Vice President of State Government Affairs

Americans for Responsible Innovation • Washington, DC

15h • $300,000 - $350,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) is seeking a Vice President of State Government Affairs to build and lead a new state advocacy operation. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, the VP of State Government Affairs will establish ARI’s presence in state capitals across the country, defend against harmful AI legislation, and advance responsible AI policy at the state level. The VP will hire and lead a team of regional Directors of Government Affairs and manage a national network of contract lobbyists. ARI is a nonprofit organization advocating for artificial intelligence policy in the public interest. We believe in establishing a thoughtful governance framework for rapidly advancing AI technology that protects the public from harm while continuing to foster innovation. ARI takes a bipartisan approach, building coalitions across the political spectrum. Major AI companies and allied industry groups have moved aggressively into state capitals, backed by substantial lobbying operations and political spending. State legislators, who typically have limited staff and little independent technology policy expertise, are frequently presented with industry-drafted legislation and few alternatives. ARI is building a state operation to meet that challenge. The VP of State Government Affairs will lead it. The role has two mandates. The first, and primary, is defensive: work with policy staff and lobbyists to monitor legislation across all fifty states, identify industry-friendly and preemption-oriented bills early, and intervene where it matters. The second is proactive: advance sound state legislation in the issue areas where ARI already has expertise. The VP will set the annual fifty-state strategy, hire and manage four Regional Directors of Government Affairs, and represent ARI to national bodies including NCSL, CSG, NGA, and state legislative leadership. We are looking for someone who has built or run a multi-state program before and wants to apply that experience to one of the most consequential technology policy questions of the decade.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, advocacy, or government, including at least 5 years leading multi-state advocacy work.
• A demonstrated record of building or running a state government affairs program—at an advocacy organization, trade association, corporation, or comparable setting.
• Direct experience retaining and managing contract lobbyists across multiple states.
• Substantive knowledge of state legislative process, including session calendars, procedural deadlines, and the differences between professionalized and citizen legislatures.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with legislators of both parties.
• Management experience, including hiring and retaining a geographically distributed team.
• Passion for the responsible governance of AI and emerging technology, and alignment with ARI’s mission and values.
• Reputation for trustworthiness and integrity.
• Willingness to travel frequently, particularly during legislative sessions from January through May.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with technology, privacy, consumer protection, or telecommunications policy at the state level.
• Service as a state legislator, legislative staff director, governor’s legislative director, or in a comparable state role.
• Familiarity with AI policy and the current state and federal legislative landscape.
• Experience building bipartisan or cross-ideological coalitions at the state level.
• Experience with state ballot measure campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Set and own ARI’s annual fifty-state advocacy plan—which states we defend, where we advance legislation, and what we decline to pursue.
• Recruit, hire, and lead a distributed team of four regional Directors of Government Affairs.
• Work closely with the federal government affairs team so that state activity strengthens ARI’s federal advocacy, and the reverse.
• Lead rapid-response advocacy when harmful bills are moving, including direct lobbying in state capitals.
• Support the advancement of pro-guardrails legislation in ARI’s existing issue areas, including frontier AI governance, children’s safety, creator protections, bias and discrimination, and data centers and energy.
• Recruit and support state legislators willing to engage federal policymakers in opposition to sweeping preemption of state AI law.
• Hold and manage a contract lobbying budget, including retaining, directing, and evaluating contract lobbyists in key states.
• Represent ARI to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, the National Governors Association, and state legislative leadership.
• Build relationships with state attorneys general offices, governors’ policy and legislative staff, and state agency officials.
• Serve as ARI’s principal working link to allied organizations operating at the state level, ensuring our work complements rather than duplicates theirs.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with state-level consumer, parent, labor, creator, and faith organizations.

Benefits

• 85% of healthcare, vision, and dental insurance premiums are covered for employees, partners, and dependents.
• Discretionary PTO and ~20 office holidays, including all Federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 6% Employer Match.
• $150/month taxable stipend to support physical and mental well-being.
• $150/month taxable stipend to cover internet and utilities expenses from remote work.
• Up to $500 to all new full-time employees for home office set-up expenses.
• Up to $2,500 annually to be used towards building new knowledge and skills.
• 100% employer-paid Basic Life, Basic AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability with the option to elect for employee-paid supplemental coverage.
• Dependent Care FSA, Medical FSA, Transit FSA, and Parking FSA.

What This Job Offers

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