Public Policy Campaigns Manager - Job Opportunity at Waymo

New York, NY, US
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 8, 2025
Hybrid
USD 175,000-221,000 per year

Benefits

Competitive discretionary annual bonus program providing additional compensation based on performance and company results
Comprehensive equity incentive plan offering ownership stake in one of the most valuable autonomous vehicle companies
Generous company benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits that exceed industry standards
Professional development opportunities through exposure to cutting-edge transportation technology and policy work
Travel opportunities for conferences and political events providing industry networking and expertise building

Key Responsibilities

Design and execute multi-jurisdictional public policy advocacy campaigns that directly impact Waymo's market expansion and regulatory approval across US cities, states, and federal levels
Lead comprehensive campaign orchestration from strategic inception to measurable outcomes, managing both proactive market-entry campaigns and defensive regulatory protection initiatives
Coordinate cross-functional stakeholder alignment including legal, communications, marketing, and business units to ensure unified policy messaging and strategic execution
Manage substantial campaign budgets with full P&L responsibility while ensuring regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions and political environments
Develop deep political intelligence and relationship networks across various governmental levels specifically focused on transportation and technology policy landscapes
Represent Waymo as a thought leader and policy expert at high-profile industry conferences and political events, directly influencing public perception and regulatory attitudes

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree, JD/MBA/MPP preferred

Experience

5-7+ years of experience in political campaign management and execution or relevant corporate, nonprofit, public interest group, lobbying firm or industry association experience; ideally at least 2+ years working specifically on technology or transportation policy issues

Required Skills

Experience collaborating with public affairs firms, trade associations, think tanks and other third-party voices Ability to manage and track significant political campaign budgets along with ensuring regulatory compliance Skilled and experienced at persuasively and diplomatically messaging complex policy positions before a wide variety of audiences Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills Exceptional verbal and written communication skills Ability to travel throughout the country to support the Policy team and participate in relevant conferences, meetings, and other events
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The autonomous vehicle industry is experiencing unprecedented regulatory scrutiny and policy development, with over 20 states having passed or considered AV-related legislation in the past two years, creating massive demand for specialized policy professionals who can navigate this complex landscape. Transportation policy is increasingly becoming a technology policy issue, as cities and states grapple with integrating AI-driven transportation solutions while addressing safety, labor, and infrastructure concerns, requiring professionals who understand both domains. Corporate political engagement in the tech sector has intensified significantly, with companies allocating 40-60% more budget to policy and government affairs functions as regulatory risks have become primary business threats to scaling operations. The convergence of transportation, labor policy, and urban planning is creating new policy battlegrounds where companies must simultaneously address multiple stakeholder concerns, from unions worried about job displacement to cities concerned about traffic patterns and safety.

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary range of $175,000-$221,000 is highly competitive and reflects the premium nature of this specialized role. This compensation sits in the 75th-90th percentile for policy management roles in major metropolitan areas, with the upper end reflecting the high-stakes nature of AV policy work and Waymo's market-leading position. The total compensation package including equity and bonuses likely approaches $300,000+ annually.

Role Significance

This role likely manages a team of 3-8 professionals including campaign coordinators, analysts, and external consultants, while also coordinating with broader cross-functional teams across legal, communications, and business units. The position involves substantial matrix management across multiple departments and external vendor relationships.
This is a senior-level strategic role with significant autonomy and decision-making authority, evidenced by the responsibility for managing substantial budgets, designing campaign strategies, and representing the company at high-profile events. The reporting relationship to a Director level and the scope of multi-jurisdictional campaign management indicates this role operates at a senior manager to junior director equivalent level.

Key Projects

Leading state-level regulatory approval campaigns for Waymo One expansion into new markets, involving comprehensive stakeholder mapping, legislative strategy, and coalition building with local transportation authorities Managing federal policy advocacy efforts around NHTSA regulations and DOT guidelines that could impact autonomous vehicle deployment timelines and safety requirements Coordinating defensive campaigns against restrictive local ordinances or union-backed legislation that could limit AV operations in key metropolitan markets

