Government Affairs Manager, Nigeria

The role

You will lead government engagement for Nigeria and coordinate public-sector pathways for market entry and growth. You will build relationships with national and subnational leaders to navigate policy, partnerships, and approvals.

What you will do

• Set Zipline’s government engagement strategy in Nigeria.
• Build durable relationships across ministries, agencies, legislatures, and community leaders.
• Coordinate cross-functional government pathways for market entry and expansion.
• Monitor non-aviation laws, regulations, budgets, and policy developments.
• Assess political and institutional risks affecting facilities, shipments, partners, or employees.
• Prepare stakeholder briefs, meeting objectives, and follow-up plans.
• Track engagement progress and maintain accurate records.
• Represent Zipline with high ethical standards in interactions with public officials.
• Partner with the Commercial Director to move state opportunities toward approval.
• Map state decision-makers, funding, procurement, and required approvals.

Required qualifications

• Substantial experience in government affairs, public policy, public-sector partnerships, or a closely related field in Nigeria.
• Strong, credible relationships and connections with senior government leaders and decision-makers in Nigeria.
• Practical understanding of Nigeria’s political and institutional landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Experience coordinating across functions to solve market-entry or policy challenges.
• Strong policy analysis, advocacy, writing, and briefing skills.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Ability to travel within Nigeria as business needs require.
• A bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, law, international relations, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience navigating state government approval, budget, procurement, and contract-signing processes.
• Ability to turn senior government access into well-prepared meetings and clear decisions.

Nice to have

• Fluency in Yoruba, Hausa, or Igbo

About the company

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. They operate an autonomous logistics system to deliver food, medicine, and essential goods.