diff --git a/.buildkite/commands/load-pods.sh b/.buildkite/commands/load-pods.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c6ac9d6adc02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.buildkite/commands/load-pods.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/bash -eu
+
+echo "--- :rubygems: Set up Gems"
+install_gems
+
+echo "--- :cocoapods: Set up Pods and cache them if needed"
+install_cocoapods
diff --git a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
index 5953dbf28c42..bb444b68b732 100644
--- a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,15 @@ common_params:
 # This is the default pipeline – it will build and test the app
 steps:
 
+  # Make sure there is a cached version of the pods avaialble before testing
+  # the app or deploying installable builds to avoid parallel steps wasting
+  # time building the same `Podfile.lock` from scratch.
+  - label: ':cocoapods: Pre-load Pods'
+    key: pods
+    command: .buildkite/commands/load-pods.sh
+    env: *common_env
+    plugins: *common_plugins
+
   #################
   # Create Installable Builds for WP and JP
   #################
@@ -20,6 +29,7 @@ steps:
     steps:
       - label: "🛠 WordPress Installable Build"
         command: ".buildkite/commands/installable-build-wordpress.sh"
+        depends_on: "pods"
         env: *common_env
         plugins: *common_plugins
         if: "build.pull_request.id != null || build.pull_request.draft"
@@ -29,6 +39,7 @@ steps:
 
       - label: "🛠 Jetpack Installable Build"
         command: ".buildkite/commands/installable-build-jetpack.sh"
+        depends_on: "pods"
         env: *common_env
         plugins: *common_plugins
         if: "build.pull_request.id != null || build.pull_request.draft"
@@ -42,6 +53,7 @@ steps:
   - label: "🛠 Build for Testing"
     key: "build"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/build-for-testing.sh"
+    depends_on: "pods"
     env: *common_env
     plugins: *common_plugins
     notify:
diff --git a/.buildkite/release-builds.yml b/.buildkite/release-builds.yml
index 935514191e35..33b9e8ed4a0a 100644
--- a/.buildkite/release-builds.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/release-builds.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,18 @@ common_params:
 
 steps:
 
+  # Make sure there is a cached version of the pods avaialble before testing
+  # the app or deploying installable builds to avoid parallel steps wasting
+  # time building the same `Podfile.lock` from scratch.
+  - label: ':cocoapods: Pre-load Pods'
+    key: pods
+    command: .buildkite/commands/load-pods.sh
+    env: *common_env
+    plugins: *common_plugins
+
   - label: ":wordpress: :testflight: WordPress Release Build (App Store Connect)"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/release-build-wordpress.sh $BETA_RELEASE"
+    depends_on: "pods"
     env: *common_env
     plugins: *common_plugins
     notify:
@@ -23,6 +33,7 @@ steps:
 
   - label: ":wordpress: :appcenter: WordPress Release Build (App Center)"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/release-build-wordpress-internal.sh"
+    depends_on: "pods"
     env: *common_env
     plugins: *common_plugins
     notify:
@@ -30,6 +41,7 @@ steps:
 
   - label: ":jetpack: :testflight: Jetpack Release Build (App Store Connect)"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/release-build-jetpack.sh"
+    depends_on: "pods"
     env: *common_env
     plugins: *common_plugins
     notify: