Director, Public Policy

About the role

Riot is seeking a senior public policy leader to help shape the company’s future growth by evaluating prospective development opportunities, building durable community partnerships, and advancing projects through complex local and state approval processes.

This role is designed for a strategic, technically credible, politically astute professional who can represent Riot effectively with elected officials, regulators, community leaders, utilities, neighbors, and industry stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings substantial experience in the data center, energy, infrastructure, utility, regulatory, or local-government landscape—and understands that successful development depends on listening early, doing rigorous research, communicating clearly, and earning trust over time.

This is a hands-on role. The Director will help assess new sites and communities, identify opportunities and risks, develop policy and stakeholder strategies, prepare for public hearings, and support public-facing communications. The successful candidate will be humble, collaborative, highly effective under pressure, and committed to helping internal and external partners succeed.

This is a flexible U.S.-based position that requires travel to communities and project sites.

What you'll do

• Lead public-policy and community-engagement strategy for prospective and existing Riot development opportunities.
• Conduct early-stage assessment of potential sites and communities, including political, regulatory, infrastructure, economic-development, reputational, and stakeholder considerations.
• Advise internal development, operations, energy, legal, communications, and executive teams on community dynamics, permitting pathways, policy risks, and stakeholder strategy.
• Build trusted relationships with local and state elected officials, government staff, regulators, economic-development organizations, utilities, civic leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Represent Riot professionally at public hearings, government meetings, community forums, industry events, and other external engagements.
• Develop strategies to secure approvals and build constructive local support for development and operational initiatives.
• Research and monitor legislation, regulations, local ordinances, public-policy developments, and community issues relevant to Riot’s business and expansion plans.
• Draft public comments, testimony, briefing materials, talking points, letters, presentations, policy analyses, and other written materials for internal and external audiences.
• Coordinate with outside consultants, government-relations advisors, land-use professionals, legal counsel, and communications partners as needed.
• Help develop authentic, long-term community partnership approaches that reflect local priorities and support mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Support social-media and digital-engagement strategies when appropriate, particularly around public education, community listening, and issue management.
• Mentor and collaborate with junior public-policy team members while contributing as a practical, team-oriented partner across the organization.

What you'll bring

• Significant professional experience in public policy, government affairs, external affairs, infrastructure development, permitting, community engagement, economic development, energy, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in one or more of the following environments strongly preferred:

o Data center development or operations

o   Electric utilities or energy companies

o   Grid operators or energy-market organizations

o   State or local government

o   Regulatory agencies

o   Infrastructure, industrial, or large-scale real-estate development

• Demonstrated experience navigating public approvals, public hearings, zoning or land-use processes, regulatory proceedings, or other complex stakeholder processes.
• Strong understanding of how local communities, government institutions, utilities, and infrastructure-development processes operate.
• Ability to translate technical and operational issues into clear, credible language for nontechnical audiences.
• Exceptional research, writing, presentation, and public-speaking skills.
•  Experience drafting public comments, testimony, policy memoranda, stakeholder communications, or similar materials.
• Sound judgment, high emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and the ability to remain constructive in contentious or high-visibility situations.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across geographies and project stages.
• Comfortable with frequent travel and engaging directly with communities on the ground.Social-media fluency and experience with digital stakeholder engagement are a plu
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, law, political science, planning, business, engineering, or a related field is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits 

• Competitive Salary: $170,000 - $185,000 (commensurate with experience) + bonus + sign-on equity grant. 

• Long-Term Growth: Eligible to participate in Riot’s equity incentive programs and share in the success you help build. 

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Incudes a generous company match. 

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options, including 100% company-paid plans. 

• Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy free gym memberships, pet insurance, childcare discounts, and more to support your life both in and out of work. 

Riot is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.