Federal Policy & Defense Affairs Director

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 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.