Africa Senior Legal Counsel

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

27d

About The Position

Zipline is seeking a senior, strategic, and highly adaptable lawyer to lead and scale legal and compliance efforts across Africa. This role sits at the intersection of compliance execution, regulatory strategy, and public-sector partnership, and will play a critical role in enabling Zipline’s growth in complex regulatory environments. You will be a key member of Zipline’s lean, high-impact Legal Team, responsible not only for operating and evolving Zipline’s global compliance programs in Africa—including hands-on administration of U.S. government awards. This is a hands-on leadership role. One day you may be advising on a nuanced Nigerian employment or healthcare regulatory issue; the next, leading engagement with a U.S. federal contracting officer, supporting negotiations with an African ministry of health, or helping the business navigate export controls, sanctions, or anti-corruption risks. You will work cross-functionally with Operations, Policy, Government Affairs, People, Finance, and Engineering, and will report directly to Zipline’s Deputy General Counsel.

Requirements

A willingness to dive deep into unfamiliar issues and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-environments
Strong judgment and the confidence to make independent decisions, coupled with the discernment to escalate when appropriate
Experience advising on or engaging with government entities, regulators, or public-sector stakeholders, ideally in international or emerging-market contexts
The ability to break down complex legal and regulatory problems into clear priorities and practical solutions
Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to advise senior stakeholders
A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and strong organizational skills
Willingness to travel up to ~25% to Africa, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
JD required
Member in good standing of at least one U.S. state or international bar
At least 7–10 years of relevant legal experience, including experience at a reputable law firm and/or in-house (international, compliance, government contracting, or regulated-industry experience strongly preferred)

Responsibilities

Design, implement, scale, and continuously improve Zipline’s legal and compliance programs across Africa, with a focus on sustainable, practical operations that support rapid growth
Own compliance with U.S. government award requirements, including FARs and 2 CFR 200, and serve as a primary point of contact for U.S. government contracting officers (including at the U.S. Department of State)
Lead day-to-day compliance workstreams covering sanctions, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, privacy, healthcare, employment, and product-related regulations
Support internal investigations, audits, and risk assessments, partnering closely with People, Finance, and senior leadership
Manage litigation and disputes across Zipline’s African market
Translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for business and technical teams
Partner with internal public affairs, policy, and operations teams to align legal, compliance, and government relations strategies
Monitor and assess regulatory and policy developments across relevant African jurisdictions and advise leadership on emerging risks and opportunities
Help shape Zipline’s long-term legal and regulatory strategy in Africa, balancing compliance rigor with innovation and speed
Act as a senior legal advisor to business leaders, providing pragmatic, risk-calibrated guidance
Build strong relationships across the company and help foster a durable “culture of compliance” where teams understand the rules of the road and feel empowered to raise issues early
Support commercial negotiation, contracting, and procurement processes