Government Relations & Partnership Specialist

The Government Relations & Partnerships Specialist serves as a key connector between STATION Austin and government, defense, and national security innovation partners.

This role is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with government partners, understanding their priorities and objectives, and translating those needs into meaningful engagement across the STATION Austin ecosystem.

You’ll work closely with government innovation organizations, founders, mentors, investors, industry partners, and the broader STATION Austin team to create opportunities for collaboration—from curated introductions and roundtables to office hours, programming, events, and strategic partnerships.

Success in this role means our government partners see STATION Austin not simply as a place to attend events, but as a year-round resource for accessing founders, technology, expertise, capital, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

STATION Austin’s Community Engagement Team connects the defense innovation ecosystem in Texas (and beyond) to the most innovative startups and technology in Texas. Defense Secretaries, Four-Star Generals, Presidents, and delegations from other countries regularly interact with members of our Federal team. Notable government partners include Army Applications Laboratory, AFWERX and DIU. 

What you will do…

Government Partner Engagement

• Serve as a primary relationship manager for assigned government and defense innovation partners.
• Establish recurring touchpoints with partners to understand their priorities, problem sets, upcoming initiatives, and engagement needs.
• Develop strong relationships across organizations such as DIU, AFWERX, Army Applications Laboratory, SOFWERX, Marine Innovation Unit, and other federal, state, and local government entities.
• Identify opportunities to deepen partner engagement with STATION Austin throughout the year.
• Maintain a clear understanding of partner agreements, deliverables, timelines, and expectations.
• Ensure partners consistently experience STATION Austin as responsive, organized, and easy to work with.

Ecosystem Activation

• Translate government partner needs into opportunities for engagement with STATION Austin founders, member companies, mentors, investors, and other partners.
• Work across the STATION Austin team to identify and curate the right people for government partners to meet.
• Facilitate targeted introductions between government stakeholders and relevant startups, subject-matter experts, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
• Help government partners navigate STATION Austin's broader network and identify resources that can advance their objectives.
• Track connections and outcomes to understand where STATION Austin is creating meaningful value.

Programming & Convening

• Help develop a consistent cadence of government-focused programming, including roundtables, happy hours, speaker sessions, office hours, working sessions, and other targeted gatherings.
• Support the activation of STATION Austin's government and defense-focused spaces by bringing the right people into the room, rather than measuring success solely through attendance.
• Work with partners to identify relevant topics, problem sets, speakers, founders, and participants.
• Coordinate with the Events and Community Engagement teams to execute partner programming.
• Support major STATION Austin programs and events, including Fed Supernova and other defense and national security innovation initiatives.

Partnership Growth & Strategy

• Identify opportunities to expand existing government relationships and develop new strategic partnerships.
• Monitor government funding, grant, and partnership opportunities relevant to STATION Austin and its mission.
• Support the development of proposals, presentations, partnership materials, and other strategic documents.
• Surface government priorities and ecosystem trends internally so they can inform STATION Austin programming and strategy.
• Help leadership understand where STATION Austin can uniquely add value within the Texas and national defense innovation ecosystems.

Operations & Accountability

• Document partner meetings, priorities, commitments, introductions, and next steps.
• Maintain accurate partner information and engagement activity within STATION Austin's systems.
• Track contractual obligations and coordinate internally to ensure commitments are delivered.
• Develop reporting around partner engagement, ecosystem connections, programming participation, and outcomes.

You'll know you're successful if....

• Government partners are regularly present and engaged at STATION Austin—not only during major events.
• Assigned partners have an established cadence of meaningful touchpoints with the STATION Austin team.
• Government partners are consistently connected with relevant founders, member companies, mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners.
• Partner needs and problem sets lead to measurable ecosystem activity, including curated introductions, working sessions, founder engagements, and programming.
• Government-focused programming brings together the right participants and produces meaningful follow-up.
• Partners view STATION Austin as a trusted entry point into the Texas innovation ecosystem.
• Contractual commitments and partnership deliverables are completed accurately and on time.
• Existing government relationships deepen and create opportunities for expanded programming, funding, or partnership.
• Government partners renew and expand their relationships with STATION Austin.
• Internal teams have clear visibility into government partner priorities, activities, and upcoming opportunities.

About our team...

• We have a passion for startups and technology. 
• We are transparent and we over-communicate.
• We have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• We communicate when we are not able to meet a deadline and suggest a solution.
• We are professional and presentable and greet everyone cheerfully. We’re ready to deal with an immature student, a pushy salesperson, top VC’s, a fortune 500 CEO, and even the President of the United States.
• We are excited to work in downtown Austin and have reliable transportation.
• We have a quiet place where we can work remotely with fast internet. 
• We are security aware. We have a passcode on our computers and phones and use a password manager.
• We are able to efficiently use the Google suite of productivity tools (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• We are available to work during SXSW (Spring Break), DREAMCON (one week long staff summits twice a year), and Startup Week.
• We get to Inbox Zero every day.

Requirements

About you…

• You have experience working with government, defense, national security, economic development, startups, or innovation ecosystems.
• You understand—or are highly capable of learning—how federal organizations and defense innovation organizations operate.
• You are an exceptional relationship builder who is comfortable engaging everyone from early-stage founders to senior government and military leaders.
• You're naturally curious and ask good questions to uncover what a partner actually needs.
• You don't just make introductions—you understand why two people should meet and work to create meaningful connections.
• You can turn broad partner objectives into actionable programming, introductions, and opportunities.
• You're comfortable navigating contracts, deliverables, timelines, and multiple stakeholders.
• You're highly organized and document conversations, commitments, and follow-up.
• You can move seamlessly between strategy and execution.
• You're comfortable representing STATION Austin externally and understand the importance of being a thoughtful steward of its relationships.
• You thrive in an environment where priorities can shift quickly and you're expected to find solutions rather than wait for instructions.

Benefits

• 4 weeks paid time off (one week is between Christmas and New Year’s) 
• Personal health, vision and dental insurance paid 100% by Capital Factory
• Additional benefits such as 401k program (50% company matching), life insurance, short & long term disability and and employee assistance program
• Parental leave including 10 weeks paid leave for birthing parents and 4 weeks paid leave for non-birthing parents
• $1,000 personal innovation budget on your first year anniversary and then an additional $500 each anniversary thereafter
• Coworking membership at STATION Austin with garage parking space, metro pass, or rideshare credits and access to the onsite gym
• A priceless network

STATION Earth is a nonprofit organization that inspires and empowers entrepreneurs who will change the world with technology.

Our growing network of innovation hubs brings together founders, investors, industry leaders, mentors, and public-sector partners to collaborate, build relationships, and create what’s next.

Through year-round programming, cornerstone events, mentorship, education, and curated connections, STATION gives entrepreneurs access to the people, knowledge, resources, and opportunities they need to grow and make an impact.