Application Guide
How to Apply for Chief Impact Officer
at Pure Earth
🏢 About Pure Earth
Pure Earth is a pioneering environmental health nonprofit that tackles toxic pollution in low- and middle-income countries, with a current focus on lead and mercury poisoning. Unlike many NGOs, Pure Earth combines on-the-ground cleanup projects with scientific research and policy advocacy, making it a unique place for someone who wants to translate evidence into tangible health impacts. Working here means joining a globally recognized authority on pollution and health, where your work directly contributes to saving lives and protecting communities.
About This Role
As Chief Impact Officer, you will be the strategic leader for Pure Earth's global impact agenda, defining the theory of change and program design across lead and mercury portfolios. You will oversee the Programs, Technical Support, and Innovation Lab departments, ensuring quality and accountability while partnering with the President and Board on resource allocation and donor strategy. This role is pivotal in positioning Pure Earth as the world's leading authority on lead exposure science and expanding its work to other priority pollutants.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve leading a strategy session with the Programs and Innovation Lab teams to refine the theory of change for a new mercury initiative, followed by a meeting with the President and Board to discuss a major donor proposal. Later, you might review MEL data to assess program effectiveness and provide feedback to technical staff, ensuring alignment with impact targets. The role blends high-level strategy, team leadership, and external representation, often requiring quick pivots between global health science and operational execution.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Pure Earth Is Looking For
- 10+ years of experience in environmental health, global health, or international development, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple departments or programs.
- Proven track record of translating scientific research into policy and programmatic impact, ideally in low- and middle-income country contexts.
- Deep expertise in toxic pollution issues, particularly lead and mercury, and familiarity with global health frameworks and donors.
- Strong people leadership skills, with experience managing diverse teams and fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and innovation.
📝 Tips for Applying to Pure Earth
Highlight your experience in designing and scaling environmental health programs in low- and middle-income countries, specifically mentioning lead or mercury projects if possible.
Demonstrate your ability to work with boards and senior executives by quantifying your impact on resource mobilization and donor strategy in previous roles.
Show familiarity with Pure Earth's unique model that integrates research, cleanup, and policy—reference their key reports or initiatives in your application.
Emphasize your experience with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems and how you've used data to refine programs and measure impact.
Tailor your resume to include keywords like 'theory of change,' 'impact strategy,' 'program quality,' and 'innovation lab' to align with the job description.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your vision for how Pure Earth can expand its impact beyond lead and mercury to other pollutants, and how you would lead that expansion.', "Specific examples of how you've translated research into policy changes or programmatic improvements at a global scale.", 'Your approach to leading cross-functional teams (Programs, Technical Support, Innovation Lab) and ensuring accountability to impact targets.', 'How you would partner with the President and Board to drive resource allocation and donor engagement, including any experience you have with high-stakes decision-making.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Pure Earth's latest annual report and impact stories to understand their current programs, geographic focus, and key achievements.
- → Familiarize yourself with the health effects of lead and mercury poisoning and the global policy landscape, including WHO and UNEP initiatives.
- → Research Pure Earth's major donors and partners (e.g., USAID, Global Alliance on Health and Pollution) to understand funding dynamics and strategic relationships.
- → Explore the backgrounds of the President, Board members, and senior leadership to understand their priorities and working styles.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on program management without demonstrating strategic vision and ability to influence global policy.
- Neglecting to mention specific experience with lead or mercury, or with low- and middle-income countries, which is central to this role.
- Underestimating the importance of MEL and impact measurement; candidates who don't show rigor in evaluation may be seen as less credible.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!