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Development & Permitting Project Manager
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Zipline
Chicago, IL (In Person)
Full-Time
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Job Description
Back to jobs New Development & Permitting Project Manager Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston, Texas, USA; Miami, Florida, USA Apply 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 As a Development & Permitting Project Manager, you will be responsible for driving the expansion of our network - defining how autonomous aerial logistics integrates into the built environment at scale. You are the single-threaded owner of development outcomes from site identification through entitlements, permitting and approvals across multiple metros, often simultaneously and under real deadlines. We are looking for someone who takes ownership seriously - someone organized, highly detail-oriented, and consistent in follow-through. You are a self-starter who can operate independently, make decisions with incomplete information, and drive outcomes without constant direction. The work will be ambiguous at times; the expectation is that you bring structure and clarity to it. This role sits at the intersection of site acquisition, real estate development, land use, aviation, and regulatory strategy. You will work closely with government affairs and legal land use to unlock jurisdictions that have never approved infrastructure like ours before. The playbook is being written - and you will help create it. Success requires sound judgment, persistence, and the ability to move projects forward in environments that are ambiguous, slow-moving, or resistant. You will partner closely with engineering and operations to solve technical and site-specific challenges and ensure projects are executable - not just approvable. You should be comfortable going deep on drawings, constraints, and tradeoffs while still maintaining forward momentum. This is an in-person position based out of our regional office in metro. Candidates must be local to the area and bring existing, credible relationships with AHJs and permitting authorities. This is not a role where you build your network from scratch.
What You'll Do Real Estate Search & Site Development:
Support site selection, feasibility, and risk assessment end-to-end, ensuring alignment with zoning, land use, and aviation constraints. Identify risks early and drive mitigation plans across permitting, environmental, and infrastructure considerations before they impact timelines. Partner with engineering to translate site constraints into clear design requirements and ensure permit-ready drawings.Land Use Approvals & City Permitting:
Build and maintain strong working relationships with planners, zoning officials, and building departments to move projects forward efficiently. Lead permitting efforts across multiple metros, including navigating novel regulatory pathways for drone operations. Partner with government affairs to navigate and, where necessary, help shape regulatory approaches. Represent Zipline in public forums (Planning & Zoning, City Council), communicating clearly and effectively to secure approvals. Ensure all submittals are complete, accurate, and aligned with jurisdictional requirements - high attention to detail is critical. Actively manage permitting timelines by engaging directly with departments, resolving issues, and escalating when appropriate.Pre-Construction:
Support the building permit process from submission through approval, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Work with external consultants to produce high-quality, compliant drawings and documentation. Support contractor engagement and scope definition to ensure a smooth transition to the construction team.Cross-Functional Coordination:
Collaborate with site acquisition, engineering, regulatory, legal land use and operations teams to ensure alignment across development and execution. Surface risks early and propose practical solutions to keep projects moving. Provide clear input on permitting and policy considerations during site selection and deal review. What You'll Bring Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Others), Real Estate, Development, or Construction Management. 5+ years of experience in Real Estate Development, Permitting, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, and/or Public-Private Project Development, with a track record of delivering projects from concept through approvals.Bonus:
Professional Engineering (Civil) License in the State of Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia or California and ability to stamp drawings. Strong understanding of zoning laws, building codes, and regulatory processes, with the ability to navigate them independently. Proven experience managing entitlements, permitting, and development projects in coordination with real estate and construction teams. Proficiency in tools such as Smartsheet and Bluebeam (Revit / AutoCAD a plus), with the ability to review and interpret drawings. Ability to work effectively with government officials, permitting agencies, and community stakeholders to secure approvals.Bonus:
Experience in aviation, logistics, or other highly regulated infrastructure environments. Strong communication skills, including experience presenting in public meetings or similar forums. Established local relationships with AHJs and permitting authorities that can be leveraged immediately. Willingness to travel up to 50% across the state to support expansion efforts. Must be eligible to work in the US. What Else You Need to Know Zipline is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by state, federal or local law or our other policies. 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! Apply for this job- indicates a required field First Name
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