Policy Advisor

About the role

The Waymo Policy and Government Affairs team works directly with policymakers and third party groups at the national, state and local levels to help advance transportation policy, educate on the safety benefits of the technology, and advance consumer awareness and acceptance. Internally, our efforts support the innovative work of engineering, product, strategy, and partnerships teams, and we work closely with highly-skilled legal and safety experts. This role is based in the SF Bay Area and will be based in either the SF or Mountain View offices and reports to the Regional Head of the West.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional public policy strategy, legislative advocacy, and regulatory engagement across the San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, North Bay, East Bay, and Silicon Valley/San Jose).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for city councils, county boards of supervisors, regional transit authorities, and local Departments of Transportation (DOTs).
• Partner cross-functionally with Public Affairs, the First Responder Ambassador team, and Regional Policy leads to ensure aligned messaging and operational continuity.
• Track, analyze and develop policy positions on relevant municipal ordinances and regional policy initiatives.
• Represent the company at public hearings, council meetings, community roundtables, and industry coalition working groups.
• Build coalitions with local business associations, civic leaders, and community groups to advance key policy priorities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in local government affairs, municipal public policy, or legislative advocacy in the SF Bay Area
• Demonstrated track record of building effective relationships with elected officials, agency staff, and community stakeholders
• Deep knowledge of Bay Area municipal governance, local legislative processes, and regional transportation/infrastructure agencies
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience aligning policy goals alongside operations, comms, and safety team
• Exceptional written, verbal, and public-speaking skills with the ability to distill complex technical issues for civic audiences

Preferred background

• Background in mobility, autonomous vehicles, micromobility, logistics, or emerging technology policy

Pay

Salary range: $144,000—$177,000 USD

Schedule

40% local travel across the greater San Francisco Bay Area for municipal meetings, stakeholder engagement, and community events, with occasional trips to corporate headquarters.