Political Programs Lead

Anthropic•Washington, DC

1d•$295,000 - $345,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Anthropic is seeking a Political Programs Lead to establish and manage the programs through which Anthropic, its political action committees, and its employees engage in the political process. This includes interactions with candidates and causes at all governmental levels. Reporting to the head of Political Programs, Campaigns & Coalitions, this role involves shaping political strategy, developing programs, and overseeing their day-to-day execution. This is a foundational position where the lead will design programs, perform initial tasks, and build a team as the programs expand. Anthropic's political participation is bipartisan, transparent, and guided by established criteria and oversight. The company and/or its PACs support candidates and elected officials from both parties who are committed to AI safety and democratic governance. Employee participation is voluntary. Anthropic adheres to a standard exceeding legal requirements. The company operates as a research lab, policy think tank, and technology company, with decisions made in the next two years having significant future impact. The goal is to ensure all serious candidates and elected officials, across both parties, understand AI technology and the importance of its governance. The role requires building relationships in both parties and representing Anthropic credibly within the political community. It also involves advising leadership on political risks and opportunities, ensuring all programs comply with campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics regulations, and collaborating with various internal teams to align political programs with Anthropic's policy and communication strategies. Reporting on program activities and managing a growing team are also key aspects of this role.

Requirements

Experience in campaigns, party committees, political organizations, or corporate or association political programs.
At least one role where you ran a program or budget and answered for its results.
Working knowledge of lawful ways a company and its employees can participate in politics (PACs, individual giving, 501(c)(4) and trade association engagement, grassroots and grasstops, candidate education).
Understanding of the campaign finance, lobbying, and gifts and ethics rules that govern political participation.
Experience advising senior executives on political matters.

Nice To Haves

12+ years in campaigns, party committees, political organizations, or corporate or association political programs.
Senior-level experience in national politics (e.g., presidential campaign, major party committee, national political organization with nationwide programs).
Knowledge of how candidate fields form, how campaign policy operations work, and how early-state and platform processes shape candidate commitments.
A record of working credibly with both parties.
Experience building or running grassroots or grasstops organizing programs.
Federal and state experience, including familiarity with governors, attorneys general, and state legislators, as well as federal candidates.
Experience building a program, team, or approach that did not exist before, and enjoying hands-on execution.
Sound judgment and discretion in reputationally sensitive work, integrating legal and ethical limits into program design.
Credibility at the leadership table.
Belief in Anthropic's mission and interest in helping candidates and officials understand AI governance stakes.
Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
A field relevant to the role as demonstrated through coursework, training, or professional experience.

Responsibilities

Build and run Anthropic's presidential engagement program for the 2028 cycle, including mapping prospective fields, offering AI policy education to candidates and advisors, preparing Anthropic executives, and planning for platform, convention, and transition periods.
Build a candidate outreach and education program for federal, state, and local races, introducing Anthropic and briefing candidates and their advisors on AI and AI policy.
Build Anthropic's field programs, including grassroots and grasstops organizing on AI policy in priority states and districts.
Manage the day-to-day operations of Anthropic's political giving, including the employee-funded PAC, voluntary employee participation programs, and corporate contributions where legally permitted.
Develop recommendations for the PAC board and company leadership on candidate and committee support, applying established criteria on AI safety and democratic governance.
Build Anthropic's political intelligence by maintaining an up-to-date understanding of races, committees, states, and presidential fields to inform leadership decisions and government relations planning.
Design education and events to support employees who choose to participate in politics.
Build senior relationships in both parties and represent Anthropic credibly within the political community.
Support the head of the function in advising Anthropic's leadership on political risk and opportunity.
Design and run all programs and communications in collaboration with Legal and outside counsel to ensure compliance with campaign finance, lobbying, and gifts and ethics rules.
Work closely with Federal, State and Local, Policy, and Communications teams to ensure political programs align with Anthropic's policy positions and public voice.
Report on program activities internally and as part of Anthropic's public disclosure.
Hire and manage a small team as the programs grow.