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.

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

As the Construction & Development Manager, Houston Region, you will own and drive all aspects of real estate development to establish Zipline’s ground infrastructure in the region. This includes managing the entire process from site identification through permitting, approvals, and construction and key associated areas - subcontractor management, invoicing and site install quality. You’ll work closely with the broader Deployment and Construction team, Real Estate and Government Affairs teams 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

• Develop and lead pre-construction strategies to streamline entitlements and permits for our ground infrastructure.
• Manage construction projects, site infrastructure installments, construction contractors, and additional real estate development projects.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 4+ 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.
• Experience with public meetings, city council engagements and speaking engagements / Public relations.
• 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.
• Based in the Houston region, with the flexibility to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally to support expansion projects.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

What Else You Need to Know