Nest Lead (Distribution Center Lead)

Job description

About You and The Role

  The Nest (Distribution Center) is the heart of Zipline’s operation.

As the Nest Lead (Distribution Center Lead), you will be responsible for driving end-to-end execution and operational excellence in Distribution Center Operations  while influencing cross-functional priorities and future growth.

You’ll own operational performance, impact optimization of Zipline’s unit economics, and ensure that the nest is a model of scalable, efficient, and high-quality service delivery across the continent.

You will be responsible for driving service utilization and supply integration that grows demand for your business unit.

This is a high-impact role for a strong people leader and systems thinker who thrives in complex environments and is passionate about building teams, processes, and infrastructure for long-term success.

What You'll Do Team Leadership & Development Be the single point of accountability for cross-functional collaboration within your operations team.

Lead, coach, inspire and drive a performance culture across a diverse team of facilities, fulfillment, flight and call center operations (where applicable), through clear goal setting  and real-time feedback.

Nurture leaders across the nest through structured training, coaching, and performance management.

Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members to maintain a high-performance, cross-functional team.

Oversee shift planning, staff scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure adequate coverage across all functional areas.

Proactively design and support strategies to retain high performers (recognition programs, growth plans) Nest Operational Strategy & Execution Translate national strategy into a roadmap for nest operations, aligned with company goals around customer success, reliability, cost and scale.

Lead multi-function operations in fulfillment, facilities, flight  and call center (where applicable) operations, ensuring alignment with global best practices, quality standards, safety requirements and customer feedback.

Forecast operational needs and build capacity (demand, people, systems, infrastructure, inventory) to meet demand growth and evolving customer requirements.

Risk identification & contingency planning: Develop risk matrices for nest operations and implement mitigation strategies .

Operational Performance & Optimization Monitor operational KPIs in real time, responding swiftly to deviations and bottlenecks.

Own and continuously improve key nest metrics: leverage data to identify performance trends, surface inefficiencies, and implement corrective and preventative actions.

Drive operational rigor and compliance through SOP adherence, standard work, and process control while adapting systems to local realities.

Pilot and implement new systems, tools, or workflows that drive scalability at nests.

Maintain high operational availability of the physical site and equipment by overseeing basic facilities management, including cleanliness, power systems, water supply, workspaces, and safety infrastructure.

Implement strategies to optimize space utilization, reduce waste, and improve storage efficiency.

Continuous improvement culture: Empower frontline teams to birth innovative ideas and improvement across nest systems, processes targeted towards customer satisfaction.

Financial ownership - COGs and OPEX Take ownership of nest-level Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and Operating Expenses (OPEX).

Make informed, data-backed decisions around spending in collaboration with procurement, facilities, and inventory management teams.

Identify cost-saving opportunities across processes, procurement, utilities, and logistics while protecting operational performance.

Lead cost control initiatives to contribute to a sustainable, healthy nest  P&L and global efficiency efforts.

  Cross-functional Partnership & Change Leadership Collaborate closely with Customer Experience, Engineering, Product, Safety, and Quality teams to enable end-to-end operational efficiency.

Play a key role in scaling new initiatives (e.g., new use cases, automation pilots, expansion projects) and driving operational readiness.

Serve as a key contributor to country-wide business reviews and operational planning cycles.

Change Management Execution: Train and coach teams through operational or technology changes with clear communication and performance tracking.

Partnership Coordination & Customer Success Develop & implement strategy for driving supply & demand generation and improving service utilization within your business unit’s terrain.

Build & manage strategic relationships with regional & district health authorities, community leaders, and media; coordinating campaigns and community events; and providing insights through stakeholder reporting to strengthen Zipline’s brand and operational success.

What Success Looks Like The Nest operates with customer obsession, reliability, and autonomy, and proactive problem solving.

Shift teams operate with clarity, consistency, and ownership.

The entire team is empowered and accountable: operators take initiative, solve problems at the frontline, and contribute actively to continuous improvement.

Resources are optimized for maximum output.

What You'll Bring  Proven operational leader with a track record of transforming complex, fast-paced businesses into high-performing, customer-obsessed operations.

You thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, bringing both vision and hands-on discipline to every challenge.

Seasoned People Leader: You have led large, diverse teams through change, inspiring accountability and developing future leaders.

Coaching, mentoring, and building talent pipelines are second nature to you.

Operational Architect: You excel at designing and scaling multi-function operations; optimizing processes, systems, and resources to deliver exceptional reliability, cost efficiency, and growth.

Data-Driven Strategist: You use analytics and real-time KPIs to guide decisions, spot trends early, and drive continuous improvement across complex operations.

Change Champion: You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, implementing new technologies, and leading organizations through transformation with clear communication and measurable results.

Stakeholder Connector: Skilled at navigating large forums, engaging with government partners, and leading on the operations floor, you build strategic trust and enable alignment across cross-functional teams and key external stakeholders.

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.

Required Skill Profession

Material Recording, Scheduling, Dispatching, And Distributing Workers