Head of Public Sector Partnerships

We are appointing a Head of Public Sector Partnerships to lead ABF's strategic engagement across the United States public sector ecosystem.

This is a senior relationship-led role focused on building and managing long-term partnerships with U.S. state governments, municipalities, economic development agencies, innovation offices, public institutions, and strategic public sector stakeholders.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in establishing ABF as a trusted platform for public-private collaboration, innovation dialogue, economic development, and AI ecosystem engagement across major U.S. cities and states. This role requires a deep understanding of the evolving intersection between government, technology, economic growth, AI infrastructure, and regional development priorities. The ideal candidate will be a highly credible operator and diligent network builder with an established understanding of U.S. policy dynamics, institutional decision-making, and the strategic priorities shaping states and municipalities across the country.

• 12-20+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, with a demonstrated track record of $130M career sales closed.
• Exceptional communication, diplomacy, and executive stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships across government, policy, and institutional ecosystems.
• Experience navigating complex, multi-stakeholder public sector environments and long-cycle relationship development.
• Direct experience working with U.S. state governments, municipalities, public agencies, or institutional stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of U.S. national policy, AI infrastructure development, economic competitiveness, and public-private partnership environments.
• Strong commercial instincts with experience driving sponsorships, strategic partnerships, or ecosystem growth initiatives.
• Established network across relevant government, economic development, innovation, or policy communities is highly desirable.
• Highly organized, proactive, and relationship-oriented, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-scaling environment.

Public Sector Ecosystem Development

• Build and lead ABF's relationships across U.S. state governments, municipalities, economic development organizations, innovation agencies, and institutional stakeholders.
• Develop strategic engagement plans across key U.S. cities and states aligned with ABF's long-term growth priorities.
• Position ABF as a trusted platform for dialogue, collaboration, investment attraction, innovation, and AI ecosystem development.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Governors' offices, Mayors' offices, state commerce departments, innovation agencies, public investment bodies, and regional economic leaders.

Strategic Partnerships & Commercial Growth

• Manage complex, long-cycle institutional discussions with professionalism, diplomacy, and strong stakeholder management capability.
• Originate and manage strategic public sector partnerships designed to drive revenue growth, sponsorships, market expansion, and long-term ecosystem participation.
• Lead consultative engagement with senior public sector stakeholders to identify partnership opportunities aligned with regional economic and innovation priorities.
• Develop customized partnership frameworks spanning convenings, thought leadership, delegations, investment promotion, AI initiatives, and strategic positioning.

Networking & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build a high-trust network across public sector leaders, institutional stakeholders, policymakers, economic development officials, and strategic advisors.
• Represent ABF at major policy forums, economic development summits, government gatherings, and technology-focused public sector events.
• Support the development of curated government roundtables, private dinners, strategic delegations, and executive networking opportunities.
• Facilitate long-term relationship development between public and private sector leaders within ABF's ecosystem.

Policy, AI Infrastructure & Market Intelligence

• Maintain a working understanding of U.S. national and state-level policy priorities across AI, economic development, and public-private innovation - sufficient to engage credibly with senior government stakeholders.
• Stay informed on key policy and investment developments across AI, economic development, and regional innovation - enabling ABF to identify and create strategic value for its public sector partners.
• Understand the development priorities and economic ambitions of individual states and municipalities, identifying opportunities where ABF can create strategic value.

Commercial Operations & Collaboration

• Work closely with ABF leadership to shape the organization's long-term public sector strategy across North America and international markets.
• Provide internal insight into government priorities, funding initiatives, ecosystem dynamics, and public sector market opportunities.
• Collaborate with partnerships, memberships, programming, and events teams to deliver high-value experiences and outcomes for institutional partners.
• Contribute to the evolution of ABF's public sector engagement model and strategic positioning globally.