Head of Government Affairs

Head of Government Affairs - Job Description 

Location - This role is based in the Washington, DC metro area 

The Opportunity 

With the rise of AI capabilities, an evolving threat landscape, and the growing importance of data privacy and security, Abnormal has the opportunity to help shape policy decisions, industry standards, and governments’ uses of AI. This includes educating governments on threats and opportunities, enabling government organizations to use good AI to defend against bad AI, and advising policymakers on the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a motivated individual to help Abnormal Security become a leading voice in the use of AI technologies in cybersecurity.  Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role will be responsible for driving government engagement to increase awareness of effective AI solutions in cybersecurity, shaping industry regulations, and fostering relationships with key government stakeholders to influence AI and cybersecurity policy.  This role will also support the company’s revenue growth initiatives with federal, local, and international government agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute government relations strategies to strengthen Abnormal’s reputation, elevate its industry positioning, and increase government agencies’ understanding of opportunities to use AI to defend government organizations from an evolving threat landscape bolstered by threat actors’ increasing use of AI
• Provide strategic guidance to our Go-To-Market organization on navigating government procurement processes and compliance requirements
• Develop and execute strategies to educate policy makers and influence policy and regulatory frameworks relevant to AI and cybersecurity, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Advocate for budgetary and policy initiatives that align with Abnormal’s business objectives, particularly those that impact revenue growth opportunities

• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, and political developments impacting the industry at the federal, state, and international levels.
• Serve as a company representative before a variety of audiences, including industry groups, think tanks, and governmental bodies, to increase visibility and support for our strategic initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistency in policy messaging and alignment with company priorities

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years in national security, government relations, or federal executive/legislative roles
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Extensive experience in national security or cybersecurity, either through Capitol Hill roles, the executive branch, or comparable government relations positions 
• Proven record of successfully influencing legislative policy and budget processes, particularly within national security or cybersecurity contexts, and particularly with innovative technologies and platforms; experience with AI-based policy is a plus
• In-depth knowledge of U.S. federal budget/appropriations/procurement and policymaking processes across executive agencies, Congress, and the White House
• Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain strategic relationships with Congressional members, executive branch officials, and relevant industry associations
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional team and engage a diverse range of stakeholders
• Strong coalition-building skills with the ability to navigate complex policy and budget landscapes
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and public speaking skills
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Public Policy, Law, or a related field preferred

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