Public Affairs Strategist

The Elevator Pitch

At Evolvwerehelping 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 a Public Affairs Strategistyoulllead Evolvs work to advance state-level policy thatestablishesadvanced weapons screening as a recognized standard for keeping studentsand staffsafe in K-12 the state-by-state game plan mapping the legislative and regulatory landscapeidentifyingand engaging the policymakers and community organizations who shape school-safety decisions and organizing the coalitions that turn a shared goal into enacted withtoppriority states and carry them forward over time expanding to new states as the program grows andyoullhelpidentify 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 spectrumhelps identify the funding for new policy mandatesand is energized by work that creates meaningful impact for students and communities.

What does success in the role look like

Within the first30 days you will:

• Develop a deep understanding of Evolvs 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 mostachievableandput in place a game plan to help drive it forward.
  

Within90 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 Evolvs 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 Evolvs 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 landscapeidentifythe 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.
  

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 and pathways needed to earn the meeting.

• Represent Evolv in external forums industry events working groups andstandardsorganizations asappropriate.
  

Outside Partner & Lobbyist Management

• Identifythe 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 Evolvs 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 Evolvs commitment to responsible neutral and transparent engagement with public officials partners and communities.

What is leadership like for this role

The Public Affairs Strategist will report directly to Evolvs 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 rolelocated

Our preference is for the Public Affairs Strategist to be based near Evolvs 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 & Compliance

This 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 Evolvs 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$102000- $ 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 aredeterminedbased on factors such as role level location market benchmarks and internal equity. The posted rangerepresentsthe 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 candidates skills experience education and geographic location.

In accordance withstate and local pay transparencylawsincluding those in California Colorado Massachusetts New York New Jersey andotherswedisclosesalary ranges in all job postings and provideadditionalinformation 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 competitiveequitable and aligned with our values.

Must-Have:

• 5 years of experience in government affairs public affairs legislative or regulatory campaigns stakeholder engagementchief of staffor 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 (associations advocacy and community organizations public-sector partners) and mobilize them in support of a shared policy goal.
• Strong influence skills: the ability to map a legislative landscapeidentifythe right decision-makers and earn the meeting 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 whenoperatingin sensitive politically neutral and externally visible 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.
• Familiaritywith schoolsafety standards organizations research institutions advocacy groups or public-sector partners.
• Familiarity with state legislativeprocess regulatory pathways public funding mechanisms and grant programs relevant to school safety.
• Experience building evidence-based cases or supporting independent research and validation.
• Comfortoperatingin a fast-moving high-growth environment where priorities mayevolveand the path forward is not always fully defined.

At Evolvwereon a mission to help make public spaces safer through innovative security technology. Sowerelooking for future teammates who embody our values people who:

• Do the right thingalways;

• 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.