Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs

About PACT AI
PACT AI (Partnership for Assurance, Credibility, and Trust on AI) is a 501(c)(6) trade association focused on advancing credible, independent AI assurance to support trustworthy AI adoption at scale.

As AI adoption accelerates, organizations face growing challenges in assessing and managing AI risks. Simultaneously, policymakers and regulators are increasingly looking to independent AI assurance, evaluation and verification as the key AI governance mechanism. PACT AI is the trade association representing this growing ecosystem of AI assurance providers (those building the science, technology and services to assess AI models and systems). We bring together enterprises deploying AI, AI assurance providers, AI insurers, and other stakeholders to ensure AI assurance meets real-world needs and enables an AI assurance system that can keep pace with the growing capabilities of the technology.

Through policy development and advocacy, efforts to strengthen the AI assurance sector, and market development, PACT AI helps create the conditions for organizations to adopt AI with greater confidence. Learn more: https://pactai.org/.

Role overview
We are hiring PACT AI’s first VP of Policy & Government Affairs to establish PACT AI as a powerful force in federal and state policy. This leader will set PACT AI’s federal and state agenda, turn member priorities into clear positions, and make PACT AI the go-to voice on AI assurance for policymakers and regulators.

This is a key leadership position with the opportunity to build real influence. They will shape PACT AI’s policy agenda and positions, and own the strategy for PACT AI’s influence, including the economic narrative, the coalitions, member mobilization, and the relationships that make PACT AI the first call when policymakers ask how AI can be trusted at scale.

The ideal candidate has helped build an industry’s voice. They have worked on Capitol Hill, with federal agencies, and in statehouses. They understand how trade associations gain and use influence, and they are energized by the chance to define how a new industry shows up in Washington and state capitals.

This is a senior leadership role reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with PACT AI’s VP of Assurance Initiatives.

Key responsibilities
Building PACT AI’s influence
Develop the strategy that turns PACT AI into a powerful force in AI policy: which issues to own, where to lead and where to ally, and how to sequence federal and state engagement.
Establish AI assurance as a distinct, emerging industry in the eyes of policymakers, media, and allies, with PACT AI as its representative.
Design an advocacy model that puts members’ economic weight behind PACT AI’s agenda, including executive fly-ins, member advocacy, earned media, and thought leadership.
Advise the Executive Director and board on how membership, governance, and partnerships can strengthen PACT AI’s policy influence.

Policy strategy & positions
Build and lead PACT AI’s policy function, including the agenda, priorities, and member policy committee.
Identify and execute the key strategies for PACT AI to become a trusted, respected, impactful brand in DC and key jurisdictions.
Develop positions on AI legislation, regulation, and standards that reflect member priorities and advance the role of credible, independent assurance.
Navigate competing member interests among enterprises, assurance providers, and insurers to reach positions members will publicly support.
Develop PACT AI’s approach to federal and state interplay, including harmonization, and how assurance can provide consistency across jurisdictions.

Federal engagement
Engage Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, including standards, commerce, consumer protection, and procurement bodies, on AI policy relevant to assurance.
Engage sector regulators in financial services, insurance, and health care on how assurance fits their supervisory approaches.
Lead comment letters, testimony, briefings, and meetings with policymakers and staff.

State engagement
Engage key state legislators, governors’ offices, attorneys general, and state regulators directly and through their national networks, such as insurance commissioners, legislators, and attorneys general associations.
Build and manage relationships with state contract lobbyists and allied state-level coalitions as needed.

Coalitions, members & operations
Mobilize members, especially government affairs and risk leaders, to engage on policy through sign-ons, meetings, and testimony.
Work with membership team and leadership to build coalitions with peer associations and stakeholders around shared priorities.
Work with the VP of Assurance Initiatives so PACT AI’s frameworks and pilots inform policy, and policy developments shape initiative priorities.
Manage contract lobbyists, consultants and counsel.
Lead, manage, and develop policy team members as the function grows.

Qualifications
12+ years in government affairs, public policy, or advocacy, including senior roles at a trade association, corporation, or in government.
Substantial experience at both the federal level (Congress, executive branch, or agencies) and the state level (legislatures, attorneys general, or state regulators).
A track record of running a member-driven policy process at a trade association or coalition, from issue identification to adopted positions.
Established relationships with federal and state policymakers, staff, and government affairs leaders at major companies and peer associations.
Experience with technology, privacy, cybersecurity, or AI policy; experience with financial services or insurance regulation is a strong plus.
Demonstrated success building coalitions and managing competing stakeholder interests.
Working knowledge of federal and state lobbying compliance and disclosure requirements.
Experience building a function or team from an early stage.

Compensation & Benefits
Starting annual base salary range: $280K-340K
Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401K with match, and other competitive employer-provided benefits.

Please note, we participate in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires by electronically verifying information from their Form I-9 with government records.

Learn more here