Policy Development Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Location:

This role is open to candidates across the United States; however, preference will be given to those based in or near the following metropolitan areas:

• New York City Metro Area

• Boston, MA

• Washington, DC

• Austin, TX or Houston, TX

• Las Vegas, NV

• Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA

• Seattle, WA

Overview 

BusPatrol is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented professional to join our team as Director of Public Policy and Government Relations. This role is ideal for someone with strong political strategy skills, excellent writing and communication abilities, and deep knowledge of state and local laws. The Director will support policy development, coalition building, and communications strategy to advance traffic safety initiatives through technology. This position plays a critical role in shaping legislation, guiding compliance across our business, and helping advance BusPatrol’s mission of keeping children safe on the journey to and from school. 

• Conduct state-by-state policy research and analysis to identify differences in laws and regulations. 

• Draft and support the negotiation of legislation, providing analysis and recommendations to leadership. 

• Partner with external contract lobbyists and advocacy partners to advance state-level policy goals. 

• Collaborate across internal teams — operations, product, legal, government ops, finance, and implementation — to translate policy requirements into actionable steps. 

• Provide subject matter expertise on regulatory and legislative issues impacting growth and compliance. 

• Develop briefing materials, legislative summaries, and policy papers to position BusPatrol as a thought leader in traffic safety technology. 

• Represent BusPatrol at conferences, policy forums, and industry events; participate in panels and speaking engagements as needed. 

• Contribute to the development of communication strategies that support coalition-building and stakeholder engagement.

• 7–10 years of experience in public policy, government affairs, or lobbying at the state or large municipal level. 

• Demonstrated success advancing policy initiatives in transportation, education, or technology-related areas. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and educate stakeholders. 

• Experience with public speaking and media engagement preferred. 

• Strong analytical and research skills with attention to detail. 

• Highly organized, self-starter, and problem solver with a passion for child safety, transportation, and public policy. 

• A Juris Doctorate/law degree is preferred; however, an advanced degree in public administration or a similar field will be accepted.

WHO WE ARE 

BusPatrol is a technology company with a public safety mission. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are strengthening trust, safety, and transparency across the student transportation space and making the trip to and from school safer for students. As a leader in smart transportation, BusPatrol brings cutting-edge AI, machine learning and IoT safety tech solutions to school buses across North America. BusPatrol’s technology has been deployed onto more buses and has been used to issue more school bus stop arm citations than any other company in the world. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

BusPatrol employees get: 

• A competitive salary and benefits package 

• Comprehensive personal time off, including volunteering and birthday days off 

• An opportunity to help build a company dedicated to children’s safety 

• The chance to join an innovative and dedicated team, focused on leading edge technology 

• The occasion to participate in BusPatrol’s culture of safety, learning, and teamwork 

BusPatrol’s school bus safety programs are violator-funded, meaning that those who break the law pay for the technology that protects children. We build solid partnerships in the communities in which we operate which, coupled with our innovative business model, leads to sustainable efforts to change driver behaviors. 

HOW WE WORK 

On our mission to make the journey to and from school safer for children, the way we work together and with our partners is built on foundational cultural pillars. 

• SAFETY 
  Safety is our focus, for the children we protect and for each other. We follow the letter and spirit of occupational safety law, relentlessly employ safety best practices, and foster learning and development on our worksites. We are safe to be ourselves and to make mistakes, and we create safe environments for our teams. 

• CONNECTION 
  We build strong relationships and teams in support of our mission. We promote and provide opportunities for employees to grow together.