Senior Communications Manager, Policy, Safety & Reputation

In this role you will:

• Partner cross-functionally with policy, safety, legal, product, and other teams at Zoox to build communication campaigns that further elevate our safety, policy, and reputation initiatives.
• Own and support a broad range of external communications programs and events aligned with policy and communication objectives.
• Track the AV regulatory landscape in partnership with policy and turn developments into forward-looking communications strategies.
• Develop relationships with media and manage inbound and reactive requests across safety and reputation-related topics and issues.
• Proactively tell our safety story telling and framework to key external stakeholders.
• Anticipate communications risks and establish risk-mitigation strategies.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to safety, product, legal, and policy on sensitive, fast-moving matters.
• In partnership with our Public Affairs team, build communications programs that support our key community and policy in-market initiatives.
• Support reactive communications efforts with speed, accuracy, and judgment.
• Provide communications counsel and support to team members across the organization
• Work cross-functionally within existing working groups on safety and trust to represent communications.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in communications or policy communications, with deep experience handling safety, regulatory, or reputation-sensitive issues.
• A proven track record managing high-stakes, technical communications, ideally in a heavily regulated industry (AV, aviation, automotive, energy, healthcare).
• Experience running proactive policy communications campaigns that successfully shaped narratives or regulatory outcomes.
• Experience in issues management and developing reactive communications under pressure and tight timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical topics accurately for broad audiences.
• Strong executive management skills and a proven ability to work collaboratively cross-functionally.  
• High attention to detail and program organization skills.
• Sharp instincts for what builds and what breaks public trust.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience in autonomous vehicles, mobility, or emerging technology.
• Familiarity with the federal and state AV regulatory environment.