Jobs at Zipline

About You and The Role

• Zipline’s long-range autonomous drone system is already delivering millions of medical products across Africa.
• As we expand in Nigeria, we’re seeking a Construction and Deployments Lead to oversee all construction and deployment activities nationwide.
• This senior role is responsible for delivering Zipline distribution centers across the country, leading in-country teams and driving execution excellence from site acquisition and permitting through construction, vendor management, and operational handover.
• You will serve as the central point of coordination between local teams and global stakeholders across Engineering, Supply Chain, Legal, Regulatory, and Partnerships, ensuring each launch meets Zipline’s global standards while adapting to Nigeria’s regulatory and operational context.
• You are a builder, leader, and systems thinker who can navigate complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and deliver results at scale.

What You’ll Do

• Own deployment strategy and execution for all new Zipline distribution centers across Nigeria.
• Lead cross-functional coordination between Nigeria teams and global stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of multiple deployments that consistently meets partner expectations.
• Partner with government agencies, regulators, and local authorities in Nigeria to secure permits, approvals, and strong working relationships.
• Identify and secure sites that meet Zipline’s technical, operational, and business requirements.
• Build and manage a high-performing network of Nigerian suppliers and contractors, ensuring cost-efficiency, quality, and reliability of site works.
• Manage in-country budgets, timelines, and resources, making tradeoffs that balance speed, cost, and long-term operational excellence.
• Help hire, develop, and lead a team of deployment project managers.
• Capture and implement lessons learned to continuously refine Zipline’s global deployment playbook.
• Provide clear, data-driven reporting on progress, risks, and performance to leadership.

What You'll Bring

• 8+ years of experience in construction, engineering, or program management, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success delivering large-scale, technically complex projects within Nigeria, from concept to completion.
• Strong experience working with Nigerian regulatory bodies, permitting processes, and local contractor ecosystems (highly preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop in-country project teams.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and make strategic tradeoffs under pressure.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills – able to represent Zipline effectively with partners, contractors, and government officials.
• A systems mindset, with the ability to build scalable processes adapted to local context.
• Grit, adaptability, and resilience to thrive in uncertain, constantly changing environments.
• Willingness and ability to accommodate more than 50% travel within Nigeria.

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About You and The Role

• Zipline’s long-range autonomous drone system is already delivering millions of medical products across Africa, and as we scale, we’re establishing new distribution centers – the backbone of our operation.
• Each launch is a complex, multi-stakeholder effort requiring rigorous project management, cross-functional coordination, and hands-on leadership at the country level.
• We’re looking for a Deployments Project Manager to own local planning and execution of these rollouts.
• You’ll lead everything from site acquisition and permitting to construction, vendor management, and operational handover, coordinating across internal and external stakeholders to deliver sites that meet Zipline’s technical, safety, and performance standards.
• This is a highly visible role for a resourceful, technically savvy project manager who is eager to shape Zipline’s growing footprint and deliver lasting impact.

What You’ll Do

• Lead local deployment planning and execution for new distribution centers, owning the project end-to-end from site selection through operational launch.
• Work with real estate vendors and local authorities to identify and secure sites that meet Zipline’s technical and business criteria.
• Partner with Procurement and Engineering to identify, qualify, and select contractors and vendors through rigorous evaluation processes.
• Oversee site preparation and buildout, including workforce mobilization, civil works, hardware installation, and operational readiness, ensuring all timelines and quality benchmarks are met.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Supply Chain and Logistics to ensure timely delivery of materials and equipment to the site.
• Own and manage the project budget, tracking expenditures, anticipating risks, and ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Track KPIs and report progress weekly to country and Africa leadership, highlighting successes, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute process improvements to Zipline’s global deployment playbook to accelerate future rollouts.

What You’ll Bring

• A background in construction project management, civil works, engineering, or operations program management.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects with significant technical and operational components.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute projects under tight timelines and budgets.
• Experience managing contractors, suppliers, and vendors, including technical evaluation and quality assurance.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders across different functions, levels, and geographies.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to report clearly and confidently to leadership.
• Grit, adaptability, and resilience to thrive in uncertain, constantly changing conditions.
• Must be eligible to work in-country and commit to travel and frequent field-based work.