About the role
We are looking for a Regional State and Local Affairs Lead to lead Anthropic’s engagement with state and local governments across the Midwest United States, advancing AI policy, legislation, and regulation that supports Anthropic’s mission of ensuring that artificial intelligence systems are developed safely and benefit humanity.
In this role, you will work closely with Anthropic’s Head of State and Local Government Relations and coordinate with the broader government relations team to execute state policy campaigns in your region, build coalitions to advance policy outcomes, and manage engagement across state legislatures, governors’ offices, attorneys general, state agencies, and local governments in Midwest US states.
Successful candidates will demonstrate a track record of political strategy and execution—with specific examples of how you have contributed to complex policy campaigns, built relationships with key stakeholders, supported legislative and regulatory outcomes, and executed with accountability and focus in fast-paced environments.
Anthropic is equal parts research lab, policy think-tank, and technology startup. We care deeply about safe development of AI systems, and build partnership with governments through proactive, opinionated, substantive policy conversations. We recognize that our approach to AI policy is genuinely distinctive in the marketplace—grounded in honest assessment of technological trajectories and authentic concern for safe scaling—and we need a regional lead who can bring that positioning to life at the state and local level.
This role offers an opportunity to be part of building a high-impact state affairs operation at a critical moment for AI policy. You will be responsible for executing on strategic priorities in your region, developing relationships with key government stakeholders, and contributing to the broader state affairs function.
In this role, you will:
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Execute Anthropic’s state affairs strategy across Midwest US states, implementing policy campaigns and engagement plans developed in coordination with the Head of State Affairs
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Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, governors’ offices, attorneys general, and state agency leaders across your assigned region
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Cultivate relationships with governors’ offices and executive branch leadership to advance Anthropic’s policy priorities in the region
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Develop and manage partnerships with external stakeholders including universities, industry partners, and advocacy organizations in Midwest US states
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Track and report on state policy developments in your region, providing intelligence and analysis to inform company strategy
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Monitor and engage on legislative and regulatory developments across Midwest US states, identifying opportunities and risks for Anthropic
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Manage relationships with key state and local stakeholders including elected officials, agency leadership, and external partners—with the primary objective of advancing Anthropic’s policy priorities
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Represent Anthropic at regional events including conferences, summits, and government meetings
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Translate Anthropic’s technical research and policy positions into actionable engagement strategies tailored to Midwest state political environments
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Coordinate with Anthropic’s policy, communications, and executive teams to ensure regional activities align with company-wide positioning
You may be a good fit if you:
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Align with our mission and embrace the imperative of policy impact and change
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Have 10+ years of experience in state government affairs, political strategy, or legislative roles, with demonstrated success contributing to legislative and regulatory outcomes
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Have existing relationships with state leaders in Midwest US states, including legislators, governors’ offices, or attorneys general
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Have experience working on state government relations in Illinois and other Midwest US states, with understanding of regional political dynamics
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Have a track record of executing on strategic objectives and delivering measurable outcomes in government affairs roles
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Understand how state legislatures and executive branches work—committee processes, legislative and regulatory procedures, and how to move policy forward
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Have experience engaging with governors’ offices and attorneys general on policy matters
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Have experience building relationships with external stakeholders including universities, industry groups, and advocacy organizations
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Have exposure to technology policy or emerging technology regulation; you understand the unique challenges of navigating policy for rapidly evolving technologies
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Can manage multiple priorities and stakeholder relationships across different states and adapt to different political environments
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Demonstrate understanding of how to build coalitions and identify aligned constituencies to advance policy objectives
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Have ability to work under time pressure and manage competing demands in high-stakes environments
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Can translate complex technical topics into clear, accessible policy positions and talking points
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Have experience working with communications teams to develop effective messaging for policy campaigns
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Are drawn to working with an organization that approaches AI policy with intensity and intellectual honesty
