Director, Public Policy - Emerging Technology & Strategic Policy

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.

At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.

This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

Lumen is seeking a strategic, forward-looking Director of Public Policy to help shape the policy environment for the next generation of the company and the digital infrastructure economy. As Lumen transforms into the trusted network for AI, our public policy agenda must evolve with our business. This role will focus on the emerging technology, infrastructure, national security, competition, and economic policy issues that will determine how AI and the broader digital economy develop—and what those changes mean for Lumen, our customers, and the networks on which they depend. Reporting to the Senior Director of Policy, this individual will serve as a senior policy strategist and key partner in developing Lumen's positions on AI and other emerging issues central to the company's future.  The Director will be expected not simply to track policy developments, but to anticipate where policy is going, identify second- and third-order implications, and translate those developments into business risks, opportunities, and actionable policy strategies.

This is an opportunity for a strong policy thinker who is comfortable operating in areas where the answers are not yet established. Deep expertise in every issue in the portfolio is not expected. Intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to rapidly develop expertise in new and evolving areas are essential.

This position will be based in Washington, D.C.

The Main Responsibilities

Develop policy strategy for Lumen's future

- Lead policy development on AI and other emerging technology issues central to Lumen's transformation and long-term competitive position.
- Identify the external policy, regulatory, geopolitical, national security, and market developments that could enable or constrain Lumen's strategy.
- Develop proactive policy positions that advance Lumen's interests as a provider of critical digital infrastructure in an AI-driven economy.
- Help define Lumen's point of view on issues where policy frameworks are still developing and the company has an opportunity to shape the debate rather than react to it.

Turn policy developments into business insight

- Analyze legislative, regulatory, executive branch, and geopolitical developments beyond their immediate requirements to identify second- and third-order implications for Lumen, its customers, competitors, and partners.
- Connect policy developments to business strategy, including implications for AI infrastructure, cloud and multi-cloud architectures, cybersecurity, network resilience, competition, supply chains, data and compute, and critical infrastructure.
- Translate complex policy and technical issues into clear recommendations for senior leaders and business partners.
- Distinguish consequential developments from policy noise and focus organizational attention on the issues most likely to affect Lumen's ability to compete and win.

Anticipate and shape emerging issues

- Maintain a forward-looking view of the technology and policy landscape, identifying issues before they become immediate legislative or regulatory problems.
- Develop policy frameworks and advocacy strategies in areas where established industry positions may not yet exist.
- Conduct rigorous research and engage technical, legal, product, security, government affairs, and business experts to rapidly build Lumen's understanding of new issues.
- Challenge legacy assumptions and evaluate emerging policy questions through the lens of Lumen's future business model.
- Drive policy development across the enterprise
Build strong relationships with leaders and subject-matter experts across Product, Technology, Cybersecurity, Legal, Government Affairs, Public Sector, Strategy, and other functions.
- Bring together technical, commercial, legal, and policy perspectives to develop positions that reflect both Lumen's business objectives and the broader public interest.
- Produce high-quality policy papers, executive briefings, recommendations, and advocacy materials that turn complex issues into clear choices and actions.
- Serve as a trusted thought partner to senior policy leadership on emerging issues and special projects requiring rapid analysis and judgment.

Represent Lumen externally

- Develop trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry organizations, think tanks, technology companies, national security stakeholders, and other participants in the emerging technology ecosystem.
- Represent and advance Lumen's positions in external policy discussions, coalitions, working groups, and other forums.
- Identify opportunities for Lumen to contribute constructively to policy debates around AI, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, resilience, competition, and national security.
- Help establish Lumen as a credible, forward-looking voice on the infrastructure and policy issues shaping the AI economy.

What We Look For in a Candidate

Basic Qualifications

- 10+ years of relevant experience in public policy, government, technology policy, national security, economic policy, regulatory policy, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex policy questions and understand their downstream implications for businesses, markets, customers, and government.
- Strong understanding of the technology policy landscape.
- Experience with AI policy is highly valued but is not required.
- Ability to quickly develop substantive expertise in unfamiliar and rapidly evolving policy areas.
- Strong business acumen and an ability to connect public policy to competitive strategy and commercial outcomes.
- Exceptional analytical, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to make complex issues understandable and actionable for senior executives.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to independently identify important questions, develop a point of view, and drive work forward with limited direction.
- Sound judgment and comfort making recommendations in areas characterized by ambiguity, incomplete information, and rapidly changing technology.
- Proven ability to influence and work effectively across a complex, matrixed organization.
- Executive presence and the ability to credibly represent Lumen with senior government, industry, and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working on technology, AI, cybersecurity, national security, competition, digital infrastructure, cloud, semiconductor, data, or other emerging technology policy issues.
- Experience in the Executive Branch, Congress, a regulatory agency, technology company, think tank, or another environment requiring sophisticated policy analysis.
- Existing relationships within the Washington technology and public policy ecosystem.
- Experience working at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and government policy.
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in public policy, law, economics, business, technology, or a related field preferred.

Telecommunications experience is not required.  Candidates with broader technology, national security, economic, competition, or emerging-technology policy backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$132,232 - $176,310 in these states: AL  AR  AZ  FL  GA  IA  ID  IN  KS  KY  LA  ME  MO  MS  MT  ND  NE  NM  OH  OK  PA  SC  SD  TN  UT  VT  WI  WV  WY  
$138,844 - $185,124 in these states: CO  HI  MI  MN  NC  NH  NV  OR  RI  
$145,456 - $193,940 in these states: AK  CA  CT  DC  DE  IL  MA  MD  NJ  NY  TX  VA  WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Learn more about Lumen's:

- Benefits (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/benefits-statement)
- Bonus Structure (https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/compensation-information)

Requisition #: 343678

Life at Lumen

Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win.

To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit:  
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/life-at-lumen

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page . Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

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Lumen is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.

To review Lumen’s Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:
https://jobs.lumen.com/global/en/privacy-notice

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.