Executive Director- STATION DC

capitalfactory.com; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

128 hours PTO annually

Company holidays

Medical, dental, vision

Short/long term disability

401(k) with 50% match

Tech stipend

EAP

Parental leave

Valuable network

Job summary

STATION DC in Washington, DC seeks an Executive Director to lead frontier‑tech initiatives at the nation’s center of power. You will drive strategic vision, build elite partnerships with policymakers and industry, and shape a revenue model to secure major, multi‑year funding.

The role requires recruiting startups and mentors, advocating for policy, and curating high‑value programming while cultivating a mission‑driven team and external presence. Evening events are expected.

Qualifications

• Executive leadership experience in a nonprofit or mission‑driven org with multi‑million dollar budgets.
• Proven fundraising ability, closing seven‑figure commitments.
• Skilled navigating complex stakeholder environments (Pentagon, Capitol Hill, Silicon Valley).
• Documenting & organizing processes using AI tools.
• Calm, adaptable planning with last‑minute changes.
• Storytelling to inspire investment and policy influence.
• Willingness to work evening events and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and execute a high‑stakes strategic plan advancing frontier tech across defense, reindustrialization and health.
• Build executive‑level partnerships bridging builders and policymakers.
• Lead revenue strategy to secure significant unrestricted grants and multi‑year commitments.
• Recruit startups, investors, and mentors into the STATION community.
• Advocate for policy and tech‑friendly legislation to maintain national competitiveness.
• Curate signature events and visits that yield high leverage introductions.
• Establish a high‑performance culture and be the face of the organization.

Skills

Executive leadership

Fundraising

Stakeholder navigation

AI tools + documentation

Organization & planning

Storytelling & influence

Evening events availability

Education

Executive leadership experience (MD/ED/VP)

Tools

AI tools

Job description

The Mission

America became the most innovative country on earth by solving hard problems. That leadership is now at risk. Our adversaries are catching up in AI, energy, defense, and space. DC writes the rules, but the rules are being written without the builders in the room.

STATION DC is the solution. We are a purpose-built home for tech, innovation, and global competitiveness located in the Union Market District. We are looking for an Executive Director who isn't just a manager, but a visionary builder and super-connector ready to lead the charge at the nation's center of power.

What you will do…

• Lead Strategic Vision: Oversee and execute a high-stakes strategic plan to advance frontier technologies across defense, reindustrialization, and health, positioning STATION DC as a national leader.
• Build Elite Partnerships: Steward executive-level relationships across the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and Silicon Valley to bridge the gap between builders and policymakers.
• Drive Revenue & Sustainability: Lead the revenue strategy to secure over $1.5M in annual funding through unrestricted grants and multi-year strategic partnership commitments.
• Recruit Top Talent & Startups: Aggressively recruit high-growth startups, Tier 1 investors, and elite mentors into the STATION community to create a critical mass of innovation.
• Advocate for Innovation: Engage directly with policymakers to influence tech-friendly legislation that ensures national competitiveness in critical frontier sectors.
• Curate High-Value Programming: Oversee signature events and "Meeting Ground" initiatives that facilitate high-profile visits and high-leverage introductions.
• Cultivate Mission-Driven Culture: Establish a high-performance, "badass" team culture with minimal undesired turnover, serving as the face of the organization.

You'll know you're successful if....

• You secure at least $1,500,000 in additional annual funding from at least three strategic funders beyond the city of DC.
• You facilitate at least three U.S. Cabinet or Congressional visits, three international head-of-state/royalty visits, and five Tier 1 frontier-tech VC visits annually.
• STATION DC grows to 100 total startup members (including 50 new DC-based startups) and recruits 10 prominent local founders to the advisory board.
• You maintain a high-performing team with minimal undesired turnover and high internal engagement scores.
• Your leadership results in measurable growth in policy influence and media mentions, cementing STATION DC as a national authority.

About our team...

• We have a passion for startups and technology.
• We are transparent and we over-communicate.
• We have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• We communicate when we are not able to meet a deadline and suggest a solution.
• We are professional and presentable and greet everyone cheerfully. We’re ready to deal with an immature student, a pushy salesperson, top VC’s, a fortune 500 CEO, and even the President of the United States.
• We are excited to work in the office five days a week and have reliable transportation.
• We have a quiet place where we can work remotely with fast internet.
• We are security aware. We have a passcode on our computers and phones and use a password manager.
• We are able to efficiently use the Google suite of productivity tools (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• You embrace and actively use AI tools to work smarter and move faster.
• You are available to attend DREAMCON, a week-long staff summit, in January each year.
• We get to Inbox Zero every day

About STATION DC

STATION DC is a nonprofit innovation hub founded to accelerate frontier-technology entrepreneurship and bridge the gap between technology, policy, and capital in Washington, D.C. It unites founders, investors, policymakers, military, and industry leaders through curated events, mentorship, and strategic programming. In partnership with Capital Factory, STATION DC is building the platform where innovators shaping space, defense, energy, autonomy, biotech, and other frontier sectors can connect, collaborate, and influence decision-making at the nation’s center of power.

• You have executive-level leadership experience (MD, ED, or VP), ideally within a non-profit or mission-driven organization, leading cross-functional teams and managing multi-million dollar budgets.
• You are an experienced fundraiser and relationship-builder, comfortable asking for and closing seven-figure commitments.
• You can navigate complex stakeholder environments across the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and Silicon Valley.
• You are a documentor who uses AI tools and organized systems to turn chaos into scalable processes.
• You are organized and plan ahead, but you don’t get stressed out when things change at the last minute—because in DC, they always do.
• You are a storyteller with influence, able to inspire stakeholders and attract investment across the country.
• You are available to work during evening events and weekends when the mission demands it.

• 128 hours of paid time off annually, plus company-observed holidays, Winter Break, and parental leave (10 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents)
• 100% employer-paid employee-only benefits, including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with a 50% company match, up to a maximum employer contribution of 3% of salary
• Additional workplace and facility benefits, where applicable
• Technology stipend beginning on the first-year anniversary
• A priceless network