Director, U.S. Government Affairs

our group • Columbia, DC

13d • Remote

About The Position

About our group: A global leader in mass-capacity data storage, Seagate is deeply connected to some of the most consequential technology and policy issues worldwide, with products that form the backbone for the cloud, AI, and other data-intensive applications. It’s a remarkable time to be at Seagate: the business is accelerating, the technology leadership is deepening, and the policy landscape is evolving rapidly. As part of Seagate’s Legal and Government Affairs function, the Government Affairs team takes a business-first approach to policy engagement. We partner with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to design and execute proactive government engagement strategies aligned to enterprise priorities, spanning trade and tariff policy, AI and emerging technology, industrial policy and R&D investment, and supply chain security. We also leverage public affairs strategies to shape the company’s reputation and voice through targeted engagement, thought leadership, and strategic communications. Government Affairs at Seagate is a strategic lever for enterprise value creation and risk mitigation, informing executive decision-making and strengthening the company’s position as a trusted partner to policymakers. About the role - you will: Own and drive U.S. Government Affairs strategy. Design, execute, and continuously refine a proactive strategy anchored to Seagate’s enterprise priorities and measurable business outcomes — including revenue growth, supply chain resilience, trade positioning, market access, and strategic partnerships. Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership. Translate U.S. political and policy developments into clear business risks, opportunities, and strategic options. Engage regularly with C-suite leadership, providing decision-ready analysis and recommendations. Define and prioritize U.S. policy engagement . Determine where and how Seagate engages across the Executive Branch, Congress, and select state officials, ensuring efforts are tied to enterprise objectives and calibrated to the political environment. Strategically direct external firms and industry association engagement. Serve as the architect of Seagate’s external engagement strategy, directing government affairs and public affairs firms and shaping the company’s participation in key industry associations to advance corporate objectives. Lead cross-functional integration. Build and sustain an operating rhythm across Legal, Finance, Trade, Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, and Communications to embed government engagement in enterprise planning and to drive internal alignment and policy positions to ensure Seagate acts with speed internally and speaks with one voice externally. Deliver measurable results. Define and track outcomes, whether through influence on policy positioning, access to incentives or government programs, mitigation of regulatory or supply chain risk, development of strategic government partnerships, etc. Operate with independence and judgment. Exercise significant autonomy in a fast-moving political and regulatory environment, making real-time decisions with speed, discretion, and sound judgment. About you: Strategic operator who connects policy to business outcomes. You don’t just track what’s happening in Washington — you see how political and regulatory developments create risk, opportunity, and competitive advantage for a global technology company. You think in terms of enterprise impact. You have the executive presence to engage credibly with C-suite leaders. You know the difference between briefing a leader and advising one — and you’re comfortable doing the latter in real time, under pressure, and with incomplete information. Fast, creative, and decisive. You define what matters, pressure-test it, and act. You bring original thinking to how problems get framed and solved, and you’re not anchored to conventional approaches when a better path exists. Ambiguity and competing priorities are the environment you operate in best. You’re energized by working at the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and corporate strategy — and you’re looking for a role where that work is directly tied to enterprise outcomes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in government affairs, public policy, trade policy , or related fields.
• Experience in industry, government, trade associations, or advisory environments all bring value — what matters most is demonstrated fluency in how policy engagement connects to corporate priorities and business outcomes.
• A track record of designing and executing policy strategies tied to business outcomes in complex, trade-exposed, and/or technology-driven sectors.
• Advising senior executives on policy matters with material business or strategic implications.
• Exceptional communication skills — written and verbal — calibrated for senior audiences.
• Deep fluency in U.S. federal policy processes , particularly across trade and tariff policy, emerging technology issues, industrial and R&D incentives, and supply chain–related policy.
• Building and sustaining cross-functional partnerships with business, legal, trade, operations, or finance teams in a corporate or complex organizational environment.
• Directing external consultants, lobbyists, or trade association strategies to advance defined corporate objectives.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in technology hardware, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or other trade-exposed industries .
• Experience engaging directly with Executive Branch stakeholders — including Commerce, USTR, Treasury, the White House, OSTP, etc.
• Experience navigating incentive programs, public-private partnerships, or government funding mechanisms.
• Familiarity with export control regimes, tariff frameworks, or other trade processes.
• Familiarity with how U.S. policy intersects with international trade dynamics, allied technology frameworks, or geopolitical competition in markets relevant to data storage supply chains.
• Experience with public affairs strategies in a Washington policy context — including media engagement, thought leadership, or strategic communications.
• An advanced degree in law, public policy, international affairs, business, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive U.S. Government Affairs strategy.
• Design, execute, and continuously refine a proactive strategy anchored to Seagate’s enterprise priorities and measurable business outcomes — including revenue growth, supply chain resilience, trade positioning, market access, and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership.
• Translate U.S. political and policy developments into clear business risks, opportunities, and strategic options.
• Engage regularly with C-suite leadership, providing decision-ready analysis and recommendations.
• Define and prioritize U.S. policy engagement .
• Determine where and how Seagate engages across the Executive Branch, Congress, and select state officials, ensuring efforts are tied to enterprise objectives and calibrated to the political environment.
• Strategically direct external firms and industry association engagement.
• Serve as the architect of Seagate’s external engagement strategy, directing government affairs and public affairs firms and shaping the company’s participation in key industry associations to advance corporate objectives.
• Lead cross-functional integration.
• Build and sustain an operating rhythm across Legal, Finance, Trade, Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, and Communications to embed government engagement in enterprise planning and to drive internal alignment and policy positions to ensure Seagate acts with speed internally and speaks with one voice externally.
• Deliver measurable results.
• Define and track outcomes, whether through influence on policy positioning, access to incentives or government programs, mitigation of regulatory or supply chain risk, development of strategic government partnerships, etc.
• Operate with independence and judgment.
• Exercise significant autonomy in a fast-moving political and regulatory environment, making real-time decisions with speed, discretion, and sound judgment.

Benefits

• Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, eligibility discretionary bonus, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, short-and long-term disability, 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, health savings account, dependent care and healthcare spending accounts.
• Seagate also offers paid time off, including 12 holidays, flexible time off provided pursuant to Seagate policy, a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• The benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year and may differ depending on work location.

What This Job Offers

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