Public Affairs Strategist

Overview At Evolv, we’re helping redefine how public spaces approach safety. Trusted by schools, hospitals, entertainment venues, sports stadiums, and other organizations across the country, our technology helps communities create safer environments while preserving welcoming experiences. Public Affairs Strategist — you’ll lead Evolv’s work to advance state-level policy that establishes advanced weapons screening as a recognized standard for keeping students and staff safe in K-12 schools. You’ll build the state-by-state game plan — mapping the legislative and regulatory landscape, identifying and engaging policymakers and community organizations who shape school-safety decisions, and organizing coalitions that turn a shared goal into enacted policy. You’ll begin with top-priority states and carry them forward over time, expanding to new states as the program grows, and you’ll help identify, direct, and manage outside lobbying partners where they can accelerate progress. This role is ideal for a public affairs professional who has moved policy through statehouses before, thrives in complex multi-stakeholder environments, communicates with credibility and diplomacy across the political spectrum, helps identify funding for new policy mandates, and is energized by work that creates meaningful impact for students and communities. What success looks like Within the first 30 days you will: Develop a deep understanding of Evolv’s mission, products, customers, and the school-safety policy landscape across priority states. Build familiarity with the environment in a few high-priority states—existing legislation, recent legislative and regulatory activity, and the associations, research organizations, public-sector entities, and community leaders who influence school-safety decisions. Establish working relationships with internal partners across Growth, Marketing, Sales, Product, Legal, and Customer Success. Begin sharpening the prioritization view of where policy progress is most achievable and put in place a game plan to drive it forward. Within 90 days you will: Deliver and begin executing a clear, actionable plan for each of the first three priority states — covering the legislative and regulatory landscape, key policymakers, coalition-building, the most viable policy vehicle and funding pathway, and an understanding of likely opposition. Begin building relationships with key external stakeholders in those states, including legislators and committee staff, school-safety associations, and education and parent organizations. Help develop evidence-based, locally relevant messaging and supporting materials that communicate Evolv’s impact to diverse audiences. Recommend where outside lobbying or government-relations partners would accelerate progress and begin scoping and managing those engagements. Within your first year you will: Move the first states forward toward introduced legislation or regulatory action, and stand up the next wave of priority states. Establish Evolv as a trusted, credible, and engaged participant in school-safety policy conversations. Build and maintain meaningful relationships with priority associations, research institutions, public-sector organizations, and community influencers. Develop a repeatable state playbook that allows the program to scale efficiently across many states. Identify, direct, and manage outside lobbyists and partners across multiple states, ensuring their work aligns with Evolv’s strategy and compliance standards. Support the development of evidence-based proof points and independent research that strengthen customer confidence and the broader case for advanced screening. The Work: What type of work will you be doing? State Policy Strategy & Campaign Development Build and own the state-by-state plan to advance advanced weapons screening as a school-safety standard — beginning with priority states and expanding over time. For each state, map the legislative and regulatory landscape, identify the most viable policy vehicle (legislation, regulation, code, or funding mechanism), and define a realistic path to adoption. Pair each policy effort with a viable funding pathway so that adopted standards can actually be implemented. Maintain a prioritization framework that sequences states by feasibility and opportunity and adapts as conditions change. Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building Identify, map, and engage the legislators, committee staff, public-sector leaders, and community organizations that shape school-safety policy in each state. Build and organize coalitions of credible third-party voices — parent and education organizations, school-safety associations, principals and superintendents, and other community stakeholders — who can advocate for safer schools. Develop a tailored value proposition and engagement approach for each stakeholder, and build the relationships needed to earn the meeting. Represent Evolv in external forums, industry events, working groups, and standards organizations as appropriate. Outside Partner & Lobbyist Management Identify the states where engaging outside lobbying or government-relations partners will accelerate progress, and recommend when and where to do so. Select, direct, and manage outside lobbyists and consultants, ensuring their work aligns with Evolv’s strategy, messaging, and compliance standards. Coordinate registration, disclosure, and reporting requirements in partnership with Legal and Compliance. Evidence Development & Messaging Work cross-functionally with Growth, Marketing, Sales, Product, and Customer Success to gather customer insights and develop evidence-based proof