U.S. Policy and Advocacy Officer

U.S. Policy and Advocacy Officer

Reports to the Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations

Full-time, permanent (40 hours/week)

Location: U.S. (with international travel)

About Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railroad is an international human rights organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people and strengthens policies and systems that support their protection and integration. We are one of the few organizations that work as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists to address global queer forced displacement. Our mission is guided by a commitment to becoming a refugee-led organization that centres the experiences, leadership, and authority of LGBTQI+ refugees. Founded in 2006, 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 a policy and advocacy professional at the early stages of their career to join our team as a U.S. Policy and Advocacy Officer. This person will contribute to our U.S and global initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations, the U.S. Policy and Advocacy Officer will be a key member of the policy and advocacy team. They will develop, execute, monitor and support the organization’s public policy work, government relations strategy, and advocacy initiatives in the U.S. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated record of influencing public policy, developing effective campaigns, engaging with elected officials, knowledge of government processes, and the ability to work across sectors. They will have public speaking experience, a track record of stakeholder management, community organizing expertise, and the ability to engage a wide range of actors. With their deep understanding of global LGBTQI+ rights, they will be engaged in amplifying the issue of LGBTQI+ forced displacement, and participate in our work to change and influence global systems. The U.S. Policy and Advocacy Officer will support the Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer in 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

U.S. Policy & Advocacy Leadership

• Monitor U.S. policy developments related to LGBTQI+ rights with an emphasis on immigration, refugee pathways, international human rights, and people experiencing forced displacement.
• Develop and execute U.S.-focused advocacy strategies targeting federal, state, and local governments and civil society stakeholders.
• Lead U.S.-based campaigns, mobilizations, and public engagement initiatives.
• Draft policy briefs, statements, submissions, and talking points tailored to U.S. decision-makers and international stakeholders.

Global Advocacy 

• Support the execution of global advocacy strategies, campaigns, and coalition engagement.
• Contribute to cross-regional policy analysis and research aligned with Rainbow Railroad’s global priorities.
• Monitor and engage with domestic and international trends in LGBTQI+ forced displacement scholarship. 
• Coordinate with international partners to maintain alignment in sector messaging and objectives.

Partnerships & Government Relations

• Manage and foster relationships with U.S. policymakers, agencies, NGOs, and coalitions.
• Represent Rainbow Railroad in U.S.-based advocacy spaces, roundtables, and consultations.
• Track and report on policy positions taken by policymakers across the U.S., and provide analysis to further Rainbow Railroad’s objectives.
• Support the organization’s leadership role within global LGBTQI+ networks.
• Contribute to the execution of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI).

Operational & Administrative Support

• Provide project management, scheduling, and operational support to the Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations.
• Maintain Salesforce records for advocacy activities, government engagement, and partnerships.
• Track, document, and report on advocacy outcomes and partner interactions.

Internal & External Communications

• Contribute written content to organizational publications. 
• Draft and co-create policy briefings, academic, and technical reports.
• Write and co-develop thought leadership content.
• Support cross departmental alignment through co-developing policy briefings on emerging issues and key Rainbow Railroad priorities. 
• Draft and support the creation of issue briefs and public statements.
• Draft talking points for organizational spokespeople.
• Develop internal communications to update and educate staff on policy issues related to Rainbow Railroad’s priorities.
• Support the co-development of key publications such as the Annual Report on the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution and other thematic reports.

Required Skills & Experience

• Post-secondary education in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, Law or related fields.
• 3+ years of experience in public policy, political environments, advocacy, and government relations in a U.S. context.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proven capacity to design, run, and evaluate advocacy initiatives.
• Familiarity with LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, and forced displacement issues globally.
• Experience working with displaced communities.
• Aptitude for rapidly synthesizing complex legislative and political landscapes.
• Proven track record of influencing policy at the international, national or state levels.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-growing, mission-driven organization with international impact.
• Excellent data management skills and proficiency in Salesforce and Google Workspace.
• Capacity to work effectively and exercise good judgment. 
• Operates proactively with strong ownership and minimal supervision.
• Comfortable coordinating across time zones and cultures.
• 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: 

Friday, February 6, 2026

Compensation Package: 

$60,000 - $75,000 USD plus a comprehensive benefits package including health 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 here in Collage

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.