Government Affairs Manager – Nigeria

About the role

Lead Zipline’s government engagement in Nigeria, building trusted relationships with federal, state and local leaders to enable market entry and growth of the autonomous drone delivery network.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the government engagement strategy, mapping stakeholders across ministries, agencies, legislatures and community leaders.
• Coordinate cross‑functional pathways for market entry, clarifying agency dependencies, internal owners and next steps.
• Monitor non‑aviation laws, regulations, budgets and policy developments; develop evidence‑based positions and engage responsible officials.
• Assess political and institutional risks, coordinating with Security and Operations to protect facilities, shipments and service continuity.
• Prepare stakeholder briefs, meeting objectives, talking points and follow‑up plans that give leaders clear options and commitments.
• Track engagement progress through pathway readiness, stakeholder coverage and advocacy outcomes, maintaining accurate records.
• Represent Zipline with sound judgment, communicating goals accurately and upholding high ethical standards with public officials and community stakeholders.
• Partner with the Commercial Director to move priority state opportunities toward approval and signature, mapping decision‑makers, funding routes and required approvals.
• Support the Country Director in maintaining relationships with key sponsors and decision‑makers, preparing senior‑level updates.

Required profile

• Substantial experience in government affairs, public policy or public‑sector partnerships in Nigeria, with a proven record of navigating complex institutions.
• Strong, credible relationships with senior government leaders at federal, state and local levels.
• Practical understanding of Nigeria’s political and institutional landscape and how it influences policy and implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies and adapt to changing leadership or priorities.
• Excellent relationship‑building, negotiation and communication skills, especially in politically sensitive situations.
• Fluency in English; fluency in Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo is an advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, law, international relations, communications or equivalent experience.

Required skills

• Policy analysis and advocacy, with strong writing and briefing abilities.
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning.
• Risk assessment of political and institutional factors.
• Coordination across commercial, legal, finance and operations functions.