Policy Manager, UK and Western Europe

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo One, a fully autonomous ride-hailing service, and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over one million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving tens of millions of miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 13+ U.S. states.

The Waymo Policy and Government Affairs team has a front seat in this exciting moment in the evolution of autonomous driving technology, transportation and tech policy. Successful navigation of the policy landscape is critically important to deploying and scaling our business. Our 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 hybrid role will report into our Head of UK and EU Policy.

You will:

• Execute Waymo's comprehensive policy strategy across the UK and key Western European countries.
• Cultivate and maintain robust relationships with government officials, national and local transport regulators, and industry stakeholders throughout the region.
• Advocate policies and regulatory frameworks that facilitate the safe and widespread deployment of autonomous driving technology, considering both national and sub-national specificities.
• Monitor and analyse policy developments, legislative proposals, and regulatory changes relevant to autonomous vehicles across the UK and Western European markets.
• Represent Waymo in industry associations, conferences, and public forums, engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders from national ministries to city-level transport authorities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with legal, communications, engineering, and product teams to ensure policy objectives are aligned with business goals and operational realities across the region.

You have:

• 8+ years of public policy and government affairs experience, with a strong focus on the UK and at least one other major Western European country.
• Deep understanding of the political and regulatory landscapes in the UK and Western Europe, including the roles of national, regional, and local transport regulators.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, regulators, and industry players across different European contexts.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, adaptable to various cultural and political environments.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex policy documents and legal texts, and understand their implications for autonomous vehicle deployment in various European markets.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced and evolving international policy environment.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, often engaging with a decentralised regulatory landscape.

We prefer:

• Experience working on technology policy, particularly in the automotive, artificial intelligence, or autonomous systems sectors across multiple European countries.
• Existing network of contacts within government departments, national regulatory bodies, and key local or regional transport authorities in the UK and Western Europe.
• Familiarity with the varying policy and regulatory environments of several Western European countries, including approaches to sub-national or city-level transport governance.
• Experience in a global company or working across international markets, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• A strong understanding of the technical aspects and safety considerations of autonomous driving technology, and how these translate to both national and local operational requirements across Europe.
• Proficiency in at least one European language, particularly French, German, or Spanish.

The expected base salary range for this full-time position is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level.  Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo’s discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.