State and Local Government Affairs Manager

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products. 

Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

Zipline is building the future and, as State & 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. 

• 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

• 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)

The starting cash range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000. Please note that this is a target starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash payment for this role will depend on various factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may include equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.