Construction and New Deployments Lead, Nigeria

About the role

Zipline operates the world’s largest autonomous drone delivery network, serving Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan, and the United States. In Nigeria, Zipline delivers medicine, food, and consumer goods using fixed-wing drones from a growing network of distribution centers. This senior leadership role, posted in May 2026, is responsible for overseeing all construction and deployment activities across Nigeria - from site acquisition and permitting through to contractor management and operational handover.

Responsibilities

• Own the full deployment lifecycle for new Zipline distribution centers across Nigeria, from site identification through to launch.
• Build and maintain a network of local suppliers, contractors, and regulatory contacts across multiple states.
• Secure government permits and regulatory approvals in partnership with Zipline’s legal and public affairs teams.
• Lead and develop a local project management team, hiring and mentoring deployment project managers.
• Coordinate with global Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Legal teams to align on timelines and budgets.
• Manage multi-state construction budgets and resource allocation.
• Deliver data-driven progress reports to Nigeria country leadership and global leadership.
• Identify process improvements and implement lessons learned across new site builds.

Requirements

• 8+ years in construction, engineering, or large-scale programme management.
• Minimum 3 years in a leadership role managing teams or multi-country project portfolios.
• Proven track record delivering technically complex infrastructure projects within Nigeria from concept to completion.
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian regulatory bodies and permitting processes.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and cross-functional communication skills.
• Ability to travel 50%+ of the time within Nigeria.
• BA/BSc/HND in engineering, construction management, or a closely related field.

Nice to have

• Experience with greenfield infrastructure builds in multiple Nigerian states.
• Background in logistics, supply chain, or drone/aviation operations.
• Experience working with international technology companies in Nigeria.

How to apply

Visit zipline.com/careers and search for the Nigeria Deployments Lead role. Apply directly through Zipline’s Greenhouse hiring portal. Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.