Program Manager

LEEP seeks multiple dynamic generalists with excellent communication skills, each of whom will be responsible for running several of LEEP’s programs, as we strengthen our model and scale to new locations.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: Rolling, until a suitable candidate is found 

Start date: April 1  or earlier

Hours: Full time

Location: Multiple time zones and locations

Salary: Competitive depending on location and experience

How to apply: Fill out this application form

Extra Information: You can find out more about the role by watching this video

About LEEP

LEEP is an impact-driven, evidence-based non-profit that aims to eliminate childhood lead poisoning, which affects an estimated one in three children worldwide. We primarily focus on one important source of exposure: lead paint. We generate data on the extent of the problem, support governments with the introduction and enforcement of regulation, and assist manufacturers in switching to lead-free paints. 

Since our founding in September 2020:

• We have launched lead paint elimination programs in 18 countries across three continents  

• We have received: government commitments of regulation implementation in 10 countries (e.g., in Angola); reports of paint manufacturers switching to lead-free (e.g., in Pakistan); and evidence of  lead paint levels on the market reducing because of our work (in Malawi) 

• Founders Pledge estimates that it costs $1.66 to prevent one child’s lead exposure (in expectation) through our work, making LEEP one of its most cost-effective nonprofit recommendations

• We are a partner of the WHO and UN Environment Programme's Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint

• We have received grants from major grantmaking organisations, including Founders Pledge, Open Philanthropy, and Schmidt Futures

• We have appeared in Time Magazine, The New Yorker, Nature, Prospect, Vox, and on the 80,000 Hours Podcast. Our co-founders were also named in Vox’s Future Perfect 50

Over the next three years, LEEP aims to expand its paint programs to approximately 50 high-priority countries, representing the vast majority of children globally who are exposed to new lead paint.

About the Role

LEEP is seeking dynamic generalists who will lead our programs across the globe. They will be responsible for the successful delivery of the steps of our paint programs, including: conducting paint studies to obtain country-specific data, supporting governments to implement lead paint regulations, and providing technical assistance to help paint manufacturers go lead-free. There will be Team Leader (management) opportunities opening up as our Program department grows, so we encourage experienced candidates to apply for these positions. 

We are looking for candidates who are high-agency, have strong interpersonal skills, and who share LEEP’s values. By running LEEP’s program work, with support from the team, in multiple focus countries, you will be able to make a huge difference, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. 

Responsibilities

• Working with governments on introducing and implementing lead paint regulation (30%)

• Engaging with policy-makers across multiple ministries and agencies, and staying in close communication

• Preparing advocacy communications and educational resources 

• Participating in government meetings and presenting at stakeholder workshops

• Project planning with government partners

• Conducting training and providing expert feedback  

• Industry assistance (30%)

• Engaging with all manufacturers in a focus country, both large companies and small- and medium-sized enterprises

• Presenting the case for lead paint phase-out and how LEEP can support 

• Working in collaboration with LEEP’s paint technologist to find solutions to manufacturers’ requirements

• Finding suppliers of non-lead based raw materials 

• Research and data collection (10%)

• Conducting paint studies: finding and purchasing paints, preparing samples, and sending them to the lab, in collaboration with government partners

• Preparing study reports and summarising existing literature

• Strategy and planning (10%)

• Designing a project plan to meet LEEP’s goals and considering stakeholders’ requirements 

• Troubleshooting any program blockers and identifying creative solutions 

• Sharing learnings with the LEEP team and constantly improving our programs 

• Recruitment, partnership building and management (5%)

• Recruiting local consultants and/or building partnerships with local organisations, and managing these relationships

• Engage in weekly all-hands calls, program team meetings and 1-1s with your manager (10%)

• Assist with a variety of other tasks across LEEP as and when required (5%). For example, some Program Managers:

• Design new content for our programs, such as videos and slide decks

• Improve internal program guidance and processes

• Help organise global webinars on lead paint 

What We’re Looking For

LEEP is seeking high-agency generalists to manage our paint programs in several countries. A successful applicant will possess some or most of the following:

• Passion for LEEP’s mission, and for doing good in the world at scale

• Strong interpersonal skills and adeptness at understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders and collaborating towards shared goals

• Excellent stakeholder management skills

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal

• Strong focus on and commitment to impact

• Comfort with educating and persuading a variety of stakeholders on material that may be new to them

• Ability and willingness to work across a broad range of tasks

• A strong ability to prioritise your tasks and recognise how they tie in with LEEP’s wider goals

• Enterprising, a quick learner, and creative problem-solver

• Comfort with risk and ambiguity, and working with a high level of self-direction

• Ability to remain focused and solution-oriented in a fast-paced environment

• Capable of working in a remote environment

• Willing to travel for 8 to 12 weeks per year

• Must be fluent in English and regionally required languages (see below) 

Other promising attributes:

• Fluency in other languages (to professional proficiency), in particular: French, Portuguese or Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi or Urdu

• Experience travelling or working in a variety of different countries

We are most interested in talent, not credentials. If you don’t fit some of the above criteria but think you are a good fit for this role, we’d love to see you apply.

Work Environment

Our culture is one of genuine care for each other and passion for our work and its impact. Though we are a remote team, we are supportive and close-knit. We hold a weekly team call where we have conversations about both non-work and work topics, we regularly share photos and celebrate milestones in our Slack, and we all meet annually for a team retreat.

Our team of ten people is based across three continents and speaks eight different languages. We have diverse expertise, from medicine to environmental health to international law.

Our work schedule is flexible. Some of the team work 9-5:30, some work four days per week, and some adjust their daily schedule around school pick-up. We value work-life balance and rarely contact the team members outside their work hours. 

LEEP offers: 

• A chance to have a large positive impact on the world, and improve hundreds of thousands of lives

• 33 days of paid leave

• Generous sick leave and parental leave policies

• 4% pension contribution or equivalent salary match

• Experience working at an early-stage, fast growing, high-impact and evidence-based nonprofit with the opportunity to travel

How to Apply

There are five positions we are hiring for. Please only apply for roles that fall within locations in which you have the right to live and work, as LEEP is unfortunately unable to sponsor visas. For all positions, you must have professional proficiency level English. The potential focus countries listed below are for 2024; it’s possible your areas of focus may change or grow in future years.

• Program Manager 1: French speaker based in UTC to UTC+3 time zone. Focus countries may include: Madagascar, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal. 

• Program Manager 2: Hindi speaker based in India. 

• Program Manager 3: English speaker based in UTC to UTC+6. Focus countries may include: Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. 

• Program Manager 4: Indonesian or Vietnamese speaker based in UTC+7 to UTC+12. Focus countries may include: Indonesia, Vietnam and others. 

• Program Manager 5: Spanish speaker in UTC-6 to UTC-3. Focus countries may include: Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil (Portuguese-speaking is a bonus). 

Please click here to apply . You will need a gmail account to complete the application form.

Later stages of the application process will consist of a variety of interviews, work tasks and assessments. If you have any questions about the position or the application process, please reach out at [email protected]. 

LEEP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, colour, gender, national origin, ethnicity, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other protected characteristic.