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Director of Water Development

Washington, DCOnsiteFull TimeDirectorPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • Department of the Interior
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Western water policy
  • natural resources policy
  • federal government relations
  • Western water law
  • federal funding
  • grant
  • cooperative agreement
  • cost-share

Nice to have

  • Hydrology
  • Water Resources

Role summary

Rainmaker is seeking a Director of Water Development to lead engagement with the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation. This role involves building programs, partnerships, and funding pathways for precipitation enhancement projects in Reclamation-managed basins. The Director will also manage Congressional relationships and coalition presence to ensure the durability of this work. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in Western water policy, natural resources policy, or federal government relations, with a deep understanding of DOI/Reclamation operations and Western water law. Experience securing federal funding and existing relationships within the relevant government and water communities are crucial. A background in hydrology, engineering, or water resources is a plus. This is a hands-on, strategic role in a fast-paced startup environment, requiring the ability to build a function from scratch. Must be based in DC.

Rainmaker is pioneering a modern precipitation enhancement cloud seeding system to solve water scarcity. We develop and incorporate radar validation, weather-resistant UAS, and numerical weather modeling to make water abundant.

As Rainmaker’s Director of Water Development, you will own our engagement with the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation. You will build the programs, partnerships, and funding pathways that put precipitation enhancement to work in the basins Reclamation manages, and you will own the Congressional relationships and coalition presence that make the work durable.

This position is based in Washington, DC.

What You'll Do

  • Interior & Reclamation Engagement: Own Rainmaker’s relationship with DOI and Reclamation end to end, including the Commissioner’s office, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, the policy and program offices, and Research and Development. Build durable relationships with senior career and political leadership, and know where decision authority sits between Washington and the regions. 
  • Program Development & Funding: Identify and secure the Reclamation authorities and funding vehicles that can support precipitation enhancement, such as WaterSMART and its component programs, drought response and resiliency authorities, Science and Technology and R&D funding, basin-specific and system conservation programs, cooperative agreements, and the standing weather modification authorities. Own proposal development, submission, and follow-through.
  • Authorities & Legislative Strategy: Maintain command of the statutory landscape governing Reclamation, develop legislative proposals and appropriations language, and pursue new authorities where existing ones do not reach.
  • Congressional Engagement: Own relationships with the House Natural Resources and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees, the Energy and Water appropriations subcommittees, and the Western delegations whose states and districts our projects serve. Prepare member- and staff-level briefing materials that make the case for precipitation enhancement as federal water supply infrastructure.
  • State & Federal Alignment: Work in close partnership with Rainmaker’s State Government Affairs team, who own our relationships with state water agencies, districts, and basin bodies. Understand what each state and basin is working toward, then find the federal authorities, funding, and relationships that advance it.
  • Reclamation Regional Engagement: Build direct relationships with Reclamation’s regional and area offices, where projects are administered and where much of the practical decision-making on federal water operations happens. 
  • Coalition & Community Building: Represent Rainmaker across the Washington water community. Identify the positive-sum opportunities on water policy where our objectives and theirs align, and convert them into shared advocacy. Build the network of validators and allies that gives Rainmaker standing on these issues.
  • Field Demonstrations & Site Visits: Organize visits for Interior and Reclamation leadership, Congressional staff, state and basin officials, and water user groups, building first-hand understanding of what the technology does and where it fits in a working water system.

    • Qualifications

  • 10+ years in Western water policy, natural resources policy, or federal government relations. Examples include time at Interior or Reclamation, a Congressional natural resources role, a state or local water agency, a water NGO, or the government affairs function of a comparable company.

  • Thorough working knowledge of how DOI and Reclamation operate at both the national and regional level.

  • In-depth command of Reclamation programs, authorities, and funding vehicles.

  • Demonstrated command of Western water law and policy.

  • Track record of developing projects and securing federal funding for them, including familiarity with the mechanics of federal grant, cooperative agreement, and cost-share processes, and with appropriations and authorization cycles.

  • Current relationships across the Department of the Interior, the Congressional natural resources and appropriations committees, and the Western water community.

  • Working familiarity with the federal environmental compliance landscape.

  • Ability to operate as both a strategist and a hands-on operator in a fast-paced startup environment, comfortable building a function from the ground up.

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Hydrology, engineering, or water resources background is a bonus.

  • Must be based in DC with willingness and ability to travel domestically for Hill engagement, agency meetings, regional and area office visits, coalition work, and project site demonstrations.

    • Ready to apply?
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