diff --git a/.github/label-policy.json b/.github/label-policy.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8b254f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/label-policy.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "contributor_tier_color": "2ED9FF",
+  "contributor_tiers": [
+    {
+      "label": "distinguished contributor",
+      "min_merged_prs": 50
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "principal contributor",
+      "min_merged_prs": 20
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "experienced contributor",
+      "min_merged_prs": 10
+    },
+    {
+      "label": "trusted contributor",
+      "min_merged_prs": 5
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
index 07d0f86..3065182 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-response.yml
@@ -29,14 +29,41 @@ jobs:
             const issue = context.payload.issue;
             const pullRequest = context.payload.pull_request;
             const target = issue ?? pullRequest;
-            const contributorTierRules = [
-              { label: "distinguished contributor", minMergedPRs: 50 },
-              { label: "principal contributor", minMergedPRs: 20 },
-              { label: "experienced contributor", minMergedPRs: 10 },
-              { label: "trusted contributor", minMergedPRs: 5 },
-            ];
+            async function loadContributorTierPolicy() {
+              const fallback = {
+                contributorTierColor: "2ED9FF",
+                contributorTierRules: [
+                  { label: "distinguished contributor", minMergedPRs: 50 },
+                  { label: "principal contributor", minMergedPRs: 20 },
+                  { label: "experienced contributor", minMergedPRs: 10 },
+                  { label: "trusted contributor", minMergedPRs: 5 },
+                ],
+              };
+              try {
+                const { data } = await github.rest.repos.getContent({
+                  owner,
+                  repo,
+                  path: ".github/label-policy.json",
+                  ref: context.payload.repository?.default_branch || "main",
+                });
+                const json = JSON.parse(Buffer.from(data.content, "base64").toString("utf8"));
+                const contributorTierRules = (json.contributor_tiers || []).map((entry) => ({
+                  label: String(entry.label || "").trim(),
+                  minMergedPRs: Number(entry.min_merged_prs || 0),
+                }));
+                const contributorTierColor = String(json.contributor_tier_color || "").toUpperCase();
+                if (!contributorTierColor || contributorTierRules.length === 0) {
+                  return fallback;
+                }
+                return { contributorTierColor, contributorTierRules };
+              } catch (error) {
+                core.warning(`failed to load .github/label-policy.json, using fallback policy: ${error.message}`);
+                return fallback;
+              }
+            }
+
+            const { contributorTierColor, contributorTierRules } = await loadContributorTierPolicy();
             const contributorTierLabels = contributorTierRules.map((rule) => rule.label);
-            const contributorTierColor = "2ED9FF"; // Keep in sync with .github/workflows/labeler.yml
             const managedContributorLabels = new Set(contributorTierLabels);
             const action = context.payload.action;
             const changedLabel = context.payload.label?.name;
diff --git a/.github/workflows/label-policy-sanity.yml b/.github/workflows/label-policy-sanity.yml
index 67d4590..de1bbda 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/label-policy-sanity.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/label-policy-sanity.yml
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ name: Label Policy Sanity
 on:
     pull_request:
         paths:
+            - ".github/label-policy.json"
             - ".github/workflows/labeler.yml"
             - ".github/workflows/auto-response.yml"
     push:
         paths:
+            - ".github/label-policy.json"
             - ".github/workflows/labeler.yml"
             - ".github/workflows/auto-response.yml"
 
@@ -25,39 +27,48 @@ jobs:
             - name: Checkout
               uses: actions/checkout@34e114876b0b11c390a56381ad16ebd13914f8d5 # v4
 
-            - name: Verify contributor-tier parity across workflows
+            - name: Verify shared label policy and workflow wiring
               shell: bash
               run: |
                   set -euo pipefail
                   python3 - <<'PY'
+                  import json
                   import re
                   from pathlib import Path
 
-                  files = [
+                  policy_path = Path('.github/label-policy.json')
+                  policy = json.loads(policy_path.read_text(encoding='utf-8'))
+                  color = str(policy.get('contributor_tier_color', '')).upper()
+                  rules = policy.get('contributor_tiers', [])
+                  if not re.fullmatch(r'[0-9A-F]{6}', color):
+                    raise SystemExit('invalid contributor_tier_color in .github/label-policy.json')
+                  if not rules:
+                    raise SystemExit('contributor_tiers must not be empty in .github/label-policy.json')
+
+                  labels = set()
+                  prev_min = None
+                  for entry in rules:
+                    label = str(entry.get('label', '')).strip().lower()
+                    min_merged = int(entry.get('min_merged_prs', 0))
+                    if not label.endswith('contributor'):
+                      raise SystemExit(f'invalid contributor tier label: {label}')
+                    if label in labels:
+                      raise SystemExit(f'duplicate contributor tier label: {label}')
+                    if prev_min is not None and min_merged > prev_min:
+                      raise SystemExit('contributor_tiers must be sorted descending by min_merged_prs')
+                    labels.add(label)
+                    prev_min = min_merged
+
+                  workflow_paths = [
                     Path('.github/workflows/labeler.yml'),
                     Path('.github/workflows/auto-response.yml'),
                   ]
+                  for workflow in workflow_paths:
+                    text = workflow.read_text(encoding='utf-8')
+                    if '.github/label-policy.json' not in text:
+                      raise SystemExit(f'{workflow} must load .github/label-policy.json')
+                    if re.search(r'contributorTierColor\s*=\s*"[0-9A-Fa-f]{6}"', text):
+                      raise SystemExit(f'{workflow} contains hardcoded contributorTierColor')
 
