Director of Government Affairs

DescriptionThe Elevator PitchAt Evolv,we'rehelping redefine how public spaces approach safety. Trusted by schools, hospitals, entertainment venues, sports stadiums, and other organizations across the country, our technology is helping communities create safer environments while preserving the welcoming experiences people expect.As Director of Government Affairs, you will define and lead Evolv’s state government-affairs strategy, advancing evidence-based policies, standards, and funding pathways that help schools strengthen safety and determine where advanced weapons screening can play an appropriate role. You will establish the state-by-state strategy, map legislative and regulatory opportunities, cultivate trusted relationships with policymakers and public-sector leaders, and build coalitions capable of moving shared policy priorities forward.Beginning with a focused group of priority states, you will lead campaigns from strategy development through legislative or regulatory advancement, advise senior leadership on policy opportunities and risks, and select and direct outside government-relations partners where they can accelerate progress.What does success in the role look like? Within the first30 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 environmentin 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 mostachievable,andput in place a game plan to help drive it forward.Within 90 days, you will: Deliverand begin executinga clear, actionable plan for each of the first three priority states — covering the legislative and regulatory landscape, the key policymakers and the path to engaging them, the coalition of supporters to organize, the most viable policy vehicle and funding pathway, and a clear-eyed read 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 partnerswouldaccelerateprogress andbegin scoping and managing those engagements.Within your first year, you will:Move the first states forward toward introduced legislation or regulatoryaction, andstand up the next wave of priority states.Establish Evolv as a trusted, credible, and engaged participant in school-safety policy conversations.Build andmaintainmeaningful relationships with priority associations, research institutions, public-sector organizations, and community influencers.Develop a repeatablestate 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 DevelopmentBuild 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,identifythe mostviablepolicy 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.Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Growth Officer and other senior leaders, providing timely guidance on legislative developments, policy opportunities, external risks, and recommended company positions.Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition BuildingIdentify, 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 and pathways needed to earn the meeting.Represent Evolv in external forums, industry events, working groups, andstandardsorganizations asappropriate.Outside Partner & Lobbyist ManagementIdentifythe stateswhereengaging outside lobbying or government-relations partners will accelerateprogress, andrecommend 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 & MessagingWork 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 & CompliancePartner 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.What is leadership like for this role? The Director of Government Affairs will report directly to Evolv's Chief Growth Officer and work closely with senior leaders across Marketing, Sales, Product, Legal, and Customer Success.This is a relationship-oriented and externally facing role that requires regular engagement with customers, associations, research partners, industry events, and federal and state stakeholders. Travel will vary throughout the year based on business priorities and external engagement opportunities, so candidates should be comfortable traveling as needed and reside within reasonable access to a major airport.Where is the role located?  Our preference is for the Director of Government Affairs to be based near Evolv's headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts; however, we are open to exceptional candidateslocatedin strategic cities in the United States, including New York and Washington, DC.This is a relationship-oriented, externally facing role that requires regular engagement with legislators and committee staff, associations, research partners, community organizations, and industry events — including frequent travel to state capitols and stakeholder meetings. Travel will vary throughout the year based on legislative calendars and business priorities, so candidates should be comfortable traveling as needed andresidewithin reasonable access to a major airport.Notes on Confidentiality & ComplianceThis roleoperateswithin a sensitive, politically neutral, and externally visible area of the business. 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, engagement plans, and stakeholder communications should be developed in partnership with theappropriate internalteams and approved through established company processes. Interactions with government officials, public-sector entities, and other external stakeholders — including the engagement of outside lobbyists — must align with Evolv's policies related to political neutrality, business courtesies, anti-corruption, lobbying registration, and compliance.Compensation and Transparency Statement  The base salary range for this full-time position is $152,000- $246,000. In addition tobase salary, this role offers a competitive target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package. This range reflects our commitment to pay transparency and equity, in alignment with applicable state laws. Our compensation ranges are determined based on factors such as role, level, location, market benchmarks, and internal equity. The posted range represents the good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this role across U.S. locations. Actual compensation within the range will be based on the candidate’s skills, experience, education, and geographic location.   In accordance with state and local pay transparency laws—including those in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and others—we disclose salary ranges in all job postings and provide additional information upon request.   During the hiring process, your recruiter will share:   The specific salary range for your preferred location   A general overview of our benefits and equity offerings   Insights into how compensation decisions are made, including factors that influence starting pay   We are committed to fair pay practices, and we regularly review our compensation programs to ensure they are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values.  RequirementsMust-Have:8+ years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, or a closely related field, including direct experience advancing policy at the state level. Demonstrated success developing and leading multistate legislative or regulatory strategies, with experience materially advancing policy from concept and stakeholder alignment through introduction, adoption, enactment, or implementation. Proven ability to build and mobilize coalitions of associations, advocacy and community organizations, public-sector partners, and other third-party stakeholders around a shared policy objective. Strong political and policy judgment, including the ability to assess legislative environments, identify decision-makers and influencers, anticipate opposition, and adapt strategy as conditions evolve. Established ability to develop trusted relationships with legislators, legislative staff, regulators, public officials, and external stakeholders across the political spectrum. Experience advising executives and cross-functional leaders on policy opportunities, reputational considerations, emerging risks, and government-engagement strategy. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including policy positioning, testimony or briefing materials, stakeholder communications, and concise executive-level recommendations. High integrity, discretion, and professionalism when operating in sensitive, nonpartisan, and externally visible environments. Ability and willingness to travel regularly based on legislative calendars, stakeholder needs, and business priorities.Nice to Have:Experience in K–12 education, school safety, public safety, violence prevention, healthcare, security technology, or another highly regulated or mission-driven sector. Experience selecting, directing, and evaluating outside lobbyists, government-relations firms, policy consultants, or coalition partners, including oversight of budgets and deliverables. Familiarity with school-safety standards organizations, research institutions, advocacy groups, education associations, or public-sector partners. Working knowledge of state legislative and regulatory processes, public funding mechanisms, appropriations, and grant programs relevant to education or school safety. Experience translating research, customer outcomes, or technical evidence into credible policy positions and supporting independent validation. Experience building a government-affairs capability, campaign model, or repeatable multistate policy playbook in a growing organization. Comfort operating in a fast-moving, high-growth environment where priorities evolve and the path forward may not be fully defined.BenefitsAt Evolv,we’reon a mission to help make public spaces safer through innovative security technology. So,we'relooking for future teammates who embody our values, people who:   Do the right thing,always;   Put people first'   Ownit;   Win together; and continue to    Be bold, stay curious.   Our Benefits Include:   Equity as part of your total compensation package   Medical, dental, and vision insurance   Health Savings Account (HSA)     A 401(k) plan (and 2% company match)   Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)- take the time you need to recharge, with manager approval and business needs in mind  Quarterly stipend forperksand benefits that matter most to you   Tuition reimbursement to support your ongoing learning and development   Subscription to Calm   Evolv Technology (“Evolv”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace, and allemployment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law in the locations where we operate. Evolv will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.  Evolv is committed to offeringan inclusiveand accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you needa reasonableaccommodation as part of the job application process, pleaseconnect withusat .  Evolv participates inE-verifyfor all employees after the completion of Form I-9.Job SummaryID: AECDepartment: GrowthType: full time