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Director of International Development

Rainmaker· Business Development
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Washington, DC$150k - $175kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Rainmaker seeks a Director of International Development to bridge the International Team with the U.S. federal government, owning engagement with the Department of State, developing programs and funding pathways, and coordinating across stakeholders to position Rainmaker’s cloud seeding technology as a foreign policy and water security instrument.

Responsibilities

  • State Department Engagement: Own Rainmaker’s relationship with the Department of State end to end, including regional and functional bureaus, embassies and country teams, and the offices that shape science, environment, energy, and technology diplomacy. Build durable relationships with senior career and political leadership.
  • Program Development & Funding: Develop programs with the International Team and international partners, identify and secure federal funding vehicles (foreign assistance mechanisms, development finance, export promotion, science and technology cooperation agreements, multilateral channels). Own proposal development, submission, and follow-through.
  • Congressional Engagement: Support relationships with the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees and appropriations subcommittees; develop legislative proposals and appropriations language; prepare briefing materials for members and staff.
  • Federal Liaison: Serve as primary interface with the U.S. government; translate partner-country requirements for federal stakeholders; align with Federal Affairs team to reinforce international and domestic engagement.
  • Coalition & Community Building: Represent Rainmaker in Washington’s international affairs community; build validators and allies.
  • Geopolitical Analysis: Track foreign cloud seeding and water security dynamics to inform strategy.
  • Partner Government Engagement: Prepare principals for bilateral meetings, delegations, site visits; coordinate involved U.S. stakeholders.
  • Cross-Functional Coordination: Align international strategy with company priorities across teams, including export control, sanctions, anti-corruption, and disclosures.
  • Delegations & Demonstrations: Organize visits and field demonstrations for foreign officials and delegations.

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in foreign policy, international affairs, or international government relations, including time in the Department of State, the National Security Council, a Congressional foreign policy or foreign operations role, a development or export finance institution, an international organization, or the international affairs function of a comparable company.
  • Demonstrated command of geopolitics and how technology, resources, and strategic competition intersect, with the judgment to make that case credibly to policymakers and commercial partners.
  • Working fluency in the emerging technology policy landscape, including autonomous systems, export controls, technology transfer, and bilateral/multilateral negotiations.
  • Track record of developing international programs and securing government funding, including familiarity with foreign assistance appropriations and federal grant mechanisms.
  • Current relationships across the State Department, Congressional foreign policy committees, and the Washington international affairs community.
  • Experience working directly with foreign government counterparts, embassies, and international partners.
  • Familiarity with compliance landscape (FARA, LDA, ITAR/EAR, FCPA, sanctions regimes).
  • Ability to operate as both strategist and hands-on operator in a fast-paced startup; ability to build function from the ground up.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; foreign language proficiency and active/recent security clearance eligibility are a plus.
  • Must be based in DC and willing to travel domestically and internationally for Hill engagement, agency meetings, partner visits, coalitions, and site demonstrations.

Skills

Required:Foreign policy and international affairsGeopolitical analysisProposal development and government fundingStakeholder management across DC institutions

Benefits

  • Significant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company
  • 401(k) with employer matching
  • Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)
  • Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Paid parental leave for both parents
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Rainmaker

Make rain. Make snow. Make droughts end.

Rainmaker uses drone-based cloud seeding to increase rainfall, restore ecosystems, and fight drought. Learn how our scalable weather technology brings water to the West.

cloud seeding companyweather modificationdrone cloud seedingrainfall enhancementdrought solutions
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