Head of Communications

Position Summary

Application Deadline: Rolling, until July 20th, 2025

Start date: As soon as possible

Location: Remote with a preference for London or being based in a country where LEEP is currently running a program. 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: Must be located in UTC-5 to UTC+2 time zone. Role requires regular collaboration with team members in East Coast USA/Canada and London, UK, as well as global team members. Flexibility with working hours is essential.

Salary: £58,000-£64,667 GBP for London-based roles; outside London is dependent on location and experience.

How to apply: Fill out 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 31 countries; completed paint studies in 18; and agreed on goals to establish lead paint regulation with government agencies in 16 (e.g., Angola).
• We’ve made crucial progress in engaging with manufacturers in 10 countries (e.g., Pakistan), and in reducing the lead paint market share in Malawi.
• 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 DALY equivalent 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.
• We have received grants from major grantmaking organisations, including 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, and our co-founders were named in Vox’s Future Perfect 50.

About the Role

LEEP is looking for a mission-driven, impact-focused communicator to lead our external relations. Working closely with our leadership team, this new role offers a unique opportunity to shape and strengthen how we present ourselves to the world through our website, social media, donor communications, and partnerships at a pivotal moment in LEEP’s growth.

You will take ownership of our external voice and presence. You will manage key stakeholder relationships, including donors, partners, and allies, ensuring strong, consistent engagement that supports our mission. You will also design and implement systems to track and manage these relationships, including the introduction of a CRM.

You will support the wider team by reviewing and refining communications, training colleagues, and enhancing our approach in delivering presentations, reports, and meetings. You may also lead a refresh of our messaging and brand positioning, ensuring our communications are clear, compelling, and well suited to the right audiences and channels.

This role is ideal for someone who turns ideas into powerful messages, builds systems that people want to use, and thrives in a fast-paced, mission-led environment. As a startup, we need someone who is hands-on and equally comfortable thinking strategically and delivering high-quality outputs. If you are excited to shape how LEEP connects with the world, we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

Partnership Management

• Manage relationships with donors and other key partners
• Serve as LEEP’s external representative at events, meetings, and with stakeholders
• Where required, develop new partnerships and funding opportunities
• Coordinate closely with the Finance and Program teams to align messaging and reporting
• Design and prepare reports and communication materials as needed

Marketing and Brand Management

• Oversee and uphold LEEP’s style guide, branding, and visual identity
• Refine and maintain consistent messaging and tone across all communications, review and edit written materials as and when required
• Manage the production and distribution of newsletters, blog posts, annual reports, social media and website content
• Communicate LEEP’s results and impact with transparency and rigour, ensuring messages are grounded in evidence, data, and scientific integrity
• Collaborate with the Operations and Program teams to support visibility and strategic goals

Internal Communications, Resource Management, and Team Support

• Guide and train staff on effective communication practices
• Apply a cost-effective, resource-conscious approach to all external relations work
• Update and maintain systems for tracking stakeholder engagement
• Assess and implement tools such as CRM systems and project management software
• Develop communication risk management plans and serious incident protocols when necessary

What We’re Looking For

A successful applicant will possess or be the following:

• A passion for LEEP’s mission and a commitment to achieving meaningful, scalable impact.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience (e.g., communications, partnerships, or external relations), ideally in mission-driven or global development settings. We welcome candidates from nonprofit, public, or private sector backgrounds who have demonstrated success in crafting compelling messages, managing high-stakes relationships, and building systems that support strategic external engagement in complex environments.
• A desire to work in a small, fast-paced, and growing team
• Strong written English and attention to detail
• Ability to tailor messages to different audiences and channels
• A strategic thinker with strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Comfortable working independently in a remote setup
• Experience in low- and middle-income country contexts is a plus

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 (inclusive of public holidays)
• Generous sick leave and parental leave policies
• 4% pension contribution
• Health insurance in countries where government healthcare is limited

Application Process

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

• Complete the application form by July 20th.
• Attend an initial screening call
• Complete a 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 interview
• Receive an employment offer!
• Submit references

If you have any questions about the position or the application process, please email hiring@leadelimination.org.

LEEP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, colour, gender, national origin, ethnicity, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other protected characteristic.