Director of Business Development

About the role

Joining Rainmaker as Director of Business Development means taking ownership of growing our footprint within Nevada's state government ecosystem. You will architect and execute a business development strategy centered on state appropriations, grant programs, agency contracts, and pilot initiatives that expand our precipitation enhancement and water resource portfolio. In this role, you will serve as the primary commercial bridge between Rainmaker and Nevada's public sector, translating policy dynamics into fundable projects. You will build enduring relationships with key decision makers while shaping the legislative and budget environment to favor long-term program viability. Success in this position requires fluency in both commercial instincts and the nuanced workflows of publicly funded work. You will coordinate diverse coalitions that align state agencies, water districts, agricultural stakeholders, and private capital toward shared objectives. Ultimately, you will drive sustainable revenue growth by converting complex policy windows into structured, funded outcomes for Rainmaker's mission-critical services.

Key facts

What you'll do

Drive revenue growth by owning a target tied to state-funded programs in Nevada, establishing a robust pipeline of appropriations, grants, agency contracts, and pilot opportunities.

Identify emerging state funding pathways embedded in infrastructure bills, budget line items, grant solicitations, and procurement vehicles, then convert them into qualified opportunities with clear timelines.

Cultivate and sustain deep relationships with legislators, agency leaders, regulatory staff, water districts, and industry associations, building coalitions that champion Rainmaker programs.

Lead Rainmaker's engagement in Nevada legislative sessions and budget cycles, advocating for water infrastructure, agricultural resilience, and precipitation enhancement programs through testimony, briefings, and presentations.

Shape policy outcomes to directly support market growth, aligning initiatives with funding mechanisms and contract structures that advance Rainmaker's strategic priorities.

Identify and coordinate public/private partnership structures that combine state programs with private-sector partners and capital, expanding reach and accelerating program delivery across Nevada.

Provide cross-functional deal support by collaborating with leadership, technical, legal, and communications teams to develop winning proposals that meet state regulations and procurement requirements.

Organize and execute events such as site visits, demonstrations, roundtables, and educational forums for lawmakers and agency officials to showcase Rainmaker's technology and its economic and environmental impact.

Monitor legislative, regulatory, and budgetary developments across water, agriculture, and environmental sectors to maintain a proactive pipeline and deliver strategic guidance to leadership.

Maintain rigorous pipeline management, reporting status, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to ensure alignment with revenue targets and market realities.

Champion data-driven decision-making by analyzing opportunity progress, win-loss patterns, and stakeholder feedback to refine approaches and improve success rates.

Serve as a thought leader within the public sector water community, contributing insights that elevate Rainmaker's reputation as a trusted program partner.

Develop materials and narratives tailored to public sector audiences, ensuring value propositions are clear, compelling, and aligned with public mission outcomes.

Act as a key point of contact for high-level stakeholders, navigating long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles with patience, persistence, and structured follow-through.

Requirements

Bring a minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, government relations, capture management, or public policy focused on Nevada state government, preferably within water, natural resources, agriculture, infrastructure, or environmental domains.

Demonstrate a proven track record of winning state funding, contracts, or appropriations, or of influencing legislative and budgetary outcomes that resulted in funded programs.

Show strong comprehension of how Nevada state budget cycles, grant programs, and procurement processes operate and how policy frameworks intersect with water supply, environmental protection, and agricultural needs.

Exhibit the ability to build trusted relationships with elected officials, agency staff, and external partners while managing complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles over extended time horizons.

Operate effectively as a self-starter who owns a pipeline and a number while thriving in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and often politically sensitive environment.

Hold a Bachelor's degree as a mandatory requirement, with advanced degrees in political science, business, economics, law, or related fields welcomed but not mandatory.

Be willing and able to travel extensively, with approximately 50% or more of time allocated to legislative sessions, customer engagements, and project site visits across Nevada.

Commit to operating in alignment with Rainmaker's standards for ethics, compliance, and public service excellence in all interactions with public sector stakeholders.

Nice to have

Preferred experience working on water resources, precipitation enhancement, or environmental infrastructure within a public policy or commercial setting.

Prior engagement with legislative advocacy, budget testimony, or stakeholder coalition building in Nevada or similar policy environments.

Practical notes

This role requires willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% or more of the time for legislative sessions, customer engagements, and project site visits.

Travel during legislative sessions may require extended stays in Carson City or other locations across Nevada depending on committee schedules and stakeholder meetings.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.