Program Manager (Industry)

LEEP seeks a delivery-focused strategist with outstanding relationship-building and communication skills to spearhead our engagement with paint manufacturers worldwide. In this role, you will design and execute LEEP's system to drive transformative change in the global paint manufacturing industry.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: 5 January 2025

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full time

Location: Remote. If based in London, the ability to co-work from our office three days per week is required. We are currently unable to sponsor visas, but may be able to in the future.

Time Zone: Candidates must be located between UTC and UTC +6, with a preference for those between UTC and UTC +3. Candidates outside this preferred range must be flexible with their work hours so they can engage manufacturers globally

Language Requirements: Full professional proficiency in English

Salary: Competitive depending on location and experience

How to apply: Fill out this application form

Contact: hiring@leadelimination.org

About LEEP

LEEP is an impact-driven, evidence-based nonprofit 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. Our paint programs involve generating data, supporting governments with the introduction and enforcement of regulation, and assisting manufacturers in switching to lead-free paints. Beyond our paint programs, we are piloting interventions to address other sources of lead exposure, such as spices and cosmetics.

Since our founding in September 2020:

• We have initiated lead paint elimination programs in 31 countries and completed paint studies in 18.
• We have agreed on goals to establish lead paint regulation with government agencies in 16 countries (e.g., in Angola).
• We have received reports in 10 countries of manufacturers representing more than 50% of the lead paint market share (in that country) reformulating to lead-free (e.g., in Pakistan).
• We have conducted a repeat paint study which showed more than a 50% reduction in lead paint market share since our initial study in Malawi.
• We have conducted lead in spices studies in Ethiopia and Türkiye.
• 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. Our own analysis estimates that it costs under $5 to avert one DALYequivalent through LEEP’s first 13 established programs.
• We are a partner of the WHO and UN Environment Programme's Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, and a member of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, launched by USAID and UNICEF.
• We have received grants from major grantmaking organisations, including USAID, Founders Pledge, Open Philanthropy, and Schmidt Futures.
• We have appeared in Nature, Vox, Time Magazine, The New Yorker, Prospect, on the 80,000 Hours Podcast, at the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future launch on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, and our co-founders were named in Vox’s Future Perfect 50.

About the Role

LEEP is seeking a strategic and results-oriented professional with exceptional relationship-building and communication skills to lead our paint industry engagement efforts globally. As the Program Manager (Industry), you will play a critical role in designing and implementing systems to help our team effectively target, engage, and track manufacturers as we support them in the shift to lead-free paint. You will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, demonstrating how to achieve ambitious goals while supporting others to do the same.

We are looking for candidates with strong analytical and interpersonal skills, proven experience in relationship management, a tenacious and goal-oriented mindset, and a deep commitment to LEEP’s values. By supporting LEEP’s industry work you will be able to play a pivotal role in eliminating lead exposure globally, working directly with manufacturers to create safer products, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Responsibilities

• Build and refine systems and strategies to effectively target, engage, and track manufacturers for lead paint reformulation (40%)
  • Conduct market analysis to identify and help prioritise reformulation efforts
  • Manage a growing pipeline of manufacturers across LEEP’s program countries
  • Help establish and optimise a CRM system to streamline communication, track engagement, and ensure effective follow-up actions
  • Develop high-quality tailored messaging and communications to support reformulation efforts including emails, social media, one pagers, pitch decks, videos, FAQs, and call scripts
  • Partner with industry associations and stakeholders to create alignment, share best practices, and accelerate progress toward reformulation
• Deploy systems and engage industry (40%)
  • Deploy the systems and strategies developed for manufacturer engagement, ensuring they are effectively used to drive progress toward reformulation
  • Build and maintain relationships with key manufacturers through regular outreach (calls, emails, social media), and in-person meetings in priority regions
  • Meet ambitious engagement and reformulation targets by working closely with manufacturers to resolve issues and with LEEP’s paint technologist to ensure best practice guidance is provided
  • Support Program Managers and other team members to use the systems effectively, leading by example and role-modeling best practices
• Support LEEP to drive continuous improvement in systems and strategies (20%)
  • Monitor and evaluate progress by analysing data, identifying trends, and refining strategies to ensure the effectiveness of manufacturer engagement efforts
  • Enhance LEEP’s manufacturer engagement playbook based on lessons learned, ensuring a consistently improving approach to tackling lead paint reformulation
  • Document outcomes and best practices to build a knowledge base that informs program improvements and supports team learning
  • Other: Engage in weekly all-hands calls, program team meetings and 1-1s with your manager, and assist with a variety of other tasks across LEEP as and when required, e.g., improve internal program guidance and processes

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a proactive, tenacious, high-agency professional who can take ownership of LEEP’s industry engagement work across multiple countries. This is an exciting opportunity for a sales, business development, or relationship management professional seeking to transition their skills into a mission-driven role. You might be a great fit if you:

• Are passionate about LEEP’s mission, and doing good in the world at scale
• Have at least two years of experience in sales, business development, account management, partnerships or a similar role involving relationship management and influencing stakeholders
• Thrive on building relationships, influencing decisions, and securing buy-in from diverse stakeholders, from small businesses to multinational companies
• Are an exceptional communicator, able to quickly build rapport with manufacturers over the phone, draft clear and engaging emails, and deliver presentations that inspire action
• Feel excited and comfortable working towards ambitious targets and KPIs
• Are a creative problem-solver who thrives on challenges and demonstrates grit in overcoming obstacles
• Can prioritise tasks effectively while keeping LEEP’s wider goals in mind
• Enjoy working in a fast-paced, remote environment with a high level of self-direction
• Have a positive and proactive mindset, ready to adapt to the needs of a fast-growing organisation and take initiative
• Have full professional proficiency in English
• Are willing to travel to many of LEEP’s program countries (e.g., Pakistan, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia, and Peru). We expect a minimum of 10 weeks of travel per year. We are open to candidates who wish to work from program countries for extended periods.

Other promising attributes:

• Having full professional proficiency in other languages, in particular: French, Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi or Urdu
• Experience in pipeline development and CRM systems
• Familiarity with lead generation, sales, outreach, or partnerships in complex industries like chemicals or pharma

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. We are a team that values collaboration, openness, and mutual support, which creates an environment where everyone can thrive while contributing to meaningful work. Though we are a remote team, we are supportive and close-knit. We stay connected through weekly team calls and 1:1 calls, where we have conversations about both non-work and work topics; we regularly share photos and celebrate milestones and successes in our Slack; and we come together annually for an in-person retreat to strengthen relationships and reflect on our mission.

Our team of 18 people is based across five continents and speaks over 10 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, 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

How to Apply

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 email hiring@leadelimination.org.

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.