Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations
Top Benefits
About the role
Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations
Rainbow Railroad
Reports to the Head of Engagement
Full-time, permanent (40 hours/week)
Location: Toronto ON or Ottawa ON (with international travel)
Start Date: January 7, 2026
About Rainbow Railroad
Rainbow Railroad is an international nonprofit organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution find pathways to safety. Since our founding in 2006, we have supported over 25,000 at-risk LGBTQI+ people and have become a global leader in advocating for LGBTQI+ rights within the context of forced displacement. We work at the intersection of LGBTQI+ identities and forced displacement as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists. Our mission is guided by a commitment to becoming a refugee-led and refugee-informed organization, centering the voices, leadership, and experiences of LGBTQI+ people affected by forced displacement.
Rainbow Railroad is a registered charity in Canada and a U.S. 501(c)3 organization with offices in Toronto and New York.
Position Overview
Rainbow Railroad is seeking an experienced policy and advocacy professional to join our team as Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations. This is a mid-level leadership position that plays a central role in shaping and executing the organization’s global and domestic (U.S. & Canada) policy and advocacy agenda. Reporting to the Head of Engagement, and working closely with the Director of Engagement, the Director will lead the organization’s public policy work, government relations strategy, and advocacy initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated record of influencing public policy, developing effective campaigns, and working collaboratively across departments and sectors. They will bring a deep understanding of global LGBTQI+ rights and the forced displacement crisis. The Director will also be an effective public speaker and experienced community organizer, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including government agencies and political representatives, international and non-governmental organizations, media, donors, and grassroots movements. The Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations will be critical to actualizing Rainbow Railroad’s vision of becoming a refugee-led organization, one that meaningfully engages LGBTQI+ people affected by forced displacement as equal partners in decision-making processes that impact their lives and communities.
Key Responsibilities
Policy and Government Relations
- Lead Rainbow Railroad’s key policy priorities with states and international bodies, advancing tactics and strategies to secure important policy outcomes in alignment with the organization’s key priorities.
- Actively anticipate, monitor, and analyze the domestic and international political landscape and policy developments related to LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, and forced displacement.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with policymakers, government agencies, multilateral institutions and coalitions in Canada, the U.S., and internationally.
- Prepare policy briefs, position statements, letters, and advocacy materials for government audiences.
- Coordinate Rainbow Railroad’s political engagement activities and involvement in government advisory bodies, such as the Community-Government of Canada Partnership Committee of the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat.
Advocacy and Movement Building
- Alongside the Director of Engagement, represent Rainbow Railroad in domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international advocacy networks and coalitions such as ILGA, Equal Rights Coalition, UN LGBTI Core Group, CSW LBTI Caucus, Council for Global Equality, Refugee Council USA, Dignity Network Canada, From Borders to Belonging, and the Canadian Council for Refugees.
- In collaboration with the Director of Protection Initiatives, advance our Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI) through state-led engagement and movement building.
- Lead our United Nations events strategy by leveraging our ECOSOC status to increase Rainbow Railroad and international partner participation at key UN events and high-level convenings.
- In collaboration with the Director of Engagement, build domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international partnerships with grassroots organizations, Human Rights Defenders, local networks and refugee-led initiatives to inform and strengthen advocacy.
- Plan and coordinate virtual and in-person advocacy events and campaigns.
Communications, Research, and Thought Leadership
-
In collaboration with the Communications team, co-develop key publications such as the Annual Report on the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution
and other thematic reports.
-
Co-draft op-eds, blogs, issue briefs, and public statements on topics that align with our strategic priorities.
-
Ensure evidence-based advocacy by identifying data gaps and contributing to independent and collaborative knowledge production on LGBTQI+ forced displacement.
-
Serve as a spokesperson for Rainbow Railroad at conferences, donor events, and in the media.
Operational Excellence and Team Leadership
- Establish an internal mechanism to regularly brief colleagues on relevant policy and advocacy developments that are consequential to the programming and strategic direction of the organization.
- Collaborate with directors across teams to ensure coordinated advocacy efforts.
