Government Affairs Lead

Gusto • Denver, CO;San Francisco, CA;New York, NY • 1m ago

Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs

Policy and regulation are increasingly core to how SaaS companies operate, particularly in domains that touch payroll, benefits, tax, and employee data. A Government Affairs Lead role in this context sits at the intersection of product reality and external rulemaking, translating legislative and regulatory shifts into business implications. It is a signal that the company treats public policy as an operating constraint and a strategic input, not a periodic legal review.

For a SaaS career, this type of seat builds durable leverage: learning how to anticipate policy change, coordinate responses across Product, Legal, and Compliance, and shape positions that can be operationalized across multiple products. The work also tends to sharpen “systems thinking” that is highly portable in SaaS—mapping stakeholders, understanding second-order impacts, and managing change from proposal through implementation.

This role is best suited to professionals who prefer long planning horizons, nuanced tradeoffs, and influence through structured analysis and external relationships. It will fit someone comfortable acting as an internal advisor while representing the company in industry settings, and who enjoys connecting policy detail to practical execution across teams.

The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.

Job Description

About the Role:

As a Government Affairs Lead, you are a senior policy leader with advanced wide-ranging experience who will drive Gusto's government affairs strategy and execution. You will exhibit deep functional knowledge and acumen to develop and resolve complex policy challenges while directing the application of existing principles and guiding the development of new policies and ideas that advance Gusto's mission.

This role requires understanding the interrelationships between different policy disciplines and providing creative and effective solutions to multifaceted issues. You will be responsible for positioning Gusto proactively to respond to and influence proposed regulatory and legislative policy changes, while developing and promoting best practices for policy change management that optimize outcomes for Gusto and our customers.

You will represent Gusto before government officials, lead industry association working groups, and serve as a senior advisor on complex policy matters across the organization. This position may include directing the activities of others and requires someone who can see around corners, recognize policy trends, and understand the full spectrum of public policy change from proposal through implementation.

About the Team:

The Government Affairs team is at the forefront of shaping the policy landscape for small businesses and their employees. We are the bridge between Gusto's innovative products and the complex world of legislation and regulation. We work to ensure that public policy empowers entrepreneurship and creates a more equitable and efficient environment for our customers to thrive.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

Strategic Leadership & Vision: Develop comprehensive government affairs strategies on discrete issues that align with Gusto's broader business objectives and anticipate emerging policy trends. Guide the development of new policies and approaches that position Gusto as a thought leader.. Proactively identify current and emerging policy pain points, understand operational impact, and develop solutions to mitigate risk to Gusto.
Advanced Policy Analysis & Management: Lead complex policy change management initiatives leveraging AI across multiple products that impact Gusto. Exercise judgment in selecting methods, evaluating, and adapting complex techniques for policy analysis and response. Understand the "full stack" of public policy change from proposal through passage to implementation, quickly assessing changes throughout this process.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Direct collaborative efforts with internal teams including Product, Legal, and Compliance to translate complex policy implications into actionable business insights. Determine methods and procedures for new policy challenges, ensuring work aligns with departmental objectives. Provide creative solutions to issues by understanding interrelationships between different policy areas.
External Representation & Influence: Represent Gusto confidently before government officials, adapting communication style for maximum persuasive impact. Lead industry association working groups and advise on both substance and strategy. Represent Gusto at events and in front of relevant stakeholders, building strategic relationships.
Network Development & Stakeholder Management: Build and leverage networks with key contacts. Engage strategically with industry peers, trade associations, NGOs, and government officials to influence policy outcomes.

Here’s what we're looking for:

Experience:
- A minimum of 8 years of related experience in government affairs, public policy, or a related field with a Bachelor’s degree; or
- 6 years of related experience with a Master’s degree; or
- A PhD with 3 years of demonstrated expertise in a relevant policy area; or
- Previous experience with Tax and Health Policy strongly preferred
Advanced Policy Expertise:
- Deep knowledge within multiple policy disciplines with demonstrated experience in policy change management across various contexts impacting business operations
- Complete understanding of legislative and regulatory processes with ability to recognize trends and anticipate policy developments
- Proven ability to develop and promote best practices for policy change optimization
Leadership & Strategic Thinking:
- Advanced wide-ranging experience using in-depth functional knowledge to develop and resolve complex models and procedures
- Ability to understand interrelationships between different policy disciplines and guide development of new approaches
- Experience directing application of existing principles while innovating new solutions
Analytical Excellence:
- Expertise in analyzing complex issues requiring in-depth evaluation of variable factors
- Proven ability to determine methods and procedures for new assignments and complex policy challenges
- Advanced judgment in selecting, evaluating, and adapting complex techniques for optimal results
Executive Presence & Communication:
- Comfort and effectiveness representing the organization before senior government officials and industry stakeholders
- Ability to adapt communication style and use persuasion when delivering messages that relate to broader business objectives
- Experience leading industry groups and providing strategic guidance on complex matters
Relationship Building & Influence:
- Proven ability to network effectively with key contacts across diverse areas of expertise
- Experience building strategic relationships that advance organizational objectives
- Demonstrated success in influencing policy outcomes through stakeholder engagement
Management Capability:
- Experience directing activities of others and being accountable for team performance
- Ability to provide mentorship and guidance on complex policy matters
- Track record of delivering tactical business targets through team leadership

Our cash compensation amount for this role is between $150,000 - $175,000/year in Denver and $175,000 - $205,000/year for New York/San Francisco. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above. Compensation for this position also includes an equity package and performance bonuses.

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