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REGENT is building Seagliders—wing-in-ground-effect craft that travel just above water at 180 mph with 180-mile range on current battery technology (up to 400 miles with next-gen batteries). The company is scaling from prototype to full production and seeking a Director of Government Relations to own federal and state government relations strategy.
In this role, you will lead REGENT's relationships across Congress, the executive branch, and federal agencies, with a major focus on supporting the growth of the defense business. You'll develop and execute government relations strategy, advise the CEO and senior leadership on engagement priorities, and build understanding of Seagliders across policymakers and stakeholders who don't yet have a framework for this new category of transportation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading federal government relations across Congress and executive branch agencies, strengthening existing relationships and building new ones aligned with business priorities
- Driving defense advocacy by navigating authorization, appropriations, and acquisition processes; engaging DoD stakeholders and defense committees; and positioning REGENT for funding and program opportunities
- Owning Rhode Island state government relations strategy, building relationships with the Governor's Office, legislature, state agencies, and transportation stakeholders
- Shaping the policy environment for Seagliders by translating complex technology into clear policy narratives and convening customers, industry partners, and trade associations
- Serving as trusted government relations advisor to leadership on where to engage, how to use political capital, and how to approach high-stakes government meetings
- Partnering across Defense, Business Development, Marketing, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Legal to connect government relations to company strategy and external communications
Requirements:
- Active federal network with real, current relationships on Capitol Hill and across relevant executive branch agencies; people who know you, take your calls, and trust your credibility
- Deep fluency in defense acquisition and appropriations, including NDAA cycles, DoD budgets, defense committee dynamics, and how companies can influence the process
- Proven experience independently leading state government relations work—building relationships with governors' offices and legislators, advancing priorities through state processes, and working with economic development and transportation agencies
- End-to-end government relations leadership experience: setting priorities, mapping stakeholders, developing messaging, building relationships, and directly driving advocacy
- Track record building credibility for a company, technology, or industry that didn't fit neatly into existing policy frameworks; ability to translate complex, unfamiliar concepts into compelling cases for policymakers
- Political and executive judgment to read the political landscape, understand competing interests and reputational considerations, and advise leaders on where and how to engage
- Collaborative mindset that sees government relations as a lever for advancing company priorities, with ability to build strong cross-functional relationships
- Comfort navigating problems without an obvious playbook; creative problem-solving in complicated political and policy landscapes
- Adaptability and agility in environments where political dynamics, funding opportunities, and company priorities change quickly
- Innovative mindset energized by helping government understand something genuinely new
