Strategic Projects Manager

Zipline; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline is seeking a seasoned program leader to own and execute community engagement and market-launch initiatives. You will plan open houses, demos, and local activations, coordinating vendors, venues, registrations, and run-of-show to ensure successful launches.

You will develop clear stakeholder communications and briefing materials, working with Community Engagement Managers and multiple internal teams to align on objectives and deliverables, while traveling as needed to support external

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in project management, events, or external affairs.
• Strong written and verbal communication with sound judgment on public-facing materials.
• Experience producing events, newsletters, campaigns, launches, or community programs.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end project management for community engagement and market-launch programs.
• Plan and execute community open houses, demos, and local activations with vendors and venues.
• Create stakeholder communications, newsletters, FAQs, talking points, and briefing materials.
• Coordinate with Community Engagement Managers and cross-functional teams to support readiness.
• Track attendance, engagement, follow-ups, and learnings to improve future plans.
• Travel 20–40% and support external programs during evenings or weekends as needed.

Skills

Project management

Event planning

Stakeholder communication

Cross-functional coordination

Public affairs

Travel readiness

Job description

• Zipline builds, manufactures, and operates autonomous delivery systems that help communities access what they need
• As we enter new markets, clear, accurate engagement with residents, partners, first responders, and local stakeholders is essential to launch readiness and lasting trust
• You will help build the systems, materials, processes, and programs that support Zipline’s external presence in the communities and markets where we operate or plan to launch
• You may own a community event one week, build a stakeholder newsletter the next, coordinate launch materials for a new market, manage follow-ups from a public demo, or help create a repeatable process for external engagement across multiple cities
• Own end-to-end project management for priority community engagement and market-launch programs, including objectives, workplans, owners, milestones, risks, and follow-through
• Plan and execute community open houses, public demonstrations, stakeholder briefings, tours, launch events, and local activations, including vendors, venues, registrations, run-of-show, materials, and onsite coordination
• Create clear stakeholder communications, newsletters, FAQs, talking points, briefing documents, and follow-up materials that explain Zipline’s robotics, autonomy, aviation, safety, and operating model
• Partner with Community Engagement Managers on local relationship needs while owning the program structure, materials, coordination, and follow-up required to support market readiness
• Coordinate with Communications, Marketing, Operations, Legal, Government Affairs, Safety, Customer, and local market teams to resolve decisions, dependencies, and external-facing risks
• Track attendance, engagement, follow-ups, completion, and stakeholder learnings; use findings to improve future launch plans, communications, and community programs

This is a highly cross-functional role for someone who is organized, proactive, and comfortable operating in ambiguityThe right person is a strong project manager, thoughtful communicator, and detail-oriented operator who can keep multiple workstreams moving without losing sight of the bigger pictureThis role is ideal for someone who enjoys working across teams, building structure from scratch, and helping external audiences experience Zipline in a clear, consistent, and compelling way5+ years of experience in project management, events, community engagement, public affairs, external affairs, operations, or a related functionStrong written and verbal communication skills, with sound judgment on sensitive topics, public-facing materials, and executive-facing projectsExperience producing events, stakeholder communications, newsletters, campaigns, launches, or community programs for public, partner, or customer audiencesHigh attention to detail, a consistent quality bar, and comfort working across teams with competing priorities and timelinesDemonstrated ability to manage multiple external-facing workstreams, stakeholders, deadlines, and deliverables from unclear starting points through completionAbility to move between program strategy and execution, from defining an approach to building trackers, drafting materials, coordinating details, and closing follow-upsAbility to travel 20–40% based on project and launch needs, with occasional evening or weekend onsite support for external programs