Aviation Regulatory Affairs, Africa (French-speaking) at Zipline

What You'll Do

• Lead airspace integration and related regulatory approval processes in new markets across Africa.
• Address any regulatory challenges to rapidly scaling in Zipline’s existing markets.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with aviation regulators.
• Ensure Zipline’s local teams understand relevant regulatory requirements and are empowered to meet them.

Within 3 months you will:

• Achieve one or more key aviation regulatory goals that enables Zipline to serve a new geography in Africa.
• Be the first point of contact for teammates and regulators on all aviation regulatory requirements applicable to Zipline’s current and future delivery operations.
• Communicate directly with multiple civil aviation authority offices and teams regarding Zipline’s commercial operations.

Within 6 months you will:

• Develop strategy and prioritize relevant African markets for regulatory efforts, working closely with Zipline’s regulatory and legal teams.
• Be building and implementing the regulatory compliance framework to support Zipline’s commercial UAS operations at scale in a new country.

What You'll Bring

• Prior experience working directly with foreign civil aviation authorities, including senior-level management and technical staff, and owning strong partnerships with aviation bodies and other regulators (e.g. defense agencies, ministries of transportation)
• Strong language skills (fluent in English and French required)
• A resourceful, self-starter approach focused on delivering great outcomes and turning a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’ .
• A quick grasp of complex technical concepts and regulatory issues and their implications on Zipline’s business.
• Analytical rigor and breakthrough creativity to be “first of a kind” through challenging regulatory processes.
• Willingness to get nerdy and dive headfirst into Zipline’s UAS technology and operations.
• Strong communication skills; a proven ability to work collaboratively with external and internal stakeholders.
• Grit, aptitude, and resilience to thrive in novel, uncertain and constantly-changing business and regulatory environments.
• Judgment to act decisively when armed to do so and conviction to otherwise ask for help from your team and/or mobilize internal resources to achieve goals.
• Willingness to travel internationally on a frequent basis.