Global Head of Government Affairs

Zipline•South San Francisco, CA

6h•$250,000 - $300,000•Onsite

About The Position

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service, aiming to serve all humans equally by providing access to essential goods. The company operates the world's largest autonomous logistics system, making millions of deliveries globally. Zipline's customers include major healthcare systems, governments, retailers, and businesses who rely on their service to save lives, reduce emissions, and increase economic opportunity. The company has flown over 140 million autonomous miles, redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food. Zipline seeks practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth, motivated by building systems with a meaningful impact. As Zipline’s Global Head of Government Affairs, you will be instrumental in the company's global success by designing and executing the government affairs and public affairs strategy. Supported by a world-class team you will build and lead, this role will directly impact Zipline's business scaling in the United States, expanding its footprint in Africa, and launching new markets internationally. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this position covers public policy, government relations, and public affairs across all jurisdictional levels globally.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
15+ years of progressively senior experience, with prior responsibility for leading a global government affairs function or a substantial regional/global portfolio.
Demonstrated experience building and leading high-performing, rapidly growing teams, including hiring, developing, and scaling a global function in a fast-growing organization.
Experience successfully onboarding and managing external consultants and lobbyists globally.
Excitement for Zipline’s transformational technology and mission, and the ability to communicate our vision and value for communities with authenticity and conviction.
Persuasive communicator (verbal and written) who can simplify complex technology, shape public perception, and address common areas of concern with credibility.
Creative, first-principles thinker who can build strategy from scratch in an emerging regulatory space rather than relying on existing playbooks.
Fast-moving and nimble, able to react quickly to changing circumstances in a dynamic legislative and regulatory environment, and comfortable operating in high-stakes, time-sensitive situations.
Established relationships with policymakers, and the ability to build trusted new relationships quickly.
Experience leading or working closely with trade associations, coalitions, and industry allies to advance shared policy goals.
Ability to translate business goals into strategies that build trust, reduce friction, strengthen Zipline’s reputation, and support rapid growth across diverse communities and political environments.
Strong cross-functional leadership skills, with experience partnering collaboratively across an entire organization (including regulatory and legal teams).
Ability and willingness to travel globally to engage policymakers and build relationships in the communities we serve.

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience working on applicable or analogous technology policy issues (autonomy, robotics, drones, aviation, transportation, or related fields).

Responsibilities

Set our global government affairs and public affairs strategy, tuned to enable Zipline’s rapid growth in the U.S. and abroad.
Build and lead a growing team of world-class employees and highly-effective consultants and lobbyists.
Drive business-critical outcomes, ranging from landing legislation and regulations that open new international markets, to expanding U.S. regulations governing freedom to operate for commercial drones, to obtaining municipal land use entitlements and permits for Zipline’s ground operations.
Create and sustain enduring relationships with electeds and other policymakers at every jurisdictional level, cultivating champions who support Zipline’s mission and business.
Build grassroots, grasstops, and third-party advocacy networks, to demonstrate Zipline’s community benefits and support market launches and expansion.
Cultivate and mobilize trusted relationships within the communities we serve when the company faces opposition or controversy.
Collaborate shoulder-to-shoulder with Zipline's amazing Regulatory Affairs, Legal, and Communications teams to deliver our Government Affairs and Public Affairs strategy.
Brief and advise Zipline’s executive team and Board of Directors on global policy risks and opportunities.
Build and lead Zipline’s global government affairs and public affairs functions, at every jurisdictional level in the U.S. and abroad.
Hire, develop, and lead a growing team of world-class professionals and consultants.
Own the function’s budget and resourcing decisions.
Design, execute, and iterate comprehensive, global government affairs and public affairs strategies that enable Zipline to launch new markets on schedule and scale operations responsibly.
Develop and sustain strong, trusted relationships with electeds and other policymakers in every market Zipline serves and plans to serve.
Advocate for legislation, regulations, and ordinances that advance Zipline’s business, and lead engagement on rulemaking and policy proposals that affect drone delivery worldwide.
Provide critical support for obtaining local land use entitlements and permits for Zipline's infrastructure and operations globally.
Support and drive priorities for commercial drone delivery trade associations and other aligned industry groups.
Build grassroots, grasstops, coalitions and other third-party advocacy networks to mobilize when the company needs support or faces opposition.
Develop and maintain networks of community advocates, including business and civic leaders, former public officials, users and merchants, first responders, academics, faith leaders, healthcare organizations, environmental and road-safety groups, and workforce organizations.
Create programs that turn positive community experiences into testimonials, endorsements, data, and stories that demonstrate Zipline’s value and support public advocacy.
Work alongside Zipline's Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, who is responsible for aviation legal compliance and regulatory advocacy, and whose team serves as Zipline's subject matter experts in those areas.
Work closely with our Legal Team, which is responsible for regulatory interpretation and compliance and government investigations.
Collaborate with our Commercial, Customer Experience, Systems Engineering, Marketing, Operations, and Product teams, to drive our business forward.