Construction Manager, West Coast Region

About Zipline

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.

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. 

About the Role:

As the Regional Construction Manager you will own and drive all aspects of project construction to establish Zipline’s ground infrastructure in the region. This includes managing the entire process from contractor evaluation, contracting and bid evaluation, design review in partnership with our engineering teams, through to full scope site construction management and project competition  and oversight in partnership with our Service Operations and Superintendent teams. You’ll work closely with the broader Deployment and Construction team, Real Estate and Government Affairs teams, Finance, Legal, and Engineering to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and secure the necessary approvals to expand our network.

You will lead negotiations, manage external vendors, and ensure project timelines are met, all while maintaining alignment with Zipline’s strategic goals. Zipline’s Community Engagement and Legal teams will support you in fostering local partnerships and navigating jurisdictional processes to fast-track approvals.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Manage construction projects, site infrastructure installments, construction contractors, and additional real estate development projects ensuring schedule and cost targets are met or beaten.
• Develop and lead pre-construction strategies to streamline entitlements and permits for our ground infrastructure.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with City Managers, staff, and City Council members and inspectors to facilitate smooth approvals and permit completion from Planning and Zoning commissions and AHJ’s. 
• Collaborate closely with jurisdictions, land use counsel, and our Legal team to create pathways for drone delivery in evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Work with customer real estate teams to seamlessly integrate Zipline systems into both existing and newly designed infrastructure.
• Source and foster relationships with external stakeholders, including local jurisdictions, utilities, and contractors.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with pre-construction and construction phases.
• Engage with partners’ Real Estate and Government Affairs teams to ensure alignment on expectations and timelines.
• Source and manage general contractors and subcontractors across various trades (construction, assembly, electrical) during bid, pre-construction, construction and site commissioning project phases. 

 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Real Estate Development, Finance, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field 
• 6+  years of experience in real estate development or construction.
• Proven ability to manage entitlements and permits for infrastructure projects in collaboration with customers’ Real Estate and Construction teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to align internal stakeholders on project requirements and provide leadership with regular updates on challenges, risks, and opportunities.
• 4+ years of experience working with external design teams (Architectural, Structural, Civil, MEPs) on commercial real estate or construction projects.
• Familiarity with working alongside Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to navigate permitting and inspection processes.
• Familiarity with construction software such as Bluebeam, Procore, and similar tools.
• Ability to travel frequently 75%+ with a near term focus in West Coast Region, an travel to our head offices in California and other domestic states, and possible international travel to support expansion projects.
• 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!