Precision Delivery Launch Lead

Job Summary

The Precision Delivery Launch Lead owns end-to-end delivery of the Kigali network deployment, builds cross-functional project roadmaps, and chairs go/no-go operational governance forums. This lead enforces performance metrics during 30/90-day stabilization windows, coordinates civil aviation permitting pipelines with government agencies, validates on-site contractor commissioning, and packages lessons learned into scalable deployment playbooks for future regional expansion.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. End-to-End Launch Architecture & Governance

• Roadmap Ownership: Define, implement, and track the integrated launch roadmap across site readiness (infrastructure, power, communications), staffing, site commissioning, and commercial activation.
• Governance Chairs: Establish and run the launch operating cadence, steering readiness reviews, maintaining decision logs, auditing risk maps, and chairing formal go/no-go forums.
• Stabilization Metrics: Set and strictly enforce measurable initial thresholds, monitoring milestone adherence, initial sortie success rates, and operational availability targets during the initial 30/90-day windows.

2. Matrix Execution & Field Commissioning

• Cross-Functional Influence: Lead cross-functional execution without direct hierarchical authority, assigning clear owners, mapping technical dependencies, and holding internal teams and external vendors to commitments.
• Field Handover Validation: Coordinate live field execution, verifying practical site readiness, accepting formal asset handovers, and confirming end-to-end flight and ground operations function as designed.
• Transition to Steady-State: Define long-term operating responsibilities, service-level agreements (SLAs), training standards, and certification pipelines for the Operations department to assume steady-state ownership.

3. Stakeholder Management & Regulatory Compliance

• Aviation Permitting: Partner with Country Leadership, Legal, and Government Affairs to secure critical operational permits and demonstrate rigorous compliance with national aviation safety standards.
• Expectation Management: Manage high-stakes expectations across government agencies, commercial partners, and prominent healthcare networks through the active launch phase.
• Playbook Scalability: Document lessons learned throughout the initial network rollout, converting them into standard operating templates to shorten and de-risk subsequent regional launches across Africa.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Technical Profile & Experience

• Experience Baseline: Minimum of six (6) or more years of progressive experience leading complex operational programs, high-intensity launches, or large-scale infrastructure rollouts with direct ownership of multi-team outcomes.
• Field Deployment Expertise: Demonstrated track record managing technical field deployments involving Engineering, Operations, corporate partners, and regulatory bodies.
• Program Management Rigor: Deep expertise utilizing structured program management tools, including dependency mapping, risk mitigation matrices, and formalized go/no-go frameworks.
• Communication Command: Clear, direct verbal and written communication tools tailored to align executives, technical engineers, frontline operators, and government stakeholders.
• Emergent Market Adaptability: Proven judgment and ownership to operate effectively under high intensity and emergent field conditions, making timely decisions with incomplete data while maintaining uncompromising safety standards.
• Geographic Alignment: Willingness and physical ability to be permanently based in Kigali, work onsite for extended field activities, and travel frequently throughout Rwanda for site commissioning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Emerging Market Record: Prior experience directing infrastructure deployments or customer programs within African markets or comparable emerging economies.
• Industry Sector Exposure: Background operating within logistics networks, aviation-adjacent programs, autonomous robotics systems, permitting environments, or last-mile delivery operations.
• Safety Foundations: Foundational understanding of aviation safety management systems (SMS) or large-scale autonomous network scaling.

What Zipline Offers

• High-Stakes Innovation Leadership: Drive the deployment of Zipline’s next-generation Precision Delivery infrastructure, setting the standard for the future of logistics in Africa.
• First-Principles Culture: Work within an environment that tackles complex, real-world problems from first principles, embraces adversity, and values rapid, safe execution.
• Inclusive Technology Ecosystem: Advance your career within a diverse corporate framework that welcomes unique perspectives and supports traditionally underrepresented professionals in technology.

Skills Required:

• Computer / Software / It / Data