Federal Affair Leader

The role

Nebius is looking for a Federal Affairs Leader to become the company's first dedicated federal hire and build its presence in Washington, D.C. from the ground up.

This is a founding role for someone who wants to build a function, not inherit one. You will establish Nebius's federal footprint, shape the company's policy strategy, and scale the function as our U.S. operations grow. You will work on issues that matter: AI regulation, trade policy, energy and infrastructure permitting, and national security policy, among others. You will have a seat at the table internally and externally starting day one.

This role is a fit if you already have the DC experience and relationships to be credible from the start, and you're excited by the challenge of building a program rather than maintaining one.

This is a remote position based in Washington, D.C., with periodic travel to data center sites and industry conferences.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Build and lead federal engagement

  • Develop and execute Nebius's federal policy strategy across AI regulation, trade, energy and infrastructure policy.
  • Build and manage bi-partisan relationships on Capitol Hill and across the executive branch, including relevant committees, agencies, and White House offices.
  • Serve as Nebius's primary representative in federal initiatives and relevant trade associations and coalitions.

• Shape policy outcomes

  • Engage directly in the legislative and regulatory process on issues material to Nebius's business.
  • Track policy developments, assess risk, and develop action plans – then execute them, often quickly.
  • Work across Nebius's legal, regulatory, infrastructure, and communications teams to align strategy and messaging.

• Build the function

  • As the role and issue set scale, hire and develop additional staff to build out a full federal affairs capability.
  • Support state-level government relations efforts alongside in-market public affairs leads and manage relationships with outside lobbying firms as needed.
  • Report regularly to senior leadership on political and regulatory risk, legislative progress, and stakeholder positioning.

What Success Looks like – Year One:

• A clear federal policy agenda, aligned with internal stakeholders, that reflects Nebius's priorities across AI, export controls, and infrastructure.
• Active relationships with priority cross-party Hill offices and key executive branch counterparts.
• Nebius represented and respected in the right trade associations and coalitions.
• A staffing plan and playbook for scaling the function ready to execute.

We expect you to have:

• 7–10 years of federal government affairs, Hill, or executive branch experience, with a track record of building relationships across party lines.
• Hands-on experience with technology, energy, trade, or national security policy — familiarity with AI policy is a plus but not required.
• Experience working in or alongside a fast-moving company or startup environment; comfortable with ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Proven ability to manage outside counsel, trade associations, and coalition partners.

How you work:

• A relationship-builder: credible and comfortable in rooms with senior officials, trade association leaders, and internal executives alike.
• A clear communicator: you translate policy complexity into crisp executive summaries and briefings that decision-makers can actually use.
• A self-starter that can independently work towards key objectives, set goals and achieve them.
• Collaborative across functions: you work naturally with legal, comms, and business teams rather than operating in a silo.
• Solutions-oriented: when you surface a problem, you bring a recommended path forward.