Planning & Development Specialist

Zipline International Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline, based in South San Francisco, seeks a seasoned Planning & Development Specialist to secure land use and zoning approvals for Zipline’s real estate footprint nationwide. You will lead external engagements, coordinate with Legal, Operations, Real Estate and Engineering, and navigate a dynamic regulatory landscape.

You’ll report to Zipline’s Deputy General Counsel and drive strategic relationships with municipalities, planning directors, and staff to enable rapid deployment of Zipline’s

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant land use and zoning experience.
• Experience with securing complex entitlements preferred.
• Proven ability to secure regulatory approvals under tight timelines.
• Excellent communication with planning staff, attorneys and management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategy for securing land use, zoning, entitlements and permitting approvals in markets across the U.S.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipalities and staff.
• Represent Zipline in public planning hearings, meetings and stakeholder events.
• Interpret, draft and analyze municipal ordinances affecting Zipline’s operations and site development.
• Collaborate with Operations, Real Estate and Engineering to align engagement with technical realities.

Skills

Land use & zoning

Stakeholder engagement

Written & verbal communication

Regulatory risk assessment

Independent judgment

Strategic planning

Cross-team collaboration

Education

AICP certification (preferred)

Job description

Planning & Development Specialist

South San Francisco, California, USA

About Zipline

Zipline is the world’s largest and most experienced drone delivery service. We are on a mission to serve all humans equally by ensuring access to food, medicine and essential goods anytime, anywhere. We design, build, and operate the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, delivering critical supplies quickly and reliably. Today, Zipline operates on four continents, makes a delivery somewhere in the world every 30 seconds, and has completed millions of deliveries to date, including blood, vaccines, medical supplies, food, and retail products.

Our customers include the world’s largest and most prominent healthcare systems, governments, retailers, restaurants and global businesses who rely on us to save lives, reduce emissions, increase economic opportunity, and provide delivery from point A to point B as fast as possible. The drone is only 15% of what we’ve built to enable seamless, reliable, global operations.

Our system strengthens supply chains, reduces congestion, and gives people time back. With more than 140 million commercial autonomous miles safely flown, Zipline is redefining access to healthcare, consumer products, and food across the globe.

We operate at a global scale and are looking for practical problem solvers who thrive on real-world challenges and rapid growth. Our team is motivated by building systems that have a direct, meaningful impact on people’s lives and by scaling the future of logistics. We are seeking people who sculpt from first principles, enjoy facing adversity, and can do the impossible at record breaking speeds.

About You and The Role

Zipline is entering a period of rapid expansion across the U.S., and we’re seeking a seasoned Planning and Development Specialist to guide our efforts in securing land use and zoning approvals for Zipline’s real estate footprint nationwide. This is not a standard, behind-the-scenes role focused on zoning interpretation and compliance. This is a highly-visible, external facing, strategic position that is central to the company's growth. It demands a confident, hands-on leader who can operate at the forefront of a dynamic, evolving regulatory landscape and drive the organization forward.

As part of our growing Legal team, you will partner closely with Zipline’s Operations, Real Estate, and Customer Success teams to enable the rapid and repeatable deployment of Zipline’s uncrewed aerial systems and related infrastructure across metropolitan regions.

This position reports to Zipline’s Deputy General Counsel and is based at our South San Francisco HQ.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute Zipline’s strategy for securing operationally critical land use, zoning, entitlements, and permitting approvals in markets across the U.S.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipalities – including planning directors, buildings commissioners, economic development corporations, and local staff.
• Represent Zipline in public settings – including at public planning commission and city council hearings, community meetings, and other key stakeholder meetings – regarding land use and zoning matters.
• Serve as a trusted partner within the Legal Team, interpreting, drafting, and analyzing municipal ordinances affecting Zipline’s operations and site development.
• Partner with Operations, Real Estate, and Engineering teams to ensure that jurisdictional engagement strategies align with technical and operational realities.

What You'll Bring

• A strong command of land use and zoning ordinances, with experience obtaining complex or first‑of‑their‑kind entitlements preferred.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience, ideally including a mix of the following experience: within state or local government, as part of a land use and zoning law firm or practice group, in a corporate environment, and/or as a consultant.
• Persuasive written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a variety of stakeholders – including planning directors and staff, city attorneys, economic development managers, and community groups – with diplomacy and credibility.
• Pragmatic, business‑oriented risk assessment skills, with the ability to make confident, independent judgment calls and to escalation when appropriate.
• A proven track record of delivering high‑stakes regulatory approvals under tight timelines, while maintaining composure and focus.
• A proactive, resourceful mindset with an eagerness to tackle novel challenges and shape scalable jurisdictional engagement strategies.
• Unwavering ethics, strong relationship‑building instincts, and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams.

What Else You Need To Know

• AICP certification preferred
• Must be eligible to work in the United States

Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws or our own sensibilities.