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to define and track portfolio-related outcomes and impact in Salesforce.
- Supervise and provide leadership to staff and interns working on policy, advocacy, and government relations.
- Provide coaching, sponsorship, mentorship, and professional development guidance to officers and senior officers including cross-functional staff engaged in advocacy work.
- Contribute to a healthy and desirable team culture by modeling collaborative and inclusive leadership practices.
- Ensure effective work planning, delegation, and regular performance feedback for staff under your leadership that is aligned with organizational policies, priorities, and capacity.
- Collaborate with the Head of Engagement to identify opportunities for team growth, resource allocation, and skill development.
Required Skills & Experience
- Undergraduate degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Law or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 6+ years of experience in public policy, advocacy, and/or government relations.
- 3+ years of experience managing teams.
- Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to support team performance, delegate effectively, and build team culture aligned with equity and inclusion values.
- Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
- Deep understanding of LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, and forced displacement issues globally.
- Experience working with displaced communities.
- Proven track record of influencing policy at the international and national levels.
- Familiarity with Canadian and U.S. political systems.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience as a spokesperson or media representative.
- Solutions-oriented with a facility for strategic and design thinking.
- Ability to work in a fast-growing, mission-driven organization with international impact.
- Excellent data management skills and proficiency in Salesforce and cloud services.
- Capacity to work effectively and exercise good judgment.
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, sometimes shifting work hours as needed to enable Rainbow Railroad’s participation in critical domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international events and meetings.
Application Details
Application Deadline:
October 17, 2025
Compensation Package:
$90,000 CAD starting salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including HSA, health and dental insurance, three weeks vacation, 16 wellness days, and a two-week holiday closure at the end of the year.
Application Process:
Please submit your application through the portal link at this link: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/rainbowrailroad/56475
Please do not apply through the Linkedin platform as only applications submitted through Collage are reviewed.
Rainbow Railroad is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes diversity across race, ancestry, culture, languages spoken, immigration status, age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and socioeconomic background. Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process. Please email hire@rainbowrailroad.org for inquiries.
Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations
Top Benefits
About the role
Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations
Rainbow Railroad
Reports to the Head of Engagement
Full-time, permanent (40 hours/week)
Location: Toronto ON or Ottawa ON (with international travel)
Start Date: January 7, 2026
About Rainbow Railroad
Rainbow Railroad is an international nonprofit organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution find pathways to safety. Since our founding in 2006, we have supported over 25,000 at-risk LGBTQI+ people and have become a global leader in advocating for LGBTQI+ rights within the context of forced displacement. We work at the intersection of LGBTQI+ identities and forced displacement as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists. Our mission is guided by a commitment to becoming a refugee-led and refugee-informed organization, centering the voices, leadership, and experiences of LGBTQI+ people affected by forced displacement.
Rainbow Railroad is a registered charity in Canada and a U.S. 501(c)3 organization with offices in Toronto and New York.
Position Overview
Rainbow Railroad is seeking an experienced policy and advocacy professional to join our team as Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations. This is a mid-level leadership position that plays a central role in shaping and executing the organization’s global and domestic (U.S. & Canada) policy and advocacy agenda. Reporting to the Head of Engagement, and working closely with the Director of Engagement, the Director will lead the organization’s public policy work, government relations strategy, and advocacy initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated record of influencing public policy, developing effective campaigns, and working collaboratively across departments and sectors. They will bring a deep understanding of global LGBTQI+ rights and the forced displacement crisis. The Director will also be an effective public speaker and experienced community organizer, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including government agencies and political representatives, international and non-governmental organizations, media, donors, and grassroots movements. The Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations will be critical to actualizing Rainbow Railroad’s vision of becoming a refugee-led organization, one that meaningfully engages LGBTQI+ people affected by forced displacement as equal partners in decision-making processes that impact their lives and communities.
Key Responsibilities
Policy and Government Relations
- Lead Rainbow Railroad’s key policy priorities with states and international bodies, advancing tactics and strategies to secure important policy outcomes in alignment with the organization’s key priorities.
