Government Affairs Manager

Overview

The Microsoft US Government Affairs team seeks a Government Affairs Manager to assist the team in Washington, DC, providing programmatic support, government affairs outreach, and project management with a focus on external engagement, communications, and research. The role requires familiarity with policy issues related to AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity, and demands skills in time and project management, writing, handling confidential information, and critical thinking. The candidate will work closely with the USGA Chief of Staff on external engagement, special projects, and policy campaigns in support of the CVP, USGA, as well as coordination with the congressional team engaging with Capitol Hill.

In this role, you must possess skills in time management, project coordination, alongside the ability to handle confidential information. Responsibilities include researching government affairs issues, attending pivotal meetings, preparing for hearings, collaborating on cross-group projects, coordinating events, maintaining internal content, coordinating with public affairs on digital content, and writing briefs, one-pagers, and newsletters.

Familiarity with Microsoft’s internal tools and processes is essential. This role requires a proactive thinker with excellent technology skills to support the promotion of Microsoft’s products and services across various platforms. Additionally, the candidate may represent Microsoft to external audiences, articulating the company’s technology vision and perspectives on policy issues and technological trends.

This role requires communication across all team members within USGA and other groups within Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA).

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, Technology, Law, Liberal Arts, Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years of work experience in government affairs, corporate affairs, public policy, government, or related area, OR equivalent experience.
• Experience in corporate communications with an emphasis on writing.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to understand, anticipate, and forecast the impact of technology on policy, including knowledge of technology concepts, evolution, innovation, and trends related to Cloud, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, devices, accessibility, privacy, telecommunications, and internet topics.
• Skill in understanding industry competition, future developments, business strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities to grow the business and reduce operating costs.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Self-motivated and capable of working efficiently and accurately.
• Ability to quickly identify, analyze, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.
• Proficiency in thinking beyond traditional approaches to find more effective methods.
• Experience working independently in a demanding, fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Capability to handle confidential information with discretion and build trust.
• Adaptability and willingness to contribute to various team activities as needed.
• Creativity—the ability to apply ingenuity, inventiveness, and imagination to the inclusive design and construction of a product, service, program, or initiative.

Compensation

Government Affairs IC4 – The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $103,800 – $200,300 per year. For specific locations like the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range is USD $133,700 – $219,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here.

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until November 25, 2024.

Responsibilities

• Support the USGA Chief of Staff and CVP with external engagements, briefs, reports, and internal content creation.
• Lead, coordinate, and gain buy-in for intra-group and/or cross-group projects, holding others accountable by leveraging project management approaches. Work with others to resolve cross-group priority conflicts and gain alignment across teams as needed to enable the achievement of shared business objectives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand and align objectives, priorities, and resources.
• Manage and coordinate internal/external events, including developing content and drafting materials. Collaborate with internal teams to ensure awareness and accountability.
• Manage the implementation of Microsoft’s strategic initiatives through collaboration between company business owners and external influencers (e.g., government policymakers). Prepare and provide materials (e.g., strategy, policy briefings, other documentation) for internal stakeholders.
• Gather and integrate external/internal data and other intelligence to assist with the preparation of position papers, policy briefings, presentations, and legislative testimony for legislative action.
• Establish, maintain, and manage relationships with key individuals/groups outside the organization (e.g., government, community, industry, professional organizations) and represent Microsoft’s perspective to various external organizations.
• Support special projects such as preparation for hearings, executive visits to DC, and hosting Microsoft teams in DC.
• Coordinate with the Public Affairs team on social digital content and external engagement for the CVP, USGA.
• Create project plans, status reports, and other project management documents.
• Monitor progress against key performance indicators, identify and mitigate risks using AI and other tools.

Learn more here