Director of Government Relations, Australia
Shield AI
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Posted on Sep 13, 2025
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include the V-BAT aircraft, Hivemind Enterprise, and the Hivemind Vision product lines. With offices in San Diego, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kyiv (Ukraine), and Melbourne (Australia), Shield AI’s technology actively supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram.
We are seeking a Director of Government Relations to lead advocacy efforts and stakeholder engagement across Australia. This senior role will develop and execute government relations strategies at federal, state, and territory levels to advance Shield AI's policy objectives and strengthen partnerships with Australian government agencies.
What you'll do:
- Strategic Leadership & Government Engagement
- Develop comprehensive government relations strategies aligned with Shield AI's mission and the Australian political landscape
- Build and maintain relationships with key officials, ministers, MPs, senior public servants, and political advisors
- Support engagements with Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force leadership, and relevant agencies
- Represent company at high-level meetings, parliamentary inquiries, and defense industry forums
- Policy & Advocacy
- Monitor and analyze legislative/regulatory developments impacting defense technology, AI governance, autonomous systems, export controls, and foreign investment
- Prepare briefings, position papers, and policy recommendations for executive leadership
- Lead advocacy campaigns and coordinate responses to government consultations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Business Development team to identify government opportunities
- Work with Product teams to communicate government requirements and regulatory considerations
- Collaborate with engineering teams to help stakeholders understand technical capabilities
- Align government relations activities with business growth objectives and strategic priorities
- Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead and mentor government relations team while coordinating with internal teams
- Collaborate with industry associations, peak bodies, and research institutions
- Manage relationships with external consultants and legal advisors
Required qualifications:
- Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, law, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- 8-10+ years experience in Australian government relations, public policy, or political affairs
- Strong preference for defense industry or technology sector experience
- Deep understanding of Australian political systems, parliamentary processes, and defense procurement
- Essential Experience & Skills
- Proven track record influencing policy outcomes within Australian defense ecosystem
- Previous experience in government, parliament, Department of Defence, or senior roles with defense contractors/technology companies
- Exceptional communication skills and ability to distill complex policy/technical issues
- High integrity, political sensitivity, and ability to handle classified information
- Strong leadership presence and collaborative approach
Our international team members are employed through our Employer of Record (EOR) and receive a comprehensive international benefits package on top of base salary. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.