points. Support relationships with research organizations and third-party partners to advance independent validation and studies that strengthen market and policymaker confidence. Develop clear, locally relevant messaging and briefing materials for legislators, community organizations, and the public. Responsible Engagement & Compliance Partner closely with Legal and Compliance to ensure all external engagement aligns with company policy and applicable law, including lobbying registration, political neutrality, anti-corruption, and business-courtesy requirements. Uphold Evolv’s commitment to responsible, neutral, and transparent engagement with public officials, partners, and communities. Leadership & Location The Public Affairs Strategist reports directly to Evolv’s Chief Growth Officer and works with senior leaders across Marketing, Sales, Product, Legal, and Customer Success. This is a relationship-oriented and externally facing role requiring regular engagement with customers, associations, research partners, industry events, and state stakeholders. Travel will vary; candidates should be comfortable traveling and reside within reasonable access to a major airport. Location: Our preference is for the role to be based near Evolv’s headquarters in Waltham, MA; exceptional candidates in strategic cities such as New York or Washington, DC will be considered. Notes on Confidentiality & Compliance: The role operates in a sensitive, politically neutral, externally visible area. The successful candidate will be expected to exercise strong judgment, discretion, and professionalism when engaging with legislators, public officials, and other external stakeholders, and when handling confidential information. Public-facing materials and engagement plans should be developed in partnership with internal teams and approved through company processes. Interactions with government officials must align with Evolv’s policies related to political neutrality, business courtesies, anti-corruption, lobbying registration, and compliance. Compensation & Transparency The base salary range for this full-time position is $102,000 - $166,000. In addition to base salary, this role offers a competitive target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package. This range reflects pay transparency and equity, aligned with state laws. The posted range represents a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay across U.S. locations. Actual compensation will depend on skills, experience, and location. We disclose salary ranges in all job postings and provide additional information upon request in accordance with state and local pay transparency laws. During the hiring process, the recruiter will share: (1) The specific salary range for your location, (2) A general overview of benefits and equity offerings, (3) Insights into how compensation decisions are made. We are committed to fair pay practices and regularly review compensation programs to ensure they are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values. Requirements Must-Have: 5+ years of experience in government affairs, public affairs, legislative or regulatory campaigns, stakeholder engagement, chief of staff or public-sector relations, with direct experience advancing policy at the state level. Demonstrated success helping develop and pass — or materially advance — state legislation or regulation, ideally across more than one state, from concept through enactment. Demonstrated ability to build and organize coalitions of external stakeholders and mobilize them in support of a shared policy goal. Strong influence skills: map a legislative landscape, identify the right decision-makers, and earn meetings without formal authority. Experience working across the political spectrum and tailoring messaging to different political environments. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear messaging, briefing materials, stakeholder communications, and executive-ready updates. High integrity, discretion, and professionalism in sensitive, politically neutral environments. Nice to Have: Experience in K-12 education, school safety, public safety, violence prevention, healthcare, or other mission-driven sectors. Experience selecting, directing, and managing outside lobbyists or government-relations firms. Familiarity with school-safety standards organizations, research institutions, advocacy groups, or public-sector partners. Familiarity with state legislative process, regulatory pathways, public funding mechanisms, and grant programs relevant to school safety. Experience building evidence-based cases or supporting independent research and validation. Comfort operating in a fast-moving, high-growth environment where priorities may evolve and the path forward may not be fully defined. Benefits At Evolv, we’re on a mission to help make public spaces safer through innovative security technology. We’re seeking teammates who embody our values: do the right thing, put people first, own it, win together, and be bold and curious. Equity as part of total compensation Medical, dental, and vision insurance Health Savings Account (HSA) 401(k) plan with 2% company match Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) Quarterly stipend for perks and benefits Tuition reimbursement for ongoing learning Subscription to Calm Evolv Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome diversity and make employment decisions without regard to protected characteristics. We are committed to an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers; accommodations are available upon request. Evolv participates in E-verify after Form I-9. #J-18808-Ljbffr Evolv Technology