Director, Public Policy - Emerging Technology & Strategic Policy

Lumen Technologies • Remote, OR

9d • $132,232 - $193,940 • Onsite

About The Position

Lumen is seeking a strategic, forward-looking Director of Public Policy to help shape the policy environment for the company’s next generation and the digital infrastructure economy. As Lumen transforms into a trusted network for AI, this role will focus on emerging technology, infrastructure, national security, competition, and economic policy issues that influence AI and the broader digital economy. The Director will assess what these changes mean for Lumen, its customers, and the networks on which they depend.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Policy, the Director will serve as a senior policy strategist and key partner in developing Lumen’s positions on AI and other emerging issues central to the company’s future. The role requires anticipating policy developments, identifying their downstream implications, and translating them into business risks, opportunities, and actionable policy strategies. Deep expertise in every portfolio issue is not expected; intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to rapidly develop expertise in evolving areas are essential. The position is based in Washington, D.C.

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant experience in public policy, government, technology policy, national security, economic policy, regulatory policy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex policy questions and understand downstream implications for businesses, markets, customers, and government.
• Strong understanding of the technology policy landscape.
• Ability to quickly develop substantive expertise in unfamiliar and rapidly evolving policy areas.
• Strong business acumen and ability to connect public policy to competitive strategy and commercial outcomes.
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to make complex issues understandable and actionable for senior executives.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to independently identify important questions, develop a point of view, and drive work forward with limited direction.
• Sound judgment and comfort making recommendations amid ambiguity, incomplete information, and rapidly changing technology.
• Proven ability to influence and work effectively across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Executive presence and ability to credibly represent Lumen with senior government, industry, and external stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with AI policy is highly valued but not required.
• Experience working on technology, AI, cybersecurity, national security, competition, digital infrastructure, cloud, semiconductor, data, or other emerging technology policy issues.
• Experience in the Executive Branch, Congress, a regulatory agency, a technology company, a think tank, or another environment requiring sophisticated policy analysis.
• Existing relationships within the Washington technology and public policy ecosystem.
• Experience at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and government policy.
• Advanced degree in public policy, law, economics, business, technology, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy development on AI and other emerging technology issues central to Lumen’s transformation and long-term competitive position.
• Identify external policy, regulatory, geopolitical, national security, and market developments that could enable or constrain Lumen’s strategy.
• Develop proactive policy positions advancing Lumen’s interests as a provider of critical digital infrastructure in an AI-driven economy.
• Help define Lumen’s point of view on issues where policy frameworks are still developing and the company can shape the debate.
• Analyze legislative, regulatory, executive branch, and geopolitical developments for downstream implications for Lumen, its customers, competitors, and partners.
• Connect policy developments to business strategy, including AI infrastructure, cloud and multi-cloud architectures, cybersecurity, network resilience, competition, supply chains, data and compute, and critical infrastructure.
• Translate complex policy and technical issues into clear recommendations for senior leaders and business partners.
• Distinguish consequential developments from policy noise and focus organizational attention on issues likely to affect Lumen’s ability to compete and win.
• Maintain a forward-looking view of technology and policy, identifying issues before they become immediate legislative or regulatory problems.
• Develop policy frameworks and advocacy strategies in areas where established industry positions may not yet exist.
• Conduct research and engage technical, legal, product, security, government affairs, and business experts to build Lumen’s understanding of new issues.
• Challenge legacy assumptions and evaluate emerging policy questions through the lens of Lumen’s future business model.
• Build relationships with leaders and subject-matter experts across Product, Technology, Cybersecurity, Legal, Government Affairs, Public Sector, Strategy, and other functions.
• Bring together technical, commercial, legal, and policy perspectives to develop positions reflecting Lumen’s business objectives and the broader public interest.
• Produce policy papers, executive briefings, recommendations, and advocacy materials that turn complex issues into clear choices and actions.
• Serve as a thought partner to senior policy leadership on emerging issues and special projects requiring rapid analysis and judgment.
• Develop relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry organizations, think tanks, technology companies, national security stakeholders, and other participants in the emerging technology ecosystem.
• Represent and advance Lumen’s positions in external policy discussions, coalitions, working groups, and other forums.
• Identify opportunities for Lumen to contribute to policy debates around AI, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, resilience, competition, and national security.
• Help establish Lumen as a credible, forward-looking voice on infrastructure and policy issues shaping the AI economy.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, and Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
• Bonus structure may include short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and/or sales compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director