State and Local Affairs Lead

Anthropic is a public benefit corporation focused on creating reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Their mission is to ensure AI is safe and beneficial for society.

About the Role

Anthropic is seeking a State and Local Affairs Lead to engage with state and local governments in the Western United States. This role will advance AI policy, legislation, and regulation to support Anthropic’s mission of ensuring a safe transition through transformative AI.

The State and Local Affairs Lead will report to the Head of Western State and Local Affairs and collaborate with Policy, Communications, and Legal teams. Key responsibilities include managing relationships with state legislatures, governors’ offices, attorneys general, state agencies, and local governments across multiple Western states, including California. Regular travel across the region is required.

Successful candidates must demonstrate a track record of political strategy and execution, including contributions to complex policy campaigns, building relationships with elected officials, and achieving legislative and regulatory outcomes in fast-moving environments.

Anthropic combines elements of a research lab, policy think-tank, and technology startup. They prioritize safe AI development and proactive, opinionated policy conversations. The ideal candidate will bring this distinctive approach to state and local policy engagement.

This role offers the opportunity to build a high-impact state affairs operation at a critical moment for AI policy. Responsibilities include executing strategic priorities, building government stakeholder relationships, and contributing to broader state affairs initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead for state and local government affairs across multiple Western states, coordinating 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 the region.

• Engage directly with local officials, including mayors, city councils, county commissions, and economic development boards.

• Track state and local legislation and regulatory proceedings affecting AI and the technology sector, providing analysis and intelligence to inform company strategy and representing Anthropic’s positions.

• Build durable partnerships with local and regional organizations, such as chambers of commerce, economic development groups, labor organizations, universities, and school districts.

• Represent Anthropic at legislative hearings, regional events, and public forums, including engaging with audiences skeptical of AI.

• Collaborate 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 outside advisors and registered lobbyists supporting Anthropic’s work in the region.

• Coordinate with Anthropic’s policy, communications, legal, and executive teams to ensure regional activities align with company-wide positioning.

Minimum Qualifications

• Alignment with Anthropic’s mission and commitment to policy impact and change.

• Experience in state and local government affairs, political strategy, or legislative roles, with a demonstrated track record of contributing to legislative and regulatory outcomes.

• Existing relationships with state and local leaders in the Western U.S., including legislators, governors’ offices, attorneys general, or county and municipal officials.

• Understanding of how state legislatures and executive branches operate, including committee processes, legislative and regulatory procedures, and the delineation of local authority.

• A track record of executing on strategic objectives and delivering measurable outcomes in government affairs roles.

• Willingness to travel regularly across the region.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in state and local government affairs, political strategy, or legislative roles.

• Experience building partnerships with external organizations, including chambers of commerce, economic development groups, labor organizations, and universities.

• Exposure to technology policy or emerging technology regulation, with an understanding of navigating policy for rapidly evolving technologies.

• Ability to build coalitions and identify aligned constituencies to advance shared objectives.

• Capacity to manage multiple priorities and stakeholder relationships across different states and adapt to varying political environments.

• Effectiveness under time pressure and ability to manage competing demands.

• Ability to translate complex technical topics into clear, accessible language for policymakers and residents.

• Experience working with communications teams to develop effective messaging for policy campaigns.

• Comfort with honest tradeoff discussions, even in contentious environments.

• Attraction to working with an organization that approaches AI policy with intellectual honesty and intensity.