FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Salary – $32 - $38 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid
Recruiter – Tehra Gorski | tgorski@utah.gov | 8015306030
Application Deadline – 6/28/2026
The Utah Department of Commerce, Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, is seeking an AI Policy Advisor to help drive policy research, analysis, and strategic translation for Utah’s AI Learning Lab. This is an applied policy-translation and communications role operating at the intersection of legislative strategy, regulatory innovation, and public administration. The AI Policy Advisor's work will directly inform regulatory decisions, legislative recommendations, regulatory mitigation agreements, and stakeholder strategy.
This role focuses on policy formulation and strategic synthesis. It relies heavily on a keen sense for stakeholder needs, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to operate effectively alongside colleagues with technical, business, regulatory, and legal expertise. The right candidate will be a skilled translator capable of taking complex technical findings, expert data, and ambiguous AI-policy questions, structuring them clearly, and turning them into usable, persuasive recommendations for state decision-makers. It will also require strong judgment, clear writing, and the ability to operate in a small multidisciplinary team alongside colleagues with technical, business, regulatory, and legal expertise. The right candidate will be comfortable taking ambiguous AI-policy questions, structuring them, evaluating the evidence, talking to experts, and producing usable recommendations for decision-makers.
The Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy was created in May 2024 as part of Utah’s effort to systematically develop sensible AI policy across major impact areas such as healthcare, education, finance, transportation, and consumer technology. Central to the Office is the AI Learning Lab, where industry experts, academics, regulators, and policymakers work toward appropriate regulatory responses to emerging AI applications. The Office also has authority to create regulatory mitigation agreements that allow responsible AI businesses to test products in Utah under structured conditions while the state gathers evidence and develops longer-term policy solutions.
A hybrid telework schedule may be available, although regular in-person work will be needed.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities and day to day responsibilities of this position:
- Independently scope and execute research projects on emerging AI policy questions, translating complex technical and empirical evidence into practical, actionable policy options for nontechnical decision-makers.
- Monitor, track, and analyze state and national AI-related legislation. Participate in the legislative process, collaborate with legislative drafters to refine statutory language, and form flexible regulatory definitions.
- Draft executive policy memos, legislative briefings, technical explainers, risk assessments, and regulatory mitigation analyses that are clear, objective, and tailored to state and agency leadership.
- Interface with business leaders, technologists, researchers, regulators, legislators, and lawyers to understand AI applications and help diverse stakeholders align on well-reasoned regulatory responses.
- Evaluate incoming proposals from AI vendors seeking regulatory mitigation agreements, assessing policy impacts, consumer risk, and establishing compliance expectations without needing to run technical audits yourself.
- Advise on the development of regulatory and legal standards as the Office’s recommendations move through agency, legislative, and stakeholder processes.
- Help design, streamline, and optimize internal office workflows, including building standardized tracking systems for sandbox proposals, intake evaluations, and public feedback loops.
- Work with experts across disciplines to understand the benefits, risks, evidence gaps, and practical constraints associated with AI deployment in Utah.
Qualifications
Minimum or "day-one" qualifications:
- Proven experience analyzing public policy, tracking legislation, navigating state government or regulatory environments, and demonstrating the political acumen necessary to manage competing stakeholder interests.
- Outstanding written communication skills, with a verified ability to synthesize highly complex, ambiguous information into clear, concise, and professional legislative briefings and executive memos.
- A strong conceptual understanding of AI technologies, data privacy paradigms, and emerging tech trends. You do not need to write code or analyze statistics, but you must be able to understand technical findings and explain their real-world policy implications.
- Solid familiarity with the emerging AI governance landscape, risk mitigation frameworks, consumer protection challenges, and the operational mechanics of regulatory sandboxes or learning labs.
- Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to write clearly for policy, legal, regulatory, business, and technical audiences.
- Interest in AI policy, responsible innovation, regulatory design, and the business implications of AI deployment.
- Ability to work effectively in agile teams with diverse expertise and under conditions of uncertainty.
Preferred or trainable/on-the-job qualifications:
- Experience in legislative staffing, public administration, regulatory design, or government relations.
- Expertise in public policy, law, regulatory design, or government decision-making.
- Advanced degrees in public policy, law (JD), public administration (MPA), strategic communications, or a related field. Equivalent preference given to a high-level of related experience.
- Experience translating technical, scientific, or medical concepts for political or executive decision-makers.
- Specific experience evaluating consumer protection, privacy, or healthcare policy.
- Experience supporting AI deployment in regulated environments.
About the Role
Location –
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111
United States
Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – TL - Time limited
Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:
- Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
- Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
- Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
- Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.
This AI Policy Advisor will join a small, agile team developing a practical and nationally visible approach to AI governance, with strong support from Utah’s Governor and legislature. Because Utah is an early mover in AI governance, this role offers unusual exposure to high-level policy development, business innovation, legislative work, and applied regulatory design.
The right candidate will be in a position to shape how Utah responds to emerging AI technologies, support responsible AI businesses, and help protect consumers while preserving room for innovation. The role also offers a chance to meet and learn from highly accomplished leaders across industry, academia, healthcare, law, and government.
The Agency
In addition to the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, the Utah Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah’s professional and business community. The Department provides oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending. You can learn more about the agency by visiting the website.
Supplemental Information
- Effective July 1, 2021, in-state work rules require all work to be performed while physically within the state’s borders.
- We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
- A position’s eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.
- DHRM rules apply for promotions/transfers.
- Risks are those found in a typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, including safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, and observing fire regulations.
- Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving an automobile, and similar activities. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.
