Director of Government Affairs

Shift5; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus & equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

HSA contributions

Job summary

Shift5 seeks a mission-aligned Director of Government Affairs to lead federal legislative and regulatory advocacy. You will engage Capitol Hill and executive agencies while overseeing external lobbying partners to drive policy supporting onboard fleet data access and OT cybersecurity.

You will partner with Defense & Commercial Sales, Product, Legal, and Leadership, owning policy initiatives and expanding Shift5’s public affairs footprint in defense and transportation sectors.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in legislative affairs, public policy, or federal government relations.
• Experience with defense, national security, or critical transportation infrastructure.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into policy proposals independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead in-house legislative strategy and advocacy across Capitol Hill and federal agencies.
• Direct and manage external government relations and lobbying firms.
• Track federal budget cycles (NDAA, appropriations, grants) and connect policy wins to market opportunities.
• Drive measurable impact in securing favorable legislative text and regulatory standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve Shift5’s policy presence and congressional engagement.
• Own legislative engagement from priority identification through bill passage and implementation.
• Contribute to scaling Shift5’s public affairs and policy capabilities across defense and commercial sectors.

Skills

Legislative affairs

Public policy

Federal government relations

National security

Defense policy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science or related field

Job description

Shift5 is building the data platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We deliver cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance capabilities that enable defense and commercial fleets to operate with greater readiness, resilience, and mission assurance.

We are seeking a mission-aligned Director of Government Affairs to join our Legal & Public Policy team. This role will be responsible for leading Shift5’s federal legislative and regulatory advocacy, directly engaging Capitol Hill and executive agencies while strategically managing external lobbying and government relations firms to drive policy that unlocks fleet cybersecurity and data-modernization funding.

This role will partner closely with Defense & Commercial Sales, Product, Legal, and Executive Leadership and will play a critical role in supporting Shift5’s next phase of growth. We are looking for someone who brings ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

What You’ll Do

• Lead in-house legislative strategy and direct advocacy across Capitol Hill and executive agencies (DoD, DHS/CISA, DOT/FAA/FRA) to advance policies and appropriations supporting OT cybersecurity and onboard fleet data access.
• Direct, scope, and hold accountable external government relations and lobbying firms to ensure clear alignment with business priorities and high ROI on retainer.
• Partner closely with Defense and Commercial Sales teams to track federal budget cycles (NDAA, appropriations, grant programs) and connect policy wins directly to addressable market opportunities and program lines of record.
• Drive measurable impact in securing favorable legislative text, report language, and regulatory standards that recognize onboard OT data capture and cyber resilience.
• Identify and act on opportunities to improve Shift5’s policy presence, coalition participation, and congressional witness/hearing opportunities.
• Own legislative engagement and vendor management from priority identification through bill passage and executive branch implementation.
• Contribute directly to scaling Shift5’s public affairs and policy capability as the company expands across defense weapon systems and commercial transportation sectors.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver meaningful progress against targeted legislative vehicles (e.g., NDAA or Transportation Appropriations bill cycles) and align external lobbying retainers against clear quarterly deliverables within the first 90 days.
• Establish credibility and strong working relationships with key congressional committee staff (HASC, SASC, HAC-D, SAC-D, Transportation/Commerce), executive agency officials, and internal sector leads.
• Drive measurable improvement in legislative tracking precision, policy-driven pipeline opportunities, and agency standard alignment.
• Build or improve an operational cadence (weekly sprints, quarterly reviews, Hill coverage tracking) for overseeing and evaluating external lobbying partners.
• Demonstrate strong ownership, judgment, and execution in navigating bipartisan policy and high-stakes national security environments.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of relevant experience in legislative affairs, public policy, or federal government relations, with deep exposure to defense, national security, or critical transportation infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical concepts (such as serial bus architectures, OT cybersecurity, and predictive maintenance) into actionable policy proposals independently.
• Strong strategic foresight, coalition building, and external vendor/agency management skills.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-growth, mission-driven venture-backed startup environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, National Security, or equivalent practical experience.
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret/SCI security clearance preferred, or ability and willingness to obtain one.
• Proven track record on Capitol Hill (committee or personal staff) or within relevant federal agencies (DoD, CISA, DOT), with direct experience drafting legislative language and navigating authorization/appropriation cycles.

Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup

Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families

Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions

Employer-paid Life and Disability Insurance

Uncapped paid time off policy

Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that embraces the diversity of our people and represents the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives and ways of solving problems. We strive to attract and retain talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Shift5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, projected veteran status, or any other protected group or class.