Head of Government Affairs

Kaizen Labs

5d•$180,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Government technology has failed the public for decades, and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services. Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern, AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation, and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service. Our platform reaches 55 million Americans across 50+ agencies. Our goal: build technology that touches the lives of 100 million residents by the end of the year. Founded in 2022 and based in New York City, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital. We're builders, designers, and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn't be a luxury in government. It's how you earn trust back. This is Kaizen's first dedicated government affairs hire, and it's a build role. You'll define how Kaizen shows up in Washington: with Congress, civilian and defense agencies alike, the press, and the broader federal technology ecosystem. There's no playbook to inherit. You'll set the strategy, work the appropriations calendar, coordinate our outside firms, and be the person in the room when it matters. Government affairs at a company our size isn't a cost center or a compliance function. It's a growth engine that opens doors, shapes markets, and protects the mission. We have tremendous respect for public servants and empathize with their pain points, so low ego and high EQ go a long way. And politics is not a criterion at Kaizen: we don't screen for ideology, and we expect you to build trusted relationships on both sides of the aisle.

Requirements

You've spent years working in or with the federal government, whether on Capitol Hill, inside an agency, or in government affairs for a company or firm, and you know how Washington actually works
You understand how the federal government funds and buys things: the appropriations cycle, authorizing legislation, OMB, GSA schedules, and the modernization vehicles agencies use to escape legacy contracts
You've partnered with or managed outside lobbying firms, you understand LDA compliance, and you're willing to register as a lobbyist yourself
You think about government affairs as a growth function: you've helped a company win positioning, funding language, or market access, not just monitor legislation
You're a natural translator, able to turn a technical product story into a policy narrative for a chief of staff, a committee staffer, a reporter, or an agency CIO
You're comfortable being a public face for the company: handling press and media, shaping the narrative, and speaking on Kaizen's behalf at events, on panels, and on the record
You have bipartisan instincts and real relationships on both sides of the aisle
You thrive with high autonomy in ambiguous, fast-moving environments, and you self-generate the agenda rather than waiting for one
You're AI-pilled and default to these tools in your daily workflows
You're emotionally intelligent, thoughtful, and empathetic toward public sector missions
7 - 15 years of experience across Capitol Hill, the executive branch, and/or federal government affairs for a technology company or firm
Working knowledge of federal IT procurement and modernization policy (GSA MAS, IDIQs, FedRAMP; agency working capital funds a plus)
Demonstrated ability to convert policy engagement into concrete outcomes: funding, positioning, or market access
Experience managing external lobbyists and ensuring compliance with lobbying disclosure requirements
Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable drafting white papers, briefing memos, and testimony, and representing a company publicly

Nice To Haves

Direct Hill experience is a plus (especially appropriations or committees overseeing federal technology), but deep federal government affairs experience matters more than where you built it
An existing network across federal agencies and the Hill is a significant advantage

Responsibilities

Own Kaizen's government affairs strategy end-to-end. Build and run the plan for how Kaizen engages Congress, the executive branch, and the federal technology ecosystem
Drive appropriations and legislative strategy. Identify and pursue funding language, report language, and policy provisions that support agency modernization programs Kaizen serves, working the annual appropriations and authorization cycles
Build relationships across the Hill. Members, personal office staff, and committee staff relevant to Kaizen's markets (Appropriations, Oversight, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Armed Services, Commerce), and coordinate visits, briefings, and testimony prep for Kaizen leadership
Engage the executive branch, civilian and defense alike. Develop relationships at OMB, GSA, DoD, and the agencies we serve; track executive orders, IT modernization policy, AI procurement guidance, and FAR/FedRAMP developments that affect our business, and brief leadership with clear recommendations
Manage our outside firms. Direct Kaizen's lobbying and consulting relationships, set their priorities, measure their output, and own lobbying disclosure compliance
Partner with federal sales as a force multiplier. Open doors, deconflict strategy, and support capture on key pursuits; you own the air war, sales owns the ground game
Shape Kaizen's public presence from a government affairs lens. Represent Kaizen at think tanks, trade associations, coalitions, and conferences; partner with leadership on media and PR moments that build credibility in Washington
Be the early-warning system. Monitor, analyze, and brief leadership on legislative, regulatory, and political developments that create risk or opportunity for Kaizen

Benefits

100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental through Guardian PPO, and vision through Beam — all fully covered for employees, with 100% coverage for dependents.
$100,000 in fully paid life insurance.
FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
One Medical membership, on us — same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and offices all over the city.
Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.
401(k) through Guideline, with a 2% company match.
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents.
10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.
Unlimited PTO, with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!)
Closed for all federal holidays.
Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.
Company offsites throughout the year.
Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.
$50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).
Expensed lunch while in the office.
Company-provided laptop of your choice.
Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.
$100/month utility stipend.
$500/year professional development.
$250/year recreation.
$300/quarter pet care stipend.