director, Education and Workforce Policy, U.S. to advance policy and translate it into practice to support students, teachers, families, and workers in the age of AI. This role is part of the Global Education and Workforce Policy team within Microsoft Elevate and will focus on impactful initiatives across the U.S., Canada, and select countries in Latin America. The Director will act as a key external representative, engaging with officials, building relationships, and championing strategies that align with Microsoft's values and business goals. Key responsibilities include guiding Microsoft's positions on AI's impact on education and work, promoting responsible AI adoption, and fostering AI literacy. The role involves close collaboration with government affairs teams, country directors, and the sales organization to drive policy and product adoption among government and education clients. This position also interacts with senior Microsoft leaders and various internal and external audiences to advance strategic goals. The role reports to the General Manager, Global Education and Workforce Policy.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Technology, Law, Liberal Arts, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years work experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, government, or related area OR equivalent experience.
5+ years experience in developing and managing strategic relationships to advocate and influence public, regulatory, and technology policy priorities.
5+ years experience influencing, developing, or supporting public policy or political campaigns.
5+ years of building and managing strategic relationships to champion education and/or workforce policy priorities.
Demonstrated expertise in AI literacy, responsible AI in education, or digital skills policy.
Experience working with government agencies, regional/global institutions, unions, or large cross-sector alliances.
Familiarity with emerging technology policy issues, or the ability to quickly master complex technical and regulatory topics.
Experience crafting responses to legislative and policy processes.
Ability to work independently, manage complex workstreams, and build trust with senior stakeholders.
Ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment and contribute across a wide range of policy activities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Technology, Law, Liberal Arts, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years work experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, government, or related area OR equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Execute the global education and workforce policy strategy through high-impact advocacy and programs, especially in target countries and localities.
Lead the design and execution of key policy campaigns, collaborating across functions regionally and globally to amplify Microsoft’s voice.
Lead federal, state, and regional policy analysis and recommendations on education and workforce issues, with a focus on AI.
Localize the global education and workforce policy agenda per a country’s needs and political environment.
Support adoption of AI literacy frameworks, standards, and guidance across education systems (K–12, vocational, higher education, and lifelong learning).
Write policy briefs and responses to government requests for input.
Anticipate emerging opportunities and threats in a fast-changing environment and lead the development of forward-thinking strategies to address them.
Create coalitions or work with diverse partners—from government agencies to think tanks and community leaders—aligning interests and turning stakeholders into advocates for Microsoft’s policy and business goals.
Cultivate and sustain influential relationships with regional institutions, agency staff, regulators, and opinion leaders, building Microsoft’s reputation as a trusted partner and thought leader.
Convene and influence key stakeholders, including agencies, employers, labor unions, civil society, and workforce intermediaries.
Strengthen public-private partnerships with government, including contributions to workforce hubs, advisory councils, and national AI initiatives.
Advise and collaborate with leaders to secure buy-in on policy positions and prepare leaders for public testimony on critical and complex issues.
Develop national and regional workforce narratives, strategic memos, and policy briefs for senior leadership.
Prepare executive materials for engagements, external meetings, parliamentary preparation, and strategy sessions.
Author policy analysis and feedback that summarizes and shapes national and regional education and workforce ecosystems.
Promote responsible AI in education principles across internal and external education and workforce programs.
Partner with regional and local Microsoft teams by providing policy analysis, insight briefs, recommendations, and meeting preparation.
Engage regularly with regional government affairs teams to align country-level actions with global priorities.
Lead and collaborate on high-impact, cross-group projects to develop actionable, scalable solutions for Microsoft’s education and workforce priorities.
Provide thought leadership to overcome regulatory hurdles, partnering closely with the Public Sector and key business leaders to unlock new market opportunities.
Open doors with policymakers, agencies, and institutions to advance Microsoft’s AI capacity-building solutions.
Coordinate communications across departments to guarantee all stakeholders stay informed and engaged on evolving issues.