Application Guide
How to Apply for Executive Director
at Neotree
🏢 About Neotree
Neotree is unique as an award-winning digital learning health system specifically co-designed with frontline clinicians to end preventable newborn deaths in low-resource settings. It represents a direct bridge from academic research at University College London to scalable, life-saving implementation, making it an ideal workplace for those passionate about translating evidence into tangible global health impact.
About This Role
This Executive Director role involves providing high-level oversight of operations across 18 healthcare facilities in Malawi and Zimbabwe to ensure the 'baby-first' mission is delivered on the ground. It is impactful as it requires leading the development and execution of Neotree's business model and strategy to scale its digital public good globally, directly working to reduce newborn mortality.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with the Malawi team to review facility operations, followed by strategic planning for scaling the digital system. Later, you could be drafting a progress report for the Board of Trustees and collaborating with partners in Zimbabwe to address a health system challenge, all while ensuring alignment with the core mission across time zones.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Neotree Is Looking For
- Holds a Master's degree (MSc, MPH, or MBA) in Global Health, International Development, or Digital Health, with a proven track record of overseeing health service delivery, ideally in low-resource settings.
- Has direct experience working in partnership with Ministries of Health to strengthen health systems, demonstrating an understanding of governmental collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Possesses proven experience in scaling an organization or a digital health intervention from a pilot phase to wider adoption, showcasing strategic growth management.
- Can lead and inspire a multi-disciplinary, multi-country team (UK, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa), fostering agility and collaboration across cultures and time zones.
📝 Tips for Applying to Neotree
Explicitly quantify your experience in scaling health interventions or organizations from pilot to scale, using metrics like number of facilities reached, user growth, or funding secured.
Tailor your resume to highlight specific projects where you partnered with Ministries of Health in low-resource settings, naming countries and outcomes achieved.
Demonstrate familiarity with Neotree's existing work by referencing their 'baby-first' mission and specific countries of operation (Malawi, Zimbabwe) in your application materials.
Showcase remote leadership experience, as this role manages teams across multiple countries (UK, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa) without a central office.
Emphasize any experience with digital health tools or platforms, aligning with Neotree's core as a digital learning health system.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your direct experience overseeing health service delivery in low-resource settings, specifically linking it to improving newborn health outcomes.', 'A concrete example of successfully scaling a health intervention or digital product from a pilot phase, detailing the strategy and challenges overcome.', 'Your approach to building and maintaining partnerships with governmental health bodies, like Ministries of Health, to strengthen systems.', 'Your philosophy and experience in leading diverse, remote teams across different cultures to achieve a common mission.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → The specific 'Neotree' digital health system and its features, including any published research or case studies from UCL on its impact in Malawi and Zimbabwe.
- → Current newborn health challenges, policies, and health system structures in Malawi and Zimbabwe to understand the operational context.
- → Neotree's award history and public communications to grasp their mission, values, and public recognition.
- → The concept of 'digital public goods' in global health and examples of other organizations that have scaled similar models sustainably.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't mention Neotree's specific mission, countries of operation, or the 'baby-first' approach.
- Failing to provide concrete, quantifiable examples of scaling health interventions or working with Ministries of Health, relying on vague statements instead.
- Demonstrating a lack of understanding or experience with remote, multi-cultural team management, which is critical for this distributed role.
📅 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!