Public Policy Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Public Policy Manager roles attract strong H-1B and O-1 visa sponsorship from federal contractors, think tanks, and large tech companies with government affairs teams. Most positions require a master's degree in public policy, political science, or law, and USCIS consistently classifies this as a specialty occupation. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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About the Team
The Global Public Policy team’s work spans a broad and diverse range of functions and work streams, including government affairs and government relations; policy, product, and issue area expertise; risk and crisis management and mitigation; outreach, coalitions, and partnerships; and philanthropy. The mission of the Global Public Policy team is to prevent, manage, and mitigate political, legislative, and regulatory threats and to promote a political, legislative, and regulatory environment that supports growth and innovation for our business.
- Cultivate, maintain, and leverage high-level relationships with federal policymakers, legislative bodies, and key opinion leaders to advance TikTok's narrative and policy goals.
- Serve as a strategic partner to internal stakeholders, including Legal, Communications, and Product teams, providing expert counsel on public policy matters to shape the development of compliant and community-first products and services.
- Champion policy positions that protect the TikTok user community and drive commercial success, utilizing advanced negotiation skills to influence external stakeholders and build consensus on complex issues.
- Proactively identify, monitor, and analyze emerging policy trends and legislative proposals to forecast potential business risks and develop comprehensive mitigation strategies.
- Distill complex policy issues into authoritative briefing papers, consultation responses, and compelling internal narratives that articulate the company's position to leadership and external officials.
- Architect and execute robust engagement strategies to address critical issues facing TikTok, ensuring alignment between business needs and the creator community’s interests.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Affairs, Government, Public Affairs, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 5+ years of experience in Public Policy, Government Relations, or Legislative Affairs, with a specific focus on technology policy
- Deep experience working within the legislative ecosystem, including Capitol Hill, Federal Agencies, or a White House Administration
- Ability to independently draft authoritative briefing papers and distill complex issues into compelling narratives for leadership
- Proven track record of influencing cross-functional outcomes and navigating relationships in a matrixed environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct legislative drafting experience
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy – a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】 Compensation Description (Annually)
- Washington, DC The base salary range for this position in the selected city is 178200 - 330480 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
Responsibilities
About the Team
The Global Public Policy team’s work spans a broad and diverse range of functions and work streams, including government affairs and government relations; policy, product, and issue area expertise; risk and crisis management and mitigation; outreach, coalitions, and partnerships; and philanthropy. The mission of the Global Public Policy team is to prevent, manage, and mitigate political, legislative, and regulatory threats and to promote a political, legislative, and regulatory environment that supports growth and innovation for our business.
- Cultivate, maintain, and leverage high-level relationships with federal policymakers, legislative bodies, and key opinion leaders to advance TikTok's narrative and policy goals.
- Serve as a strategic partner to internal stakeholders, including Legal, Communications, and Product teams, providing expert counsel on public policy matters to shape the development of compliant and community-first products and services.
- Champion policy positions that protect the TikTok user community and drive commercial success, utilizing advanced negotiation skills to influence external stakeholders and build consensus on complex issues.
- Proactively identify, monitor, and analyze emerging policy trends and legislative proposals to forecast potential business risks and develop comprehensive mitigation strategies.
- Distill complex policy issues into authoritative briefing papers, consultation responses, and compelling internal narratives that articulate the company's position to leadership and external officials.
- Architect and execute robust engagement strategies to address critical issues facing TikTok, ensuring alignment between business needs and the creator community’s interests.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Affairs, Government, Public Affairs, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 5+ years of experience in Public Policy, Government Relations, or Legislative Affairs, with a specific focus on technology policy
- Deep experience working within the legislative ecosystem, including Capitol Hill, Federal Agencies, or a White House Administration
- Ability to independently draft authoritative briefing papers and distill complex issues into compelling narratives for leadership
- Proven track record of influencing cross-functional outcomes and navigating relationships in a matrixed environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct legislative drafting experience
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy – a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】 Compensation Description (Annually)
- Washington, DC The base salary range for this position in the selected city is 178200 - 330480 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Public Policy Manager
Target employers with established government affairs teams
Large tech companies, defense contractors, and healthcare systems maintain dedicated government affairs and public policy functions. These employers file H-1B petitions regularly and have immigration counsel on retainer, making sponsorship a routine process rather than an exceptional ask.
Lead with your policy expertise, not your visa status
Employers sponsoring Public Policy Manager roles care most about your subject-matter depth, regulatory knowledge, and stakeholder relationships. Establish your value in that domain first. Sponsorship conversations land better when the employer already sees you as the right hire.
A master's degree in public policy or law strengthens your petition
USCIS requires a specific academic connection between your degree and the role. A Master of Public Policy, JD, or master's in political science maps cleanly. A general business degree without relevant coursework creates a harder case that may require additional documentation.
Federal contractors and think tanks sponsor more often than people expect
Organizations like Booz Allen Hamilton, McKinsey Government, RAND, and Brookings regularly hire international policy professionals. Their compliance infrastructure means they handle visa sponsorship routinely. These employers are worth prioritizing even if they seem less obvious than private-sector tech.
Build a record of measurable policy impact before your interview
Sponsoring employers want evidence you can move policy outcomes, not just analyze them. Documented wins, such as legislation you influenced, regulations you shaped, or coalitions you built, make your petition stronger and your candidacy more competitive against domestic applicants.
Understand the H-1B cap timeline before accepting an offer
Cap-subject H-1B petitions are only available once per year, with registration in March and employment starting October 1. If you're not already in H-1B status or cap-exempt, time your job search to align with that cycle to avoid a gap in work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Public Policy Manager considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. USCIS consistently classifies Public Policy Manager as a specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as public policy, political science, law, or economics. Positions requiring a master's degree or JD make the specialty occupation argument even stronger, reducing the risk of a Request for Evidence on that basis.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Public Policy Manager roles?
Federal contractors, major tech companies with government affairs divisions, large healthcare systems, financial institutions subject to regulatory oversight, and policy research organizations are the most consistent sponsors. Think tanks and advocacy organizations also sponsor but tend to have smaller immigration budgets. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to find employers actively hiring for this role with sponsorship indicated.
Does my degree field affect whether my H-1B petition gets approved?
Significantly. USCIS looks for a direct connection between your degree and the specific duties of the role. A Master of Public Policy, JD, or master's in political science or economics maps cleanly to Public Policy Manager responsibilities. If your degree is in an unrelated field, your employer's attorney will need to build a more detailed nexus argument, which increases the risk of an RFE and can slow the petition.
Can an O-1A visa work for a Public Policy Manager?
It can, but the bar is high. O-1A requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through criteria like published policy work with significant influence, awards, original contributions to the field, or a high salary relative to peers. Senior policy professionals with a strong public record, congressional testimony, or named publications are the strongest candidates. It's worth consulting an immigration attorney to assess whether your profile qualifies before pursuing this path.
What practical steps should I take if an employer says they don't sponsor?
First, confirm whether they mean cap-subject sponsorship or all sponsorship, since some employers will sponsor cap-exempt petitions at universities or nonprofits without realizing it. If they genuinely won't sponsor, focus your search on employers with established immigration programs. If you're an Australian citizen, the E-3 visa is significantly easier for employers to process than the H-1B, which can change the conversation. Use Migrate Mate to filter for sponsorship-open Public Policy Manager roles.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Public Policy Manager jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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