SVP, Government Affairs

True Anomaly; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 255,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly, based in Washington, D.C., is seeking a Senior Government Affairs Leader to drive engagement with the Department of Defense and other governmental entities. The role involves developing integrated strategies to advocate for policies that align with the company’s mission.

Ideal candidates have a deep understanding of the defense sector, extensive relationships, and over 15 years of experience in government affairs. This position provides an opportunity to shape strategic initiatives and ensure alignment with national security objectives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience in government affairs, public policy, or defense.
• Has relationships and credibility in defense and national security circles.
• Exceptional communicator; able to distill complex policy and technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Own the full government affairs strategy including advocacy and engagement.
• Build and maintain deep relationships across federal and state levels.
• Lead True Anomaly's state and local government affairs function.

Skills

Government affairs expertise

Strong communication

Strategic relationship management

Defense and national security knowledge

Job description

Our Mission

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

Our Values

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

Your Mission

Own True Anomaly's engagement strategy across the Department of Defense, U.S. Space Force, the intelligence community, Capitol Hill, and state and local governments. As our senior-most Government Affairs leader, you'll report directly to executive leadership and build a durable, multi-year strategy rooted in how policy actually becomes law, and how programs survive and grow when budget cycles tighten. We're not looking for a lobbyist. We're looking for a strategist and a closer. Someone who has spent their career at the highest levels of defense and national security, sat inside government, and knows how Washington actually works.

Responsibilities

Federal Strategy & Engagement

• Own the full government affairs strategy — developing an integrated engagement plan across OSD, the Services, combatant commands, U.S. Space Force, and the Intelligence Community.
• Build and maintain deep, personal relationships across the House, Senate, and Senate leadership, with particular emphasis on defense, space, and technology committees (SASC, HASC, defense appropriations).
• Advocate for policies, programs, and funding priorities that align with True Anomaly's mission and national security objectives.
• Coordinate briefings and meetings with senior administration officials to shape space policy, acquisition strategy, and export control frameworks.
• Proactively engage the Pentagon on emerging national security priorities — from space superiority to supply chain resilience and rare earth elements — connecting True Anomaly's capabilities to decision-makers before requirements are written.
• Monitor and analyze legislation impacting space defense and commercial space operations; translate implications into actionable guidance for executive leadership.
• Shift the Overton window — as the leading defense tech companies have demonstrated, strong government affairs is a strategic differentiator, not a support function.

State & Local Government Affairs

• Build and lead True Anomaly's state and local government affairs function from the ground up — this is a critical and underbuilt capability as we expand manufacturing and operations.
• Develop relationships with governors' offices, state legislatures, and economic development agencies in key expansion markets to secure incentives, tax benefits, and long‑term operational support.
• Work with congressional delegations to align federal and state-level advocacy around manufacturing site decisions and workforce development.
• Manage labor relations dynamics and community engagement as part of our facility expansion strategy.
• Identify and pursue state-level partnerships that can generate durable political support and competitive advantage in key markets.

Team Building & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and lead a world-class government affairs team — recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent across federal, state, and local functions.
• Partner closely with business development, legal, and program teams to align government affairs activities with contract opportunities and strategic growth.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team on policy risk, political landscape, and strategic relationship management.
• Prepare and oversee briefing materials, talking points, and position papers for executive leadership and government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A known quantity in defense and national security circles, with relationships and credibility built over a career.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in government affairs, public policy, or defense — with demonstrated success developing and executing strategy at the highest levels.
• Has sat inside government and understands how strategy becomes law — you've designed the approach, built the coalition, and gotten it enacted.
• Background ideally includes senior government affairs experience at a leading defense or national security technology company (experience at Palantir is a strong signal); candidates from major defense primes with comparable relationships and strategic scope will also be considered.
• Deep, personal relationships across OSD, U.S. Space Force, the Intelligence Community, and key Hill offices and committees.
• Fluency in U.S. government processes — PPBE budget cycle, defense acquisition, authorizations and appropriations, export controls, and space policy frameworks.
• Experience navigating budget contractions and protecting program priorities when the fiscal environment tightens — you know how to fight for what matters when it's no longer easy.
• Proven ability to build state and local government affairs capabilities, including securing manufacturing incentives, tax benefits, and building relationships with congressional delegations and governors' offices.
• A builder — you've stood up teams, built functions, and created infrastructure where none existed.
• Exceptional communicator; able to distill complex policy and technical concepts for senior government officials, board members, and internal stakeholders alike.
• Eligibility for TS//SCI clearance; U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (ITAR compliance required).
• Based in or willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $255,000 - $380,000
• Equity and benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401(k), Parental Leave.
• Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please let us know.