Higginbottom's career began as a government relations specialist for
Communities In Schools, followed by her role in the office of then Senator John Kerry as legislative assistant in 1999. During her years in Senator Kerry's staff, she handled a wide array of domestic and foreign policy issues, and eventually served as his legislative director, overseeing all policy matters. She also served as the deputy policy director for the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign. After the
2004 election, Higginbottom founded and served as executive director of the
American Security Project, before returning the staff of Senator John Kerry. On November 24, 2008, it was announced that Higginbottom was appointed the deputy director of the
Domestic Policy Council in the administration of President
Barack Obama. On January 7, 2011, President Obama nominated Higginbottom to the position of deputy director of the
Office of Management and Budget. Some Senate Republicans united in opposing Higginbottom's nomination, citing her "lack of business and accounting experience," however she was confirmed in the Senate in a 64–36 vote on October 20, 2011. After
John Kerry was confirmed to be
United States secretary of state in 2013, he hired Higginbottom as counselor. In 2013, Obama nominated Higginbottom to serve as deputy secretary of state for management and resources. On November 14, 2013, her nomination was reported to the full U.S. Senate by the
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. On December 13, 2013, the Senate confirmed her in a 74–17 vote. Beginning in March 2017, Higginbottom served as the chief operating officer of
CARE, a major humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development to fight global poverty. In 2019, Higginbottom was named head of the new JPMorgan Chase
PolicyCenter. ==References==