Google seeks to ingratiate itself to Trump with ‘conservative outreach’ manager
Google is mounting a charm offensive for the incoming Trump administration by launching a search for a 'conservative outreach' manager to join its policy team, a post which will see the lucky individual tasked with putting forward Google’s stance on various issues to government.
A job listing posted on Google’s own career website read: “As a member of Google's Public Policy outreach team, you will act as Google’s liaison to conservative, libertarian and free market groups. You are part organizer, part advocate and part policy wonk as you understand the world of third-party non-governmental advocacy organizations.”
Google's parent company Alphabet has been outspoken on burning issues such as data encryption, antitrust, telecom rules and autonomous vehicles but there is a narrow window of opportunity to influence Trump’s team on policy before their agenda is set in stone.
Alphabet has spent $11.9m on lobbying so far this year, turning it into one of the loudest corporate voices in Washington. Its chairman Eric Schmidt had backed Hillary Clinton’s bid for the White House but the company has remained quiet since the vote.