Principal Counsel (Africa Legal)

Join Zipline, a leading logistics company, as the Principal Counsel for Africa Legal. In this senior leadership role, you will be responsible for leading and scaling legal and compliance operations across multiple countries in Africa. You will work closely with various teams, including operations, policy, government affairs, people, finance, and engineering. This is a hands-on role that offers the opportunity to shape the legal function with significant autonomy while benefiting from the support of a larger global legal team.

• Lead and scale legal and compliance operations across multiple countries in Africa, ensuring adherence to complex regulatory environments.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve Zipline’s legal and compliance programs, focusing on sustainable operations that support rapid growth.
• Act as a senior legal advisor to business leaders, providing pragmatic, risk-calibrated guidance on a wide range of legal and compliance matters.
• Willingness to travel up to ~25% to Africa and San Francisco headquarters
• The ability to break down complex legal and regulatory problems into clear priorities and practical solutions
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset and strong organizational skills
• Strong judgment and the confidence to make independent decisions, coupled with the discernment to escalate when appropriate
• Experience advising on legal and compliance matters, preferably in international or emerging-market environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to advise senior stakeholders
• A willingness to dive deep into unfamiliar issues and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-environments