Materials Program Manager, Zipline 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. Using 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 for billions of people. About You and The Role   Zipline’s first-generation, long-range autonomous drone system is already delivering millions of medical products across Africa––and the strength and agility of our supply chain is at the heart of our ability to scale this impact. As a Materials Program Manager , you will lead the planning and coordination of materials across Zipline’s supply chain, ensuring readiness from early development through volume production and sustainment. You’ll sit at the intersection of Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Global Supply Management, driving decisions and systems that ensure the right materials are in the right place at the right time. You’ll manage the entire material lifecycle—from new product introduction (NPI) to production ramp and retrofit campaigns—and build the processes that unlock speed, responsiveness, and reliability.  This is a high-impact, cross-functional role for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, builds from first principles, and is excited to make a tangible impact on millions of lives. What You'll Do   Materials Planning  Materials S&OP Process pulling in global demand for P1 components across new expansion, spares and retrofit campaigns. Collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations and Sales to identify and resolve material shortages. Establish planning frameworks that balance supply constraints with demand priorities to keep programs on schedule. Allocation Strategy Lead the cross-functional allocation process for high-demand or constrained materials. Provide aggregated views of supply vs. demand to guide allocation decisions across programs and regions. Coordinate closely with Supply/Demand Management, Operations, and Procurement teams to execute allocation strategies that deliver the highest impact. Executive Reporting & Decision Support Develop concise reporting for leadership on material status, risk, allocation decisions, and readiness KPIs. Use data and scenario analysis to inform operational and strategic decision-making across supply and production planning. Logistics & Trade Compliance Coordinate with logistics and sourcing teams to ensure materials flow efficiently across Zipline 3PL storage, suppliers, and Nest operations Globally Optimize movement for lowest cost freight, logistics and tariff implications New Product Introduction (NPI) Material Readiness Ensure material readiness for new product ramps by partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Global Sourcing teams. Identify supply risks early in development and guide mitigation plans to protect ramp timelines. Support engineering release cycles, risk buys, and supplier onboarding to ensure a smooth handoff to volume production. Excess & Obsolete (E&O) Management Monitor and manage E&O exposure across the material lifecycle—especially during transitions, ECNs, and phase-outs. Collaborate with Finance, Engineering, and Manufacturing to evaluate risk, drive mitigation actions, and close the loop on financial reserves and claims. What You'll Bring  5+ years of experience in supply chain, materials management, or operations in a fast-paced, high-complexity environment. Proven ability to manage supply constraints, allocation strategies, and cross-functional coordination. Experience supporting new product launches or transitions in hardware or manufacturing organizations. Strong analytical skills and familiarity with planning tools (ERP, Excel/Sheets, or similar systems). Comfort working across geographies, time zones, and cultures—especially in emerging markets. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Creative problem solver that can make design and development decisions with limited or imperfect data. Ability to thrive in ambiguity and build structure where it doesn’t yet exist. Strong sense of accountability and integrity, and are not afraid to challenge the status quo.  Self-motivated with strong learning, multi-tasking, organizational, and documentation skills. Passion for Zipline’s mission and a commitment to operational excellence at scale. Nice to Have: Demonstrable history of assuming ownership of complex (technical) problems, and driving them from inception to solution.  Experience leading projects with multi-disciplinary teams to solve technical problems in a fast-paced environment. Ability to analyze inventory, materials & supply chain data, and develop data analysis tools in languages like Python, SQL, MATLAB What Else You Need to Know    The starting cash range for this role is $125,000 - $155,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, working location, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role may also include: equity compensation; discretionary annual or performance bonuses; sales incentives; benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; and more.   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!