Head of People

LEEP seeks a strategic Head of People to lead our culture, people systems, and global talent development as we scale our impact worldwide.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: 18 January 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full time

Location: Remote with a preference for London. If based in London, the ability to co-work from our office three days per week is required. LEEP is unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Time Zone: Candidates must be located between UTC -5 and UTC +3, with a strong preference for UTC to UTC +3. Exact working hours are to be confirmed based on location to optimise for overlap with LEEP’s Operations team.

Language requirements: Full professional proficiency in English

Salary: Salary is dependent upon location and experience. E.g., $87,743–$97,829 USD for New York City-based roles. £60,204–£67,124 GBP for London-based roles; €61,185–€68,217 euros for Paris-based roles; 7,599,450–8,472,950 KES for Nairobi-based roles; 1,101,343–1,227,934 ZAR for Johannesburg-based roles.

How to apply: Fill in 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 37 countries and completed paint studies in 22.
• We have agreed on goals to establish lead paint regulation with government agencies in 18 countries (e.g., in Angola).
• We have received reports in 17 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

The Head of People will lead, design, and deliver LEEP’s people strategy across a rapidly scaling, global organisation. Your work will directly influence the effectiveness of teams working to eliminate one of the world’s most overlooked public health crises. As LEEP continues to expand to new contexts and widen its impact, this role ensures that our culture, talent systems, and people practices remain mission-aligned, world-class, and capable of supporting ambitious growth. Reporting to the COO and managing a growing team, the Head of People will serve as a strategic partner across the organisation - drive and shape how we hire exceptional talent, support high-performing teams, develop skills, and promote our culture and values, which make LEEP a uniquely ambitious, impactful, and supportive place to work.

Responsibilities

1. People Strategy and Leadership

• Design and drive LEEP’s global People Strategy to support our continued ambitious growth and mission (we doubled our head count in under 8 months in 2025)
• Provide advice and thought partnership to the COO and senior leadership on organisational development, workforce planning, culture, change management and HR considerations.
• Lead and Manage LEEP’s People Team (this includes employees, agencies and consultants).

1. Talent Lifecycle

• Oversee global recruitment strategy in partnership with the Recruitment Manager.
• Ensure outstanding candidate experience, and transparent and efficient hiring processes.
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring smooth, compliant, and high-quality experiences.
• Lead succession planning and long-term workforce development.

1. Performance, Progression, and Learning and Development

• Oversee LEEP’s appraisal systems, performance management frameworks, and internal progression frameworks, ensuring they are optimised to deliver impact.
• Ensure managers and team members are appropriately trained and supported to excel in their roles
• Oversee the design and delivery of LEEP’s learning and development function

1. Culture, Engagement and Organisational Health

• Promote and nurture LEEP’s culture and values across the team
• Design and deliver team-wide culture initiatives, values-alignment activities, and internal communications.
• Lead the annual team retreat design and planning.
• Conduct periodic organisational health checks, engagement surveys, etc., and design plans and strategies that respond to feedback.

1. Compliance, People Operations and HR Systems

• Oversee People Operations, HRIS implementation, record-keeping, personnel files, and internal processes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant employment rules/regulations in all jurisdictions where LEEP operates.
• Oversee payroll preparation and monthly change submission for all jurisdictions.
• Maintain global policies, handbooks, and guidelines, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and alignment with best practice.

1. Demonstrate excellent judgement

• Provide confidential support on sensitive issues (conflicts, wellbeing concerns, team dynamics, misconduct cases, etc.).
• Play an active part in LEEP’s leadership group, operations team, and anything else that is reasonably required of you for LEEP to succeed.

What We’re Looking For

• Deep and demonstrable alignment with LEEP’s mission, values, and culture.
• Strong strategic capability, with experience setting or delivering People/HR vision in a growing organisation.
• Demonstrated excellence in people management, coaching, and supporting growth.
• Experience managing or participating in recruitment
• Experience in international or multi-country HR settings is beneficial.
• Excellent judgement, interpersonal skills, discretion, and communication.
• Comfortable working in a start up environment across HR strategy, hands-on People Ops, and day-to-day problem-solving
• Ability to lead through change and help shape a scaling organisation.
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Experience living and/or working in low- and middle-income countries is advantageous.
• Minimum of five years relevant work experience.

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 30+ 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 very large positive impact on the world
• 33 days of paid leave
• Generous sick leave and parental leave policies
• 4% pension contribution or equivalent
• Professional development opportunities
• Health Insurance in places where government healthcare is limited
• Annual team retreat

How to Apply

Here’s a summary of the application process for a successful candidate. We might make adjustments.

• Complete the application form by January 18th.
• After submitting your application, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete a short, 29-minute screening assessment. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) within 24 hours of completing your application.
• Attend a 25-minute initial screening call
• Complete a 2-3 hour work test designed to simulate the work you would do if hired and evaluate key skills important for success in the role
• Attend one remote panel interview
• Submit references
• Receive an employment offer!

LEEP offers:

• A chance to have a very large positive impact on the world
• 33 days of paid leave
• Generous sick leave and parental leave policies
• 4% pension contribution or equivalent
• Professional development opportunities
• Health Insurance in places where government healthcare is limited
• Annual team retreat

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 30+ 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.

Full professional proficiency in English