-                  parsed = {}
-                  for path in files:
-                    text = path.read_text(encoding='utf-8')
-                    rules = re.findall(r'\{ label: "([^"]+ contributor)", minMergedPRs: (\d+) \}', text)
-                    color_match = re.search(r'const contributorTierColor = "([0-9A-Fa-f]{6})"', text)
-                    if not color_match:
-                      raise SystemExit(f'failed to parse contributorTierColor in {path}')
-                    parsed[str(path)] = {
-                      'rules': rules,
-                      'color': color_match.group(1).upper(),
-                    }
-
-                  baseline = parsed[str(files[0])]
-                  for path in files[1:]:
-                    entry = parsed[str(path)]
-                    if entry != baseline:
-                      raise SystemExit(
-                        'contributor-tier mismatch between workflows: '
-                        f'{files[0]}={baseline} vs {path}={entry}'
-                      )
-
-                  print('contributor tier rules/color are consistent across label workflows')
+                  print('label policy file is valid and workflow consumers are wired to shared policy')
                   PY
diff --git a/.github/workflows/labeler.yml b/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
index 10d8bfb..0e38f00 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
@@ -60,14 +60,41 @@ jobs:
                         return;
                       }
 
-                      const contributorTierRules = [
-                        { label: "distinguished contributor", minMergedPRs: 50 },
-                        { label: "principal contributor", minMergedPRs: 20 },
-                        { label: "experienced contributor", minMergedPRs: 10 },
-                        { label: "trusted contributor", minMergedPRs: 5 },
-                      ];
+                      async function loadContributorTierPolicy() {
+                        const fallback = {
+                          contributorTierColor: "2ED9FF",
+                          contributorTierRules: [
+                            { label: "distinguished contributor", minMergedPRs: 50 },
+                            { label: "principal contributor", minMergedPRs: 20 },
+                            { label: "experienced contributor", minMergedPRs: 10 },
+                            { label: "trusted contributor", minMergedPRs: 5 },
+                          ],
+                        };
+                        try {
+                          const { data } = await github.rest.repos.getContent({
+                            owner,
+                            repo,
+                            path: ".github/label-policy.json",
+                            ref: context.payload.repository?.default_branch || "main",
+                          });
+                          const json = JSON.parse(Buffer.from(data.content, "base64").toString("utf8"));
+                          const contributorTierRules = (json.contributor_tiers || []).map((entry) => ({
+                            label: String(entry.label || "").trim(),
+                            minMergedPRs: Number(entry.min_merged_prs || 0),
+                          }));
+                          const contributorTierColor = String(json.contributor_tier_color || "").toUpperCase();
+                          if (!contributorTierColor || contributorTierRules.length === 0) {
+                            return fallback;
+                          }
+                          return { contributorTierColor, contributorTierRules };
+                        } catch (error) {
+                          core.warning(`failed to load .github/label-policy.json, using fallback policy: ${error.message}`);
+                          return fallback;
+                        }
+                      }
+
+                      const { contributorTierColor, contributorTierRules } = await loadContributorTierPolicy();
                       const contributorTierLabels = contributorTierRules.map((rule) => rule.label);
-                      const contributorTierColor = "2ED9FF"; // Keep in sync with .github/workflows/auto-response.yml
 
