Director, Public Policy Engagement

LCA's Regulatory Affairs team is seeking an experienced attorney or public policy professional to join our Redmond-based team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in coordinating policy analysis, strategy development, communications management, and, in some cases, driving a public policy engagement and outreach strategy for the technology policy-related issues that are critical to Microsoft and central to our software-plus-services strategy. These issues include privacy, data security, telecommunications, accessibility, free expression / censorship, and law enforcement compliance-related issues associated with cloud computing and our plans to locate data centers in key geographies around the world. The role is primarily internally focused with an emphasis on strategy development, prioritization, strategic planning and cross-group collaboration. Success will require working through and with key stakeholders, including Regulatory Affairs teammates who are subject matter experts on the technology policy issue set, other key contributors from across Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond who have a strong interest in the technology policy agenda, and a strong network of professionals from across the company located in U.S. state capitals and national capitals around the world who will be the principal implementers of this policy agenda.

Essential Job Functions:

Coordination/Project Management: Central coordinator and project manager for Microsoft's government affairs and public policy agenda for technology policy-related issues, i.e., privacy, data security, telecommunications, accessibility, free expression and law enforcement compliance.

Leadership: Lead key initiatives from the planning phase through to achievement of key and measurable specific objectives, ensuring key milestones along the way.

Cross-Group Collaboration: Work effectively in the absence of direct reporting lines across a complex and matrixed headquarters function and through a globally disbursed network of corporate affairs professionals, business teams, and issue specialists.

Prioritization: Taking into account business direction, industry strategy, and the overall political environment, generate internal consensus and identify the key (few in number) and core opportunities where we can meaningfully advance our public policy agenda and drive forward progress in the areas that are most impactful for the long term success of Microsoft and the IT industry.

Dealing with Ambiguity: Navigate changing and fluid circumstances with ease and comfort.

Desired Work Experience:

10+ years of industry experience with core focus on IT industry, ideally with a strong background in either the Internet or telecommunications industry.

Strategic planning experience gained as part of an operational team driving government outreach or marketing campaigns for either software or Internet business sectors.

Currently in a leadership role with a proven ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, highly matrixed environment.

Demonstrated success in managing real-time operational programs that require both strong planning skills and the ability to react quickly to changing circumstances and quickly formulate appropriate action plans.

Proven ability to prioritize in the face of innumerable challenges, issues and opportunities by distilling the focus areas down to a core few priorities and aligning resources against them.

Desired Qualifications, Skills and Academic Background:

A minimum of a bachelor's degree in a discipline related to public policy is required, while a JD is plus.

Demonstrated ability to manage public policy issues, navigate government decision making, and effectively advocate on behalf of a company or industry position before policy makers and regulators.

Creative thinker who can see "the big picture" and unite new and disparate ideas with practical plans, working comfortably in the face of ambiguity while driving persistently towards success.

Strong understanding and experience in the areas of privacy, data security, telecommunications, accessibility, free expression/censorship, and/or law enforcement compliance-related obligations.

Knowledge and passion for technology, and ability to recognize and assess the impact of related governmental policies.

Highly organized and process focused. Ability to clearly prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks.

Strong networking and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and across disparate groups, teams and reporting lines. Ability to work effectively in a loosely structured team environment that demands a high degree of cooperation, flexibility, teaming, cross group and real-time responsiveness.

Excellent listening skills and proficient oral and written communications.

Strong problem solving and decision-making skills required.