Legal Counsel, Africa
ABOUT ZIPLINE
Do you want to change the world? Zipline is on a mission to transform the way goods move. Our aim is to solve the world’s most urgent and complex access challenges by building, manufacturing and operating the first instant delivery and logistics system that serves all humans equally, wherever they are. From powering Rwanda’s national blood delivery network and Ghana’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution, to providing on-demand home delivery for Walmart, to enabling healthcare providers to bring care directly to U.S. homes, we are transforming the way things move for businesses, governments and consumers.
The technology is complex but the idea is simple: a teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it. Through our technology that includes robotics and autonomy, we are decarbonizing delivery, decreasing road congestion, and reducing fossil fuel consumption and air pollution, while providing equitable access to billions of people and building a more resilient global supply chain.
Join Zipline and help us to make good on our promise to build an equitable and more resilient global supply chain.
ABOUT YOU AND THE ROLE
Zipline is searching for a well-rounded and pragmatic lawyer to play a key role on the Zipline Legal & Compliance Team, supporting global risk management, regulatory and legal compliance, and legal operations in Africa. You will take leadership over the management of Zipline’s legal function in the countries in Africa where Zipline currently operates (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda) and where it expands on the continent. You will work under the direct supervision of Zipline’s General Counsel and work extremely closely with Zipline’s Deputy General Counsel, Compliance & Investigations.
With operations in five countries in East and West Africa, Zipline has over 500 full-time African employees who collectively ensure that we operate safely, compliantly, and at scale. This role will serve as the first port of call for those employees’ legal questions, especially supporting Zipline’s Country General Managers, Finance, People, Logistics, and Operations functions. You will develop close connections with Zipline’s Africa teams and our local external legal advisors to provide comprehensive legal issue spotting and on-the-ground support for high-risk and sensitive legal matters. You will also work closely with Zipline’s global Aviation, Legal, and Policy Team to develop, execute, and communicate compliance policies and procedures on a country-by-country basis.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Scale Zipline’s global compliance programs and processes to comply with US and African legal regimes, including employment and labor laws, anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and healthcare and privacy laws
- Direct company secretarial and corporate governance activities for Zipline’s African subsidiaries
- Manage and oversee Zipline’s external legal advisors in all African jurisdictions Zipline operates in
- Travel to and advise a variety of Zipline’s business verticals and operations across Africa on legal matters, including land use, healthcare, data privacy and protection, and other regulatory regimes
- Develop systems and processes to regularly update and share critical information with Zipline’s broader Legal & Compliance function
- Wake up every day asking yourself what you can do to improve Zipline’s “culture of compliance” and to empower our lines of business to understand the rules of the road, operate ethically, and embody a strong “first line of defense” to spot problems
- Partner with Zipline’s People Team to build engaging, practical, and clear legal and compliance training programs for team members throughout Africa
- Manage Zipline’s response to disputes, if/as needed, and represent Zipline before government regulators
- Pinch hit for members of the Legal team, helping to creatively and efficiently address novel questions that come up each day across our multinational business
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
- You are willing to get in the weeds and dive headfirst into whatever pressing issue or challenge is facing the business, regardless of familiarity or interest
- You are adept at breaking complex, fuzzy, or sprawling legal questions into discrete components and distinguishing between high- and low-priority issues
- You thrive translating legal rules and regulations into clear, practical, and actionable processes that business teams can understand and implement
- You communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) and build strong relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders
- You have the confidence to make independent judgment calls with conviction–and the instincts to recognize when issues require escalation or input from others
- You enjoy working with and learning from colleagues across a wide range of cultures, legal regimes, and professional backgrounds
- You are organized and efficient with an ability to work independently, prioritize and follow through in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
- You believe deeply that access matters and that we can and will provide access to essential medical supplies for every person on the planet
What Else You Need to Know
- Legal professional degree (e.g., JD in the U.S.; BL qualifying certificate in Nigeria; etc.)
- Member in good standing of at least one state or national bar (or similar professional association)
- Relevant legal experience (at a law firm and/or in-house)
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.
We value diversity at Zipline and welcome applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. If you like the sound of this position but are not sure if you are the perfect fit, please apply!