Country Head (India)

LEEP seeks an experienced senior leader to establish and lead our India operations during a pivotal phase of growth. This person will be responsible for driving rapid, large-scale reductions in lead exposure while building a high-performing team aligned with our mission and values.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: January 7th, 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full-time

Location: India.

Time Zone: India Standard time. Must also be willing to work flexibly to collaborate with our global team across multiple time zones.

Language Requirements: Full professional proficiency in English and Hindi

Salary: ₹5,036,167 INR

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 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

LEEP is seeking an exceptional Country Head to lead our India operations and drive rapid, large-scale reductions in lead exposure across the country. As LEEP’s senior representative in India, you will lead our country operations and partnerships. You will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with relevant ministries and institutions (e.g., Health, Environment, MSME, NITI Aayog, CPCB) to support the implementation of technical programmes and initiatives. You will coordinate the delivery of evidence, data, training, and technical assistance requested by government partners, and ensure that activities are aligned with their priorities and direction. You will manage relationships with implementing partners and support the development of a strong team that is able to deliver high-quality programmes in line with LEEP’s mission.

This role offers the opportunity to make a transformational impact on public health in India while leading a dynamic team in one of a high-impact and exciting context. You will work closely with senior government officials, industry leaders, and international stakeholders to eliminate childhood lead poisoning from paint, spices, and cosmetics.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Government Engagement

• Serve as LEEP’s senior representative in India, building constructive relationships with government agencies, technical institutions, and implementation partners
• Coordinate the delivery of data, evidence, training, and technical assistance requested by ministries and agencies (e.g., MoEFCC, CPCB, FSSAI), in support of their programmes and policy processes
• Ensure that LEEP’s activities are aligned with government priorities and follow applicable laws and procedures
• Provide high-quality information and technical inputs to support government decision-making, under their leadership and direction

Program Implementation and Oversight

• Provide strategic guidance to program teams delivering research, evidence sharing, and industry engagement
• Develop strategies and execute high-quality approaches that achieve results in line with program goals
• Review progress and support teams to address bottlenecks

Team Management and Development

• Lead and develop LEEP’s growing team in India
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and mission-aligned team culture
• Provide strategic oversight and direction to the different areas of the India team
• Contribute to coaching and development of team members
• Ensure effective coordination between different functional areas of the team

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with senior government officials, key opinion leaders, regulatory bodies, and policymakers, and think tanks
• Engage with industry leaders, manufacturers, and trade associations
• Represent LEEP at high-level meetings, conferences, and policy forums
• Develop partnerships with local and international organisations

What We’re Looking For

A successful applicant will possess or be most of the following:

• Mission-driven: passion for LEEP’s mission and values, and a strong commitment to achieving meaningful, scalable impact
• 15+ years of work experience, including substantial work in government, policy, or public affairs in India, with direct exposure to regulatory processes and senior stakeholders
• 5+ years of experience managing teams - must have led direct reports and supported their performance and development
• Deep understanding of India's political, regulatory, and business landscape
• Exceptional stakeholder management and diplomatic skills
• Outstanding communication skills in English and Hindi, both written and verbal. Knowledge of an additional regional language is a valuable asset, but not mandatory.
• Strategic thinking ability with proven track record of driving policy or regulatory change
• Experience working with international organisations or multinational companies

Other promising attributes:

• Experience in environmental policy, public health, or chemical regulation
• Established network within Indian government and industry
• Familiarity with WHO, UNEP, or other international health/environmental frameworks

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 and Hindi