State and Local Affairs Lead, West

Anthropic

6d•$230,000 - $265,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Anthropic is seeking a State and Local Affairs Lead for the Western United States to engage with state and local governments. This role is crucial for advancing AI policy, legislation, and regulation that aligns with Anthropic's mission of ensuring a safe transition into the era of transformative AI. The Lead will report to the Head of Western State and Local Affairs and collaborate with Policy, Communications, and Legal teams. Key responsibilities include managing Anthropic's relationships and legislative/regulatory work across multiple Western states, including a support role in California. This involves engagement with state legislatures, governors' offices, attorneys general, state agencies, and local governments. Regular travel throughout the region is expected. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in political strategy and execution, with proven success in complex policy campaigns, building relationships with elected officials and community leaders, supporting legislative/regulatory outcomes, and operating effectively in fast-paced environments. Anthropic operates as a research lab, policy think-tank, and technology startup, emphasizing the safe development of AI systems and building partnerships with governments through substantive policy discussions. The role offers an opportunity to build a high-impact state affairs operation during a critical period for AI policy, focusing on executing strategic priorities, building government stakeholder relationships, and contributing to the broader state affairs function.

Requirements

Align with our mission and embrace the imperative of policy impact and change
Have experience in state and local government affairs, political strategy, or legislative roles, with demonstrated success contributing to legislative and regulatory outcomes
Have existing relationships with state and local leaders in the West, including legislators, governors' offices, attorneys general, or county and municipal officials
Understand how state legislatures and executive branches work—committee processes, legislative and regulatory procedures, and how to move policy forward—and understand where local authority begins and ends
Have a track record of executing on strategic objectives and delivering measurable outcomes in government affairs roles
Are prepared to travel regularly across the region

Nice To Haves

Have 8+ years of experience in state and local government affairs, political strategy, or legislative roles
Have experience building partnerships with external organizations including chambers of commerce, economic development groups, labor organizations, and universities
Have exposure to technology policy or emerging technology regulation; you understand the unique challenges of navigating policy for rapidly evolving technologies
Demonstrate understanding of how to build coalitions and identify aligned constituencies to advance shared objectives
Can manage multiple priorities and stakeholder relationships across different states and adapt to different political environments
Can work well under time pressure and manage competing demands
Can translate complex technical topics into clear, accessible language for policymakers and residents alike
Have experience working with communications teams to develop effective messaging for policy campaigns
Are comfortable being honest about tradeoffs, including in rooms where people disagree with us
Are drawn to working with an organization that approaches AI policy with intensity and intellectual honesty

Responsibilities

Serve as Anthropic's lead for state and local government affairs across many Western states, working in close coordination with the Head of Western States and other Regional State and Local Affairs Leads
Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, governors' offices, attorneys general, and state agency leaders across your region
Engage directly with local officials whose decisions affect Anthropic's work—mayors, city councils, county commissions, and economic development boards
Track state and local legislation and regulatory proceedings affecting AI and the technology sector, provide analysis and intelligence to inform company strategy, and represent Anthropic's positions
Build durable partnerships with local and regional organizations, including chambers of commerce, economic development groups, labor organizations, universities, and school districts
Represent Anthropic at legislative hearings, regional events, and public forums, including with audiences who are skeptical of AI
Work with the Communications team to develop clear, accurate messaging for regional policy campaigns
Translate Anthropic's technical research and policy positions into engagement strategies tailored to Western state political environments
Manage the outside advisors and registered lobbyists who support Anthropic's work in your region
Coordinate with Anthropic's policy, communications, legal, and executive teams to ensure that regional activity aligns with company-wide positioning