Application Guide
How to Apply for Head of People
at Lead Exposure Elimination Project
๐ข About Lead Exposure Elimination Project
Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) is an effectiveness-focused nonprofit with a clear mission to eliminate lead poisoning globally by advocating for lead paint regulation. It stands out for its data-driven approach and high-impact work, offering a chance to contribute to a tangible public health goal while working with a lean, ambitious team.
About This Role
As Head of People, you'll design and drive LEEP's global People Strategy, leading a small team and managing hiring, culture, and performance. This role is critical to scaling the organization effectively, ensuring they attract and retain top talent while maintaining a high-performance, values-driven culture across a growing, remote team.
๐ก A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a check-in with your People team to review hiring progress and address any urgent issues, followed by a strategy session on compensation benchmarking for a new market. You might then spend an hour interviewing a candidate, later reviewing a draft of a new performance review process, and end the day with a cross-functional meeting to align on culture initiatives.
๐ Application Tools
๐ฏ Who Lead Exposure Elimination Project Is Looking For
- You have substantial experience leading teams or scaling fast-growing organizations, likely in a startup or nonprofit context, with a track record of building effective processes.
- You possess outstanding judgment and attention to detail, able to prioritize and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
- You are comfortable balancing high-level strategy with hands-on executionโready to design a people strategy one day and jump into recruiting the next.
- You are a strong people leader and manager, even without formal HR experience, and you thrive on shaping culture and driving organizational growth.
๐ Tips for Applying to Lead Exposure Elimination Project
Highlight specific examples of how you've scaled a team or organization, including metrics like headcount growth or process improvements.
Emphasize your strategic thinking by describing how you've aligned people strategy with organizational goals in a previous role.
Demonstrate your comfort with ambiguity by sharing a story where you built structure from scratch or adapted quickly to changing priorities.
Show your mission alignment by explaining why lead poisoning elimination resonates with you personally or professionally.
Keep your application concise and impactfulโLEEP values efficiency, so avoid fluff and focus on concrete achievements.
โ๏ธ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience leading and scaling teams, with concrete examples of impact (e.g., hiring targets, culture initiatives).', "Your strategic approach to people management, including how you've balanced long-term planning with day-to-day execution.", "Why LEEP's mission specifically motivates you and how your values align with their effectiveness-focused culture.", 'Your ability to thrive in a remote, global environment and manage a distributed team.']
Generate Cover Letter โ๐ Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- โ Read LEEP's website and blog to understand their approach to advocacy and their impact metrics.
- โ Review their team page and any public materials about their culture to understand current team dynamics.
- โ Look into the lead paint regulation landscape globally to grasp the context of their work.
- โ Check if LEEP has published any annual reports or impact evaluations to see how they measure success.
๐ฌ Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
โ ๏ธ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't overemphasize formal HR credentialsโLEEP explicitly says prior HR experience is not required; focus on leadership and management instead.
- Avoid generic statements about 'loving people' without evidence of strategic impact or scaling experience.
- Don't ignore the remote, global nature of the roleโfailing to address how you'd manage a distributed team could signal lack of fit.
๐ 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!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Lead Exposure Elimination Project!