- Actively anticipate, monitor, and analyze the domestic and international political landscape and policy developments related to LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, and forced displacement.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with policymakers, government agencies, multilateral institutions and coalitions in Canada, the U.S., and internationally.
- Prepare policy briefs, position statements, letters, and advocacy materials for government audiences.
- Coordinate Rainbow Railroad’s political engagement activities and involvement in government advisory bodies, such as the Community-Government of Canada Partnership Committee of the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat.
Advocacy and Movement Building
- Alongside the Director of Engagement, represent Rainbow Railroad in domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international advocacy networks and coalitions such as ILGA, Equal Rights Coalition, UN LGBTI Core Group, CSW LBTI Caucus, Council for Global Equality, Refugee Council USA, Dignity Network Canada, From Borders to Belonging, and the Canadian Council for Refugees.
- In collaboration with the Director of Protection Initiatives, advance our Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI) through state-led engagement and movement building.
- Lead our United Nations events strategy by leveraging our ECOSOC status to increase Rainbow Railroad and international partner participation at key UN events and high-level convenings.
- In collaboration with the Director of Engagement, build domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international partnerships with grassroots organizations, Human Rights Defenders, local networks and refugee-led initiatives to inform and strengthen advocacy.
- Plan and coordinate virtual and in-person advocacy events and campaigns.
Communications, Research, and Thought Leadership
-
In collaboration with the Communications team, co-develop key publications such as the Annual Report on the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution
and other thematic reports.
-
Co-draft op-eds, blogs, issue briefs, and public statements on topics that align with our strategic priorities.
-
Ensure evidence-based advocacy by identifying data gaps and contributing to independent and collaborative knowledge production on LGBTQI+ forced displacement.
-
Serve as a spokesperson for Rainbow Railroad at conferences, donor events, and in the media.
Operational Excellence and Team Leadership
- Establish an internal mechanism to regularly brief colleagues on relevant policy and advocacy developments that are consequential to the programming and strategic direction of the organization.
- Collaborate with directors across teams to ensure coordinated advocacy efforts.
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to define and track portfolio-related outcomes and impact in Salesforce.
- Supervise and provide leadership to staff and interns working on policy, advocacy, and government relations.
- Provide coaching, sponsorship, mentorship, and professional development guidance to officers and senior officers including cross-functional staff engaged in advocacy work.
- Contribute to a healthy and desirable team culture by modeling collaborative and inclusive leadership practices.
- Ensure effective work planning, delegation, and regular performance feedback for staff under your leadership that is aligned with organizational policies, priorities, and capacity.
- Collaborate with the Head of Engagement to identify opportunities for team growth, resource allocation, and skill development.
Required Skills & Experience
- Undergraduate degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Law or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 6+ years of experience in public policy, advocacy, and/or government relations.
- 3+ years of experience managing teams.
- Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to support team performance, delegate effectively, and build team culture aligned with equity and inclusion values.
- Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
- Deep understanding of LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, and forced displacement issues globally.
- Experience working with displaced communities.
- Proven track record of influencing policy at the international and national levels.
- Familiarity with Canadian and U.S. political systems.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience as a spokesperson or media representative.
- Solutions-oriented with a facility for strategic and design thinking.
- Ability to work in a fast-growing, mission-driven organization with international impact.
- Excellent data management skills and proficiency in Salesforce and cloud services.
- Capacity to work effectively and exercise good judgment.
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, sometimes shifting work hours as needed to enable Rainbow Railroad’s participation in critical domestic (U.S. & Canada) and international events and meetings.
Application Details
Application Deadline:
October 17, 2025
Compensation Package:
$90,000 CAD starting salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including HSA, health and dental insurance, three weeks vacation, 16 wellness days, and a two-week holiday closure at the end of the year.
Application Process:
Please submit your application through the portal link at this link: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/rainbowrailroad/56475
Please do not apply through the Linkedin platform as only applications submitted through Collage are reviewed.
Rainbow Railroad is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes diversity across race, ancestry, culture, languages spoken, immigration status, age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and socioeconomic background. Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process. Please email hire@rainbowrailroad.org for inquiries.