                       const managedPathLabels = [
                         "docs",
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-hygiene.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-hygiene.yml
index 0f36ac5..28f536c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-hygiene.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-hygiene.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           script: |
             const staleHours = Number(process.env.STALE_HOURS || "48");
-            const ignoreLabels = new Set(["no-stale", "maintainer", "no-pr-hygiene"]);
+            const ignoreLabels = new Set(["no-stale", "stale", "maintainer", "no-pr-hygiene"]);
             const marker = "<!-- pr-hygiene-nudge -->";
             const owner = context.repo.owner;
             const repo = context.repo.repo;
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust-reusable.yml b/.github/workflows/rust-reusable.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..511ccc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust-reusable.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+name: Rust Reusable Job
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      run_command:
+        description: "Shell command(s) to execute."
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      timeout_minutes:
+        description: "Job timeout in minutes."
+        required: false
+        default: 20
+        type: number
+      toolchain:
+        description: "Rust toolchain channel/version."
+        required: false
+        default: "stable"
+        type: string
+      components:
+        description: "Optional rustup components."
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+        type: string
+      targets:
+        description: "Optional rustup targets."
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+        type: string
+      use_cache:
+        description: "Whether to enable rust-cache."
+        required: false
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  run:
+    runs-on: blacksmith-2vcpu-ubuntu-2404
+    timeout-minutes: ${{ inputs.timeout_minutes }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@34e114876b0b11c390a56381ad16ebd13914f8d5 # v4
+
+      - name: Setup Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@631a55b12751854ce901bb631d5902ceb48146f7 # stable
+        with:
+          toolchain: ${{ inputs.toolchain }}
+          components: ${{ inputs.components }}
+          targets: ${{ inputs.targets }}
+
+      - name: Restore Rust cache
+        if: inputs.use_cache
+        uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@779680da715d629ac1d338a641029a2f4372abb5 # v2
+
+      - name: Run command
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          ${{ inputs.run_command }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/security.yml b/.github/workflows/security.yml
index bf12c0f..bf0b99a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/security.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/security.yml
@@ -23,19 +23,13 @@ env:
 jobs:
     audit:
         name: Security Audit
-        runs-on: blacksmith-2vcpu-ubuntu-2404
-        timeout-minutes: 20
-        steps:
-            - uses: actions/checkout@34e114876b0b11c390a56381ad16ebd13914f8d5 # v4
-
-            - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@631a55b12751854ce901bb631d5902ceb48146f7 # stable
-            - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@779680da715d629ac1d338a641029a2f4372abb5 # v2
-
-            - name: Install cargo-audit
-              run: cargo install --locked cargo-audit --version 0.22.1
-
-            - name: Run cargo-audit
-              run: cargo audit
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/rust-reusable.yml
+        with:
+            timeout_minutes: 20
+            toolchain: stable
+            run_command: |
+                cargo install --locked cargo-audit --version 0.22.1
+                cargo audit
 
     deny:
         name: License & Supply Chain
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index d54e64d..f46af3f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ jobs:
           days-before-pr-close: 7
           stale-issue-label: stale
           stale-pr-label: stale
-          exempt-issue-labels: security,pinned,no-stale,maintainer
-          exempt-pr-labels: no-stale,maintainer
+          exempt-issue-labels: security,pinned,no-stale,no-pr-hygiene,maintainer
+          exempt-pr-labels: no-stale,no-pr-hygiene,maintainer
           remove-stale-when-updated: true
           exempt-all-assignees: true
           operations-per-run: 300
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-notice.yml b/.github/workflows/update-notice.yml
index 22546d0..8f8a80f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update-notice.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-notice.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ on:
     # Run every Sunday at 00:00 UTC
     - cron: '0 0 * * 0'
 
+concurrency:
+  group: update-notice-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
 permissions:
   contents: write
   pull-requests: write
@@ -13,10 +17,10 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   update-notice:
     name: Update NOTICE with new contributors
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: blacksmith-2vcpu-ubuntu-2404
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@34e114876b0b11c390a56381ad16ebd13914f8d5 # v4
 
       - name: Fetch contributors
         id: contributors
diff --git a/docs/ci-map.md b/docs/ci-map.md
index af37881..842bca2 100644
--- a/docs/ci-map.md
+++ b/docs/ci-map.md
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ Merge-blocking checks should stay small and deterministic. Optional checks are u
 - `.github/workflows/release.yml` (`Release`)
     - Purpose: build tagged release artifacts and publish GitHub releases
 - `.github/workflows/label-policy-sanity.yml` (`Label Policy Sanity`)
-    - Purpose: enforce contributor-tier rule/color parity between `labeler.yml` and `auto-response.yml`
+    - Purpose: validate shared contributor-tier policy in `.github/label-policy.json` and ensure label workflows consume that policy
+- `.github/workflows/rust-reusable.yml` (`Rust Reusable Job`)
+    - Purpose: reusable Rust setup/cache + command runner for workflow-call consumers
 
 ### Optional Repository Automation
 
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ Merge-blocking checks should stay small and deterministic. Optional checks are u
 - `Release`: tag push (`v*`)
 - `Security Audit`: push to `main`, PRs to `main`, weekly schedule
 - `Workflow Sanity`: PR/push when `.github/workflows/**`, `.github/*.yml`, or `.github/*.yaml` change
-- `Label Policy Sanity`: PR/push when `.github/workflows/labeler.yml` or `.github/workflows/auto-response.yml` changes
+- `Label Policy Sanity`: PR/push when `.github/label-policy.json`, `.github/workflows/labeler.yml`, or `.github/workflows/auto-response.yml` changes
 - `PR Labeler`: `pull_request_target` lifecycle events
 - `PR Auto Responder`: issue opened/labeled, `pull_request_target` opened/labeled
 - `Stale`: daily schedule, manual dispatch