State Government Affairs Director

Microsoft • Sacramento, CA

7d • $132,200 - $258,000

About The Position

Microsoft recognizes the vital role collaboration between the public and private sectors plays in addressing global challenges. To strengthen this partnership, we are seeking a State Government Affairs Director to join our team. This role is focused on engaging state and local leaders in California to advance Microsoft’s policy, political, sales and business priorities while ensuring alignment with the company’s overarching values and strategic vision.
The State Government Affairs Director will lead efforts to shape public policy across the state and local levels to advance key issues including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, education, and Microsoft’s AI infrastructure and data center objectives. This individual will spearhead the advancement of Microsoft’s policy positions, identify strategic opportunities to further long-term goals, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to build Microsoft’s reputation as a trusted partner to government institutions. A critical aspect of this role involves cultivating strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies, regulators, and influential opinion leaders to drive impactful outcomes for Microsoft.
This role encompasses responsibility for legislative and executive branch lobbying at the state and local levels. Additionally, the Director will partner with Microsoft’s Public Sector sales organization to help drive the use, adoption, and expansion of Microsoft’s AI and cloud technologies in the public sector, ensuring alignment with policy objectives and leveraging opportunities for innovation. A key facet of this position is representing Microsoft externally with government bodies, regulators, and third-party entities, while simultaneously working internally with senior executives and cross-functional teams to foster collaboration and ensure cohesive execution of strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Technology, Law, Liberal Arts, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years work experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, government, or related area
• OR equivalent experience.
• Full disclosure of any state or local lobbying bans due to prior government roles.

Nice To Haves

• 8+ years of experience in building strategic relationships to advocate and influence public and technology policy priorities.
• Expertise in direct lobbying, policy campaigns, and managing external consultants.
• Familiarity with emerging technology public policy and the ability to quickly grasp complex technical and regulatory issues.
• Experience drafting responses to legislative and policy processes.
• Track record of coalition-building with industry representatives and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze technical aspects of regulatory proposals and communicate business and policy implications effectively.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and work independently or collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Experience advocating on technology-related public policy issues and managing external resources including lobbying firms and trade associations.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic vision and leadership to establish top-priority program frameworks aimed at achieving policy, regulatory, political, and sales objectives. This involves managing consultants within the assigned region, coordinating efforts with local peers and internal colleagues, and ensuring the effective execution of established Microsoft programs.
• Advance Microsoft’s policy agenda across a wide array of issues, crafting strategic plans and capitalizing on novel opportunities to position Microsoft as a forward-looking industry leader. They will act as an advisor to executive management on complex and critical industry matters, offering counsel that reflects a deep understanding of the rapidly changing and often ambiguous environment in which Microsoft operates.
• Oversee lobbying compliance within the region, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards while driving impactful advocacy efforts.
• Collaborate with U.S. Public Sector and Industry Solutions teams to accelerate cloud and AI adoption by state and local government agencies.
• The Director will be responsible for developing and maintaining an understanding of Microsoft products and services and their suitability for various government functions and competitive advantages.
• The State Government Affairs Director will play an integral role in connecting Microsoft’s business objectives with meaningful public policy initiatives, fostering relationships that support the company’s values and mission, and driving innovative solutions to meet the needs of the diverse communities Microsoft serves.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees