State and Local Government Affairs Manager

About Zipline

Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers.

The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Through our technology that includes robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.

Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain for billions of people.

About You And The Role

Zipline is building the future and, as State and Local Government Affairs Manager, you will ensure that our amazing technology delivers incredible outcomes for people and communities.

In this role, you will be an important public face of Zipline’s business and operations. From tracking engagements and policy proposals to leading local site visits, you will help maintain strong relationships with government officials across multiple metros and states. Your work will be critical to launching Zipline’s service in new communities as well as enabling the growth and scale to benefit as many members of those communities as possible.

Our ideal candidate for this role has a strong understanding of local government processes and politics, excellent communication and organization skills, and thrives in a fast-paced and evolving regulatory environment. If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply and become a part of our mission to build a logistics system that serves all humans equally.

This position may be remote or based in either our Dallas-Fort Worth or South San Francisco office. Note that this role includes a lot of traveling around the continental US - roughly about 50% of the time.

What You’ll Do

• Tactically engage local government officials in cities Zipline serves and plans to serve, relying on established relationships or quickly building new ones.
• Serve as an expert on key state and local issues related to operating an autonomous drone delivery network, including site infrastructure needed to scale; trust in our approach to safety, sound, and privacy; other common areas of public concern; and the value and impact our service can have for people and communities where we operate.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with team members, with an emphasis on land use, permitting, and other local approvals, to ensure operational consistency.
• Coordinate and lead site visits and other local events for government officials across multiple metros.
• Help develop processes to ensure company-wide operational continuity and ensure systems are routinely kept up to date.
• Monitor local and state policy proposals (ordinances, legislation, and rulemaking) and make recommendations for Zipline engagement, when appropriate.
• Execute a routine outreach plan to elected officials, track engagement, and act on follow-up inquiries as necessary.
• Assist with state-level government affairs projects as needed, including interacting with state legislative and executive branch officials.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 4+ years of experience working in government affairs at the state or local level, with an emphasis on the intersection of public policy, innovation, and new technology.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Confidence in presenting new and complex technology in a way that inspires your audience, shapes public perception, and addresses common areas of concern.
• Ability to build trust quickly because you are authentic, direct, and care about the communities where you work.
• Passion for new technology and the benefits it can provide to people and communities.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Enjoyment of working in high-stakes and time-sensitive situations, and enthusiasm for securing business-critical regulatory approvals alongside the business.
• Bonus points for relevant experience working on technology policy issues within state and local government (ideally autonomy, robotics, transportation, or related fields).

Key skills/competency

• Government Affairs
• Public Policy
• Regulatory Environment
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Local Approvals
• Community Relations
• Drone Technology
• Land Use Permitting
• Policy Monitoring
• Advocacy