1.2. Director of Government Relations
Phoenix Tailings
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on Mar 12, 2025
About Phoenix Tailings
Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. Our mission is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company, producing the resources needed for the next generation of our economy.
Why Phoenix Tailings
At Phoenix, we believe that nothing great is ever accomplished alone or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. If you are someone who shares our relentless pursuit of a better future, passion for innovation, and are excited about working with some of the top innovators in the world, then this is the place for you.
Our Values:
● You are only crazy if you are wrong, it’s ok to be wrong
● Lead with Compassion
● Be Resourceful
● Listen
● Hustle
Who We Are Looking For:
Phoenix Tailings is seeking a Washington, D.C.-based Director of Government Relations with proven experience unlocking significant federal funding and managing government stakeholder relationships. You will be responsible for identifying, pursuing, and securing high-value non-dilutive funding opportunities and actively collaborating with federal project managers and contracting officers across key agencies including DoD, DOE, ARPA-E, and related initiatives. Your work will directly fuel our breakthrough technologies and scale their impact.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify, pursue, and win federal funding opportunities in the from agencies such as DoD (AFWERX, DARPA, DLA), DOE, ARPA-E, and others.
- Build and manage high-trust relationships with government project managers and program officers to ensure smooth execution and strategic alignment of awarded projects.
- Own the lifecycle of grant and cooperative agreement submissions, leading proposal strategy, drafting key narrative elements, and driving technical team coordination.
- Serve as Phoenix Tailings’ primary representative in Washington, D.C., regularly meeting with agency officials, Congressional staff, and public-private partnership programs.
- Track relevant federal appropriations, agency funding cycles, and contract mechanisms to align opportunities with Phoenix Tailings’ growth roadmap.
- Support the negotiation and management of funded contracts or agreements, ensuring compliance, progress reporting, and positive agency engagement.
- Coordinate with external government relations consultants and internal stakeholders to execute high-priority funding strategies under tight deadlines.
- Keep executive leadership informed with strategic insights and recommendations on evolving policy and funding trends.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience securing substantial federal funding for technology development, either from within government or in industry/nonprofits applying to it.
- Proven track record of winning and managing government awards, ideally across defense, energy, or critical materials sectors.
- Familiarity with working directly alongside government program managers and contracting officials to guide active project performance and deliverables.
- Deep knowledge of major federal programs and funding channels (e.g., ARPA-E, DOE AMMTO, AFWERX, DARPA, DOD Office of Strategic Capital, etc.).
- Strong policy acumen and ability to communicate complex technical projects to non-technical federal stakeholders in a compelling and strategic way.
- Based in Washington, D.C. to maintain agency presence and develop in-person relationships.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience drafting grant applications, concept papers, and policy briefs.
We offer a competitive compensation package that is based on expertise. We also offer the following benefits:
- Healthcare, we care about you and your family: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Stock: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
- Family Focus: Parental leave and flexibility for families.
- Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world.
- Team Fun: Regularly scheduled events, and celebrations.
- Learning: Learning and development Opportunities to grow your skills and career.
- Great team: Working with fun, hard-working, kind people committed to making a difference!
- Flexible culture: We are results-focused. We don’t work at the office every day.
At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining.
Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics, and these characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions (including but not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline).
