Careers

Position Overview

The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy is seeking a strategic, process-driven, and mission-aligned Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and support our next phase of growth and national impact. The ideal candidate has senior experience in operations or organizational management, preferably in a nonprofit or advocacy setting, with exposure to political networks and a proven ability to lead dynamic teams across programs, fundraising, and policy.

As COO, you will work closely with the Founder and President and manage an expanding team of vice presidents to execute on Rainey Center’s strategic priorities, build internal systems, and ensure organizational effectiveness. You will also play a key leadership role in developing and implementing our sales and fundraising strategy, coordinating legislator engagement, and representing Rainey in external forums.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Internal Operations

• Serve as the internal leader of the organization, overseeing all day-to-day operations and internal coordination
• Directly manage and support Rainey’s senior leadership team, including VPs of Policy, Partnerships, and Legislator Outreach (LAMP)
• Develop and implement operational systems that support program delivery, staff management, and accountability
• Lead strategic planning and annual budgeting processes in partnership with the Founder and President

Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising

• Collaborate with the VP of Partnerships to drive Rainey’s sales and fundraising strategy, including corporate partnerships, philanthropic support, and revenue development
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to deliver measurable impact to our supporters and strategic allies

Legislator Outreach & Engagement

• Work with the VP of Legislator Outreach to strengthen and scale the LAMP program, with a focus on recruitment and retention of participating lawmakers
• Oversee programmatic systems and recruitment strategies to ensure quality legislator engagement and growth

Policy Alignment

• Partner with the VP of Policy to ensure that Rainey’s policy initiatives are aligned with organizational goals and that execution is efficient and collaborative
• Contribute to the integration of policy priorities into external communications, programs, and partnerships

External Relations & Representation

• Represent the organization at key events, coalition meetings, and stakeholder briefings in Washington, DC and beyond
• Strengthen Rainey Center’s public profile through strategic engagement and visibility among political, policy, and philanthropic communities

Key Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior management experience, ideally in a nonprofit, political, or advocacy setting
• Proven ability to lead complex organizations, manage teams, and drive measurable results across multiple departments
• Strong understanding of organizational operations including finance, HR, systems, and compliance
• Direct experience in or alongside political offices, advocacy groups, or campaigns
• Track record of success working in values-aligned, mission-driven environments
• Strategic thinker with a bias for action and a capacity to lead through ambiguity
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence and collaborate with diverse stakeholders
• Strong public presence and willingness to represent the organization at high-level events and briefings

You’ll Thrive at Rainey If You…

• Are energized by policymaking and civic leadership
• Are a systems thinker who enjoys problem-solving and operational excellence
• Can lead from both the front and behind the scenes, empowering your team while ensuring accountability
• Have a high degree of political acumen and understand the nuances of working with lawmakers, corporate partners, and mission-aligned donors
• Value integrity, innovation, and measurable impact in public policy

Position Overview

The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy is seeking a strategic and mission-aligned Vice President of Policy to lead our national policy initiatives and expand our influence at the state and federal levels. This senior role will shape and advance Rainey’s public policy agenda while serving as a trusted partner to corporate allies, legislators, and thought leaders—particularly those aligned with conservative policymaking.

The ideal candidate brings senior-level experience from a corporate policy or government affairs team or has served in the legislature. They should have a demonstrated ability to bridge the worlds of politics, policy, and business, with a strong network. Experience supporting policy-related fundraising is a plus.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Policy Leadership
  Develop and oversee Rainey Center’s policy agenda, aligning legislative priorities with strategic initiatives across energy, tech, innovation, and governance.
• Legislative & Political Engagement
  Build and maintain strong relationships with lawmakers, policy staff, and relevant political coalitions to advance Rainey’s visibility and impact in key states and on Capitol Hill.
• Corporate Policy Collaboration
  Serve as the senior liaison to Rainey’s corporate and philanthropic partners on policy matters—translating their interests into actionable engagement and value-driven collaboration.
• Policy Campaign Management
  Lead the design and execution of targeted policy campaigns, collaborating with research, communications, and partnerships teams to achieve tangible legislative outcomes.
• Content Development & Thought Leadership
  Draft policy memos, briefing materials, op-eds, and grant deliverables; represent the organization in public forums, briefings, and stakeholder convenings.
• Internal Coordination
  Work closely with Rainey’s VP of Partnerships, VP of Legislative Outreach, and our internal think tank staff, and program directors to ensure seamless execution of partner deliverables and integrated campaigns.
• Compliance & Reporting
  Ensure all policy activities are conducted in accordance with nonprofit, lobbying, and ethics rules; track policy outcomes and partner impact for internal reports and funder updates.
• Support for Policy Fundraising
  Collaborate with development staff on identifying funding aligned with Rainey’s policy work, contributing to concept notes, grant proposals, and donor briefings when needed.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in public policy, legislative affairs, corporate government relations, or advocacy
• Familiarity with fundraising, grant reporting, or philanthropic engagement is a must
• Deep familiarity with politics and policymaking, and a strong network of contacts across state or federal government
• Prior experience managing legislative initiatives, issue campaigns, or strategic advocacy efforts
• Demonstrated success in working with or advising corporate policy or public affairs teams
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills, including briefings, memos, and persuasive narratives
• Strong strategic instincts, comfort with complexity, and a collaborative mindset

You’ll Thrive at Rainey If You…

• Are passionate about innovation, and governance reform
• Believe in the power of partnerships to advance policy change
• Can hold your own in a Capitol Hill office and a corporate boardroom
• Are energized by conservative policymaking and bipartisan influence
• Are highly organized, proactive, and outcome-oriented