U.S. Head of Real Estate & Development

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. Using 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. 

About the Role:

As the U.S. Head of Real Estate & Construction, you will own and drive all aspects of building out Zipline’s ground infrastructure across the U.S., managing a diverse portfolio of projects. This includes overseeing the entire process from site selection and design to permitting, construction, and installation. Your success will depend on your ability to streamline development, secure critical approvals, build strong relationships with commercial partners and the communities we serve, and replicate your success as we expand across the U.S.

In this leadership role, you will ensure Zipline’s testing and engineering teams have the infrastructure they need to operate efficiently. You’ll lead a high-performing team, oversee a portfolio of real estate projects, and collaborate closely with Government Affairs and Community Engagement to fast-track local approvals. Your insights and strategic direction will shape Zipline’s expansion as you drive multiple projects to successful completion.

This is an onsite position is based in South San Francisco, CA, and will require up to 40% travel across the U.S. and internationally.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead Zipline’s U.S. real estate and construction portfolio, from site selection to construction.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team to scale construction and deployments efficiently.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to optimize the construction of our infrastructure for seamless operations.
• Develop and execute strategies to fast-track entitlements and permitting.
• Establish and maintain relationships with city officials to secure project approvals.
• Work with jurisdictions, legal teams, and land use counsel to navigate and shape regulatory frameworks.
• Represent Zipline at public meetings to advocate for infrastructure projects.
• Partner with customers to integrate Zipline systems into their infrastructure.
• Manage external stakeholders, including utilities, contractors, and brokerage teams.
• Identify and mitigate risks across the real estate portfolio.
• Spearhead future expansions into new metros and establish best practices for engaging with local leaders.
• Provide leadership with regular updates on portfolio performance, risks, and opportunities.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Real Estate Development, Finance, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience with real estate or infrastructure development, including 3+ years in a leadership role managing large-scale portfolios.
• Demonstrated success in overseeing commercial real estate and/or construction projects with external design teams (Architectural, Structural, Civil, MEPs).
• 4+ years of experience navigating permitting and inspections with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to align stakeholders, manage priorities across a diverse portfolio, and represent Zipline in high-stakes public forums and negotiations.
• Proven ability to provide executive-level updates on permitting challenges, risks, and portfolio performance.
• Expertise in collaborating with customers’ Real Estate and Construction teams to drive successful infrastructure deployment.
• Exceptional portfolio management skills to lead multiple projects while maintaining strategic focus.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally to support expansion initiatives.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

What Else You Need To Know

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.

We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!

If you’d like to learn more about Zipline and our teams, feel free to check out our Instagram, one of our Reddit AMA’s, or our website!