Head of Government Affairs

Government technology has failed the public for decades and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services.

Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local state and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service.

Our platform reaches 55 million Americans across 50+ agencies. Our goal: build technology that touches the lives of 100 million residents by the end of the year.

Founded in 2022 and based in New York City Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA a16z Accel 776 and Carpenter Capital. We're builders designers and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn't be a luxury in government. It's how you earn trust back.

This is Kaizen's first dedicated government affairs hire and it's a build role. You'll define how Kaizen shows up in Washington: with Congress civilian and defense agencies alike the press and the broader federal technology ecosystem. There's no playbook to inherit. You'll set the strategy work the appropriations calendar coordinate our outside firms and be the person in the room when it matters.

Government affairs at a company our size isn't a cost center or a compliance function. It's a growth engine that opens doors shapes markets and protects the mission. We have tremendous respect for public servants and empathize with their pain points so low ego and high EQ go a long way. And politics is not a criterion at Kaizen: we don't screen for ideology and we expect you to build trusted relationships on both sides of the aisle.

Based in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. You'll spend most of your time in and around Washington (the Hill agencies events) with regular travel to our New York City HQ and 20-30% overall travel. Due to the nature of our work this role requires U.S. citizenship.

• You've spent years working in or with the federal government whether on Capitol Hill inside an agency or in government affairs for a company or firm and you know how Washington actually works

• You understand how the federal government funds and buys things: the appropriations cycle authorizing legislation OMB GSA schedules and the modernization vehicles agencies use to escape legacy contracts

• You've partnered with or managed outside lobbying firms you understand LDA compliance and you're willing to register as a lobbyist yourself

• You think about government affairs as a growth function: you've helped a company win positioning funding language or market access not just monitor legislation

• You're a natural translator able to turn a technical product story into a policy narrative for a chief of staff a committee staffer a reporter or an agency CIO

• You're comfortable being a public face for the company: handling press and media shaping the narrative and speaking on Kaizen's behalf at events on panels and on the record

• You have bipartisan instincts and real relationships on both sides of the aisle

• You thrive with high autonomy in ambiguous fast-moving environments and you self-generate the agenda rather than waiting for one

• You're AI-pilled and default to these tools in your daily workflows

• You're emotionally intelligent thoughtful and empathetic toward public sector missions

• Own Kaizen's government affairs strategy end-to-end. Build and run the plan for how Kaizen engages Congress the executive branch and the federal technology ecosystem

• Drive appropriations and legislative strategy. Identify and pursue funding language report language and policy provisions that support agency modernization programs Kaizen serves working the annual appropriations and authorization cycles

• Build relationships across the Hill. Members personal office staff and committee staff relevant to Kaizen's markets (Appropriations Oversight Homeland Security Agriculture Armed Services Commerce) and coordinate visits briefings and testimony prep for Kaizen leadership

• Engage the executive branch civilian and defense alike. Develop relationships at OMB GSA DoD and the agencies we serve; track executive orders IT modernization policy AI procurement guidance and FAR/FedRAMP developments that affect our business and brief leadership with clear recommendations

• Manage our outside firms. Direct Kaizen's lobbying and consulting relationships set their priorities measure their output and own lobbying disclosure compliance

• Partner with federal sales as a force multiplier. Open doors deconflict strategy and support capture on key pursuits; you own the air war sales owns the ground game

• Shape Kaizen's public presence from a government affairs lens. Represent Kaizen at think tanks trade associations coalitions and conferences; partner with leadership on media and PR moments that build credibility in Washington

• Be the early-warning system. Monitor analyze and brief leadership on legislative regulatory and political developments that create risk or opportunity for Kaizen

• 7 - 15 years of experience across Capitol Hill the executive branch and/or federal government affairs for a technology company or firm

• Direct Hill experience is a plus (especially appropriations or committees overseeing federal technology) but deep federal government affairs experience matters more than where you built it

• Working knowledge of federal IT procurement and modernization policy (GSA MAS IDIQs FedRAMP; agency working capital funds a plus)

• Demonstrated ability to convert policy engagement into concrete outcomes: funding positioning or market access

• Experience managing external lobbyists and ensuring compliance with lobbying disclosure requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable drafting white papers briefing memos and testimony and representing a company publicly

• An existing network across federal agencies and the Hill is a significant advantage

Health & Insurance

• 100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans) dental through Guardian PPO and vision through Beam — all fully covered for employees with 100% coverage for dependents.

• $100000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA.

• One Medical membership on us — same-day primary care 24/7 virtual visits and offices all over the city.

• Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.

• 401(k) through Guideline with a 2% company match.

Family & Time Off

• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.

• Unlimited PTO with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!)

• Closed for all federal holidays.

• Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.

• Company offsites throughout the year.

Office & Remote Setup

• Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.

• $50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).

• Expensed lunch while in the office.

• Company-provided laptop of your choice.

Wellness

• Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value on us. For remote employees $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.

Stipends

• $100/month utility stipend.

• $500/year professional development.

• $250/year recreation.

• $300/quarter pet care stipend.

What We Do

Government technology has failed the public for decades and Americans have been conditioned to expect websites from the 90s for essential public services.Kaizen exists to strengthen trust in American public services by building technology that residents and public servants are proud to use. We partner with local state and federal agencies to replace legacy systems with modern AI-native software that is worthy of the people they serve. We started in outdoor recreation and now we're building toward something much larger — the software layer that powers how Americans access any government service.Our platform already reaches 40 million residents across 50+ agencies in 17 states.Founded in 2022 and based in New York City Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA a16z Accel 776 and Carpenter Capital. We're builders designers and operators who believe that beautifully designed software shouldn’t be a luxury in government. It’s how you earn trust back.

Why Work With Us

At Kaizen you’ll find more than just a job - you’ll find ownership autonomy and purpose. We're building tools that truly help communities with a culture rooted in trust psychological safety and cross-functional collaboration. It's meaningful work with smart supportive people by your side.

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