Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Manager (Anglophone)

at Lead Exposure Elimination Project

🏢 About Lead Exposure Elimination Project

Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) is an effectiveness-focused nonprofit dedicated to eliminating lead poisoning worldwide. Unlike many organizations, LEEP uses data-driven advocacy and direct engagement with manufacturers and governments to achieve measurable impact. Working here means joining a lean, high-agency team where your work directly contributes to saving lives by removing toxic lead from paint.

About This Role

As Program Manager (Anglophone), you will lead and support paint programs globally, from conducting paint studies to assisting manufacturers in switching to lead-free paints. This role is impactful because you'll drive regulation and technical change in low- and middle-income countries, directly reducing childhood lead exposure. You'll also manage partnerships and recruit local consultants, making you a key driver of LEEP's mission.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with a local consultant in Kenya about a paint study, followed by drafting a policy brief for a government regulator in Ghana. Afternoon could involve a call with a paint manufacturer in India to discuss lead-free alternatives, and end with updating the team's strategy dashboard and planning next month's travel to a new country.

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🎯 Who Lead Exposure Elimination Project Is Looking For

  • Experienced in stakeholder management and persuasion, with a track record of engaging policymakers or manufacturers to achieve regulatory or behavioral change.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and independent work in a remote environment, with high agency and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communicator in English, with additional languages (French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic) being a strong plus.
  • Willing and able to travel 8-12 weeks per year, ideally with prior experience living or working in low- and middle-income countries.

📝 Tips for Applying to Lead Exposure Elimination Project

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific examples of stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, or manufacturer assistance, not just general program management.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly mention your comfort with ambiguity and remote work, and provide an example of a time you drove results with limited resources.

3

If you have language skills beyond English, list them prominently and mention any experience using them in a professional or development context.

4

Research LEEP's current paint studies and regulatory wins (e.g., in Kenya or Ethiopia) and reference them in your application to show genuine interest.

5

Prepare to discuss your willingness to travel frequently to low- and middle-income countries, and any prior experience adapting to different cultures.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for reducing lead poisoning and alignment with LEEP's effectiveness-focused, data-driven approach.", 'Specific examples of persuading stakeholders (e.g., government officials, business leaders) to adopt a new policy or practice.', 'Your ability to work independently and solve problems creatively in ambiguous, resource-constrained settings.', 'Any experience living or working in low- and middle-income countries, and how that prepares you for the travel required.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review LEEP's published paint studies and regulatory progress in countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and India (available on their website).
  • → Understand the global lead paint landscape, including the WHO's lead elimination goals and the role of the Lead Paint Alliance.
  • → Familiarize yourself with LEEP's theory of change and how they measure effectiveness (e.g., cost per life saved).
  • → Look into the specific challenges of working in low- and middle-income countries, such as supply chain issues or varying regulatory environments.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach convincing a paint manufacturer to switch to lead-free paints when it increases costs?
2 Describe a time you managed a project with limited resources and unclear guidelines. How did you ensure success?
3 What strategies would you use to build trust with government regulators in a new country?
4 How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple country programs simultaneously?
5 Can you discuss a lead paint regulation success story from LEEP or similar organizations, and what you would do differently?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference lead paint or LEEP's specific approach.
  • Downplaying the travel requirement or expressing reluctance to spend extended time in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Focusing too much on corporate program management experience without connecting it to advocacy or regulatory change.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Lead Exposure Elimination Project!

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