Director, USDA Policy & Agricultural Development

Lever, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) matching

Health coverage

Relocation assistance

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Rainmaker in Washington, DC seeks a Director of Agricultural Development to lead USDA engagement and forge federal programs for precipitation enhancement as a conservation practice. You will build partnerships with NRCS, FSA, and related agencies, and manage congressional relationships to secure durable funding and policy support.

You will work closely with state affairs teams to align federal funding with regional water objectives, organize field demos, and advocate for rain enhancement within

Qualifications

• 10+ years in agricultural policy, conservation policy, or agricultural government relations.
• Thorough knowledge of USDA operations at national and state levels.
• In-depth understanding of USDA conservation and water programs and how producers access them.
• Experience with Farm Bill, authorship, funding, and appropriations processes.
• Track record of developing programs and securing federal funding and grants.

Responsibilities

• Own USDA engagement end-to-end with NRCS and related agencies nationwide.
• Identify funding vehicles and drive proposal development for precipitation enhancement as a conservation practice.
• Lead Farm Bill strategy and liaise with committees on conservation and research titles.
• Manage Congressional engagement and prepare briefing materials for lawmakers.
• Collaborate with state government affairs to align federal and state objectives.
• Build and sustain agricultural coalition presence and producer engagement.
• Organize field demonstrations and site visits for key stakeholders.

Skills

Agricultural policy

Government relations

Policy development

Grant funding

Strategic execution

Job description

Rainmaker in Washington, DC seeks a Director of Agricultural Development to lead USDA engagement and forge federal programs for precipitation enhancement as a conservation practice. You will build partnerships with NRCS, FSA, and related agencies, and manage congressional relationships to secure durable funding and policy support.

You will work closely with state affairs teams to align federal funding with regional water objectives, organize field demos, and advocate for rain enhancement within