Director, Public Policy

About Perplexity

Perplexity helps people find answers, explore ideas and get things done with AI. As we grow, we want policymakers around the world to understand what we're building and how it works.

Overview

We're hiring a Director, Public Policy as a founding member of our policy team. Based in Washington, D.C., this role will help build and scale our engagement with governments, regulators and policy communities worldwide.

Ideal candidates have built this function before, not only operated within an established team. The role requires hands-on coordination and will help set policy priorities with company leadership. We will prioritize candidates who can demonstrate resourcefulness, persistence, and a willingness to work through the details to get things done.

This role reports to the Senior Director, Product, Privacy & Regulatory Legal and will operationalize our public positions set by Comms and executive leadership.

What you'll do

- Build the program. Turn company priorities into a global engagement plan, with clear market priorities, owners and measures of progress.

- Scale how we work. Establish stakeholder tracking, policy monitoring and briefing standards that keep a growing team coordinated across regions.

- Build relationships across markets. Engage policymakers, regulators, trade associations, think tanks and civil society in the U.S. and key international markets.

- Anticipate change. Listen closely to policymakers to understand current priorities and emerging debates. Use expertise and trusted relationships to identify risks and raise opportunities the company may not yet see.

- Lead advocacy. Advance approved company positions through direct engagement and coalitions, adapting to local contexts and applicable lobbying and ethics requirements.

- Advise leadership. Translate political and regulatory developments into business implications and recommendations. Bring intelligence back to Legal, Comms, Product and executives.

- Connect policy and communications. Inform and execute the strategy Comms and executive leadership set, with clear messages and coordinated engagement across markets.

- Build regional capacity. Coordinate external advisers and partners, recommend future hiring priorities, and develop colleagues as the team and its reach grow.

- Make engagement effective. Prepare leaders for government meetings and run briefings, roundtables and product demonstrations, with clear objectives and follow-through.

What we're looking for

- At least 10 years of relevant experience in public policy, government affairs or legislative advocacy.

- A record of building and scaling a policy function, program or team, ideally at a growing technology company.

- Experience managing policy engagement across multiple jurisdictions, including the U.S. and at least one other major market.

- Experience representing a company, association or clients before government. Government service is strongly preferred.

- A network you've built yourself, and evidence that you can establish credibility and relationships in new markets.

- Strong writing and judgment. You can explain complex issues plainly, advise senior leaders and know when to escalate.

- A hands-on approach. You can write the brief, take the meeting and handle details while building for the next stage of growth.

- Experience coordinating internal teams and external advisers across regions, with clear priorities and accountability.

Bonus

- Experience hiring, managing or developing policy professionals.

- Experience with AI, privacy, competition, copyright or other technology policy issues.

- Experience on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch, or in a comparable government role outside the U.S.

- Registered lobbying experience and familiarity with lobbying disclosure and ethics requirements.