Remote Partner - Government Funding & Science Policy

About the Role

We're looking for a Remote Partner who can navigate the intersection of breakthrough science, institutional design, and federal policy. As a Partner primarily based in DC, you'll lead our initiatives on the Hill, grow our government funding portfolio, represent Convergent in policy circles, and ensure our Focused Research Organizations (FROs) have the strategic partnerships and resources they need to succeed. If you've built things, can speak fluent bureaucrat-ese without losing your soul, and believe that government funding for moonshot science shouldn't require selling out to incrementalism, you'll fit in great here.

What You'll Do

• Identify new FROs: Contribute to our FRO pipeline by identifying and sourcing breakthrough moonshot concepts, recruiting stellar founding teams, and shepherding them from concept to launch through federally funded programs.
• Grow the government funding portfolio: Identify new federal funding opportunities, build relationships with program officers and agency leadership, and position Convergent as the trusted operating partner for ambitious public-good science.
• Represent Convergent in policy circles: Interface with NSF, OSTP, DOE, DARPA, ARPA-H, and other agencies. Attend the right meetings, build the right relationships, and ensure Convergent's voice shapes how government thinks about funding breakthrough research.
• Provide board governance: Serve as voting board member on multiple FROs, bringing strategic oversight, removing blockers, and ensuring milestones align with both scientific ambition and funder requirements.
• Shape Convergent's government strategy: Work with leadership to refine our approach to federal partnerships, identify opportunities that align with our model and mission, and help us scale government relationships without scaling bureaucracy.

Requirements

• Experience in both the startup world and the policy world, with a track record of securing large federal grants or contracts for unconventional research models.
• Ability to navigate agency RFIs and manage complex relationships with federal agencies.
• Strong communication skills to translate FRO impact into compelling narratives that unlock sustained federal support.
• Experience serving on boards or in governance roles, particularly with government-funded projects.
• Knowledge of federal science policy and funding mechanisms, including SBIR/STTR and cooperative agreements.

Nice to Have

• Published work on science policy, research funding, or institutional design.
• Congressional relationships or experience briefing Hill staff.
• Experience as a program officer, program manager, or senior staffer at NSF, DARPA, ARPA-E, ARPA-H, or similar.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $200,000 to $350,000 annually.
• Opportunity to work remotely with a flexible schedule.
• Engagement with leading scientists and policymakers in the field.
• Participation in shaping the future of scientific research funding.
• A chance to make a significant impact on breakthrough science and technology.