Success Factors

Deep understanding of the political economy of transportation policy, including how labor unions, safety advocates, urban planners, and technology companies intersect in policy debates, requiring the ability to build coalitions across traditionally adversarial groups Exceptional relationship-building capabilities with government officials, think tank researchers, and advocacy organization leaders, as success in this role depends heavily on trust and credibility built over time in policy circles Strategic thinking and analytical skills to assess complex political landscapes and identify the most effective advocacy approaches, whether through grassroots mobilization, elite persuasion, or coalition building Crisis management and rapid response capabilities, as regulatory threats can emerge quickly and require immediate, coordinated responses across multiple channels and stakeholders

Market Demand

Demand for this type of specialized role is exceptionally high, as the intersection of technology policy expertise and campaign management skills creates a very limited talent pool. The autonomous vehicle industry specifically faces intense regulatory pressure, making professionals with both political campaign experience and tech policy knowledge extremely valuable and scarce in the market.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Political campaign management and execution skills are absolutely essential, as this role requires the ability to design, implement, and manage complex advocacy campaigns across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, with success measured by concrete policy outcomes and regulatory approvals Deep understanding of transportation and technology policy landscapes is critical, as the role requires navigating complex regulatory frameworks, understanding technical implications of policy decisions, and translating between technical and political stakeholders Stakeholder management and coalition building capabilities are essential, as success depends on building and maintaining relationships with government officials, advocacy groups, industry associations, and internal cross-functional teams Budget management and regulatory compliance expertise is critical, given the substantial financial resources involved and the highly regulated nature of political advocacy work

Beneficial Skills

Experience with federal regulatory processes, particularly DOT, NHTSA, and FTC procedures, as autonomous vehicle policy increasingly involves federal-level decision-making and coordination Understanding of labor and workforce development policy, as autonomous vehicle deployment raises significant concerns about job displacement and economic impacts that must be addressed in policy campaigns Knowledge of urban planning and smart city initiatives, as AV deployment requires coordination with municipal infrastructure planning and transportation system integration Crisis communications and rapid response capabilities, as the AV industry faces ongoing safety scrutiny and public perception challenges that can quickly become policy issues

Unique Aspects

This role offers exposure to the most advanced autonomous vehicle technology deployment in the world, providing unprecedented insight into how cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies intersect with traditional transportation regulation and urban planning
The position involves shaping policy at a historic inflection point in transportation, where decisions made today will influence mobility patterns and urban development for decades to come
Working at the intersection of Google's technological capabilities and the transportation industry's regulatory complexity creates unique strategic challenges and learning opportunities not available elsewhere
The role provides direct influence over policy decisions that could affect millions of consumers and fundamentally reshape urban transportation systems

Career Growth

Career advancement to director-level roles typically occurs within 2-4 years given the high-demand nature of this expertise, with potential movement to VP or C-suite policy roles within 5-7 years, particularly if the professional builds a strong track record of policy wins and regulatory navigation.

Potential Next Roles

Director of Government Affairs or Public Policy at a major technology company, given the strategic experience and relationship capital built in this role Partner or Managing Director at a top-tier government relations or public affairs consulting firm specializing in transportation or technology policy Chief Policy Officer or VP of Government Affairs at a scaling technology company, particularly in mobility, logistics, or other regulated tech sectors Senior policy advisor or chief of staff roles in government agencies focused on transportation, technology, or economic development

Company Overview

Waymo

Waymo represents the pioneer and market leader in autonomous vehicle technology, having evolved from Google's self-driving car project and maintaining the most extensive real-world testing and deployment experience in the industry. The company has achieved significant technological milestones including over one million rider-only trips and tens of millions of autonomous miles driven, positioning it as the most advanced commercial AV operation globally.

Waymo holds the strongest market position in the autonomous vehicle space, with the most mature technology platform, the most extensive regulatory approvals, and the only large-scale commercial ride-hailing service currently operating. The company's relationship with Alphabet provides substantial financial backing and technological resources that competitors cannot match.
The New York location reflects Waymo's strategic focus on policy and government relations, as this position likely serves as a key liaison with federal policymakers, northeastern state governments, and the broader transportation policy ecosystem centered in the DC-NYC corridor. This geographic positioning enables close collaboration with federal agencies, congressional offices, and major think tanks.
Waymo's culture combines Google's innovation-driven, data-centric approach with the urgency and external focus required in a rapidly scaling transportation company. The policy team operates in a high-stakes environment where regulatory decisions directly impact business expansion, creating a culture that values both analytical rigor and political sophistication.
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