Key Account Manager (Industry)

Key Account Manager (Industry)

LEEP seeks a strategic relationship-builder to lead engagement with our largest industry partners and support Program Managers to strengthen their most important manufacturer partnerships.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: 11 October 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full time

Location: Remote. If based in London, the ability to co-work from our office three days per week is required. We are currently unable to sponsor visas, but may be able to in the future.

Time Zone: Candidates must be located between UTC and UTC +3.

Salary: Salary is dependent upon location and experience. E.g., Ksh6,849,987–Ksh7,306,653 KES for Nairobi-based roles; ZAR 949,433–ZAR 1,012,729 for Johannesburg-based roles; ZMW1,422,330–ZMW1,517,152 for Zambia-based roles; €53,320– €56,875 euros for Portugal-based roles; £51,900–£55,360 GBP for London-based roles.

Language Requirements: Full professional proficiency in English

How to apply: Fill out this application form

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 currently focus on three sources of lead exposure: paint, spices, and traditional eyeliners. Our work involves generating data, supporting governments with the introduction and enforcement of regulation, and assisting industry in eliminating lead from their products.

LEEP was founded in September 2020. Six years on:

• We run programs in over 40 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, representing over 76% of children born in low- and middle-income countries.

1. Our current paint programs have the potential to protect 8 million children
2. from lead poisoning in their homes over the next 35 years. Our programs on eyeliners and spices have the potential to protect a further 6 million children

• from either one of these two sources over the next seven years.
• Our follow-up studies in Malawi and Pakistan have shown lead paint market reductions estimated to protect approximately 8.5 million children from lead poisoning.
• With LEEP's support, eight countries now have regulations to limit the amount of lead in paint, e.g. in the DRC.
• In over 20 countries, manufacturers representing over 50% of the lead paint market share have taken steps to move to lead-free.
• Our team is growing rapidly: from 18 at the start of 2025 to 43 at the start of 2026, to an estimated 80 by the start of 2027.
• 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 paint 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, Coefficient Giving, Bloomberg Philanthropies, USAID, 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 seeking a strategic and results-oriented professional with exceptional relationship-building and communication skills to join the central industry team. As a Key Account Manager, you will own relationships with manufacturers at an organizational level, support LEEP’s Program Managers with priority country-level manufacturers, and co-ordinate engagement with cross-country manufacturers. You will play a critical role in designing and implementing systems to help our team effectively target and engage manufacturers as we support them in the shift to lead-free paint. You will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, demonstrating how to achieve ambitious goals while supporting others to do the same.

We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal skills, proven experience in relationship management, a tenacious and goal-oriented mindset, and a deep commitment to LEEP’s values. By supporting LEEP’s industry work you will be able to play a pivotal role in eliminating lead exposure globally, working directly with manufacturers to create safer products, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities below are the core pillars of this role. The percentage distribution is indicative and subject to change based on priority organisational needs.

Lead key industry accounts (40%)

• Own priority manufacturer accounts that sit outside of LEEP’s country programs, and coordinate relationships with manufacturers spanning multiple programs.
• Develop and execute tailored account strategies, translating LEEP’s broader industry strategy into clear priorities, engagement plans, milestones, and actions.
• Build and manage a pipeline of new manufacturer relationships and identify opportunities to expand LEEP’s engagement across the paint industry.
• Build and maintain relationships with key manufacturers through regular outreach - including calls, email, social media, and in-person meetings in priority regions.
• Lead outreach, negotiations, and ongoing relationship management for accounts you directly own.
• Track progress across priority accounts, identify barriers and opportunities, and take action to move stalled or high-potential engagements forward.
• Learn from LEEP’s previous manufacturer engagement and use those insights to continuously improve our approach.

Support Program Managers on their most important manufacturer partnerships (40%)

• Act as a strategic thought partner to Program Managers on their highest-priority manufacturer accounts.
• Maintain regular touchpoints with Program Managers to help shape account strategies, prepare for important engagements, and identify opportunities to move relationships forward.
• Provide hands-on support to unblock stalled or challenging manufacturer engagement, while keeping the Program Manager as the owner of the relationship and program.
• Bring relevant commercial and relationship-management experience to help Program Managers approach manufacturer engagement strategically and effectively.

Strengthen key-account management across LEEP (20%)

• Improve LEEP’s approach to key-account planning, including developing practical tools, processes, and ways of working.
• Capture and share lessons from manufacturer engagement to strengthen practice across programs.
• Support Program Managers to build their key-account management skills and approaches, as appropriate.
• Take on other strategic or operational priorities as needed to support LEEP’s engagement with industry.
• Develop high-quality tailored messaging and communications to support reformulation efforts including emails, social media, one pagers, pitch decks, videos, FAQs, and call scripts.
• Participate in weekly all-hands calls, program team meetings, and 1:1s with your manager.

What We’re Looking For

This is an exciting opportunity for a sales, business development, or key-account professional seeking to apply their commercial skills in a mission-driven role. You might be a great fit if you:

• Have experience in key-account management, enterprise/technical sales, strategic account management, strategy consulting, or a similar commercial role involving complex stakeholder management and influencing decision-makers.
• Have experience winning new customers or partners, not just managing and growing existing accounts.
• Have successfully influenced customers to adopt a new product, process, or way of working where doing so involved a meaningful cost, operational, or commercial trade-off.
• Are an exceptional communicator who can quickly build rapport with senior stakeholders, develop persuasive and tailored messaging, and lead conversations and presentations that move people to action.
• Are comfortable influencing without formal authority and working as a thought partner to colleagues who retain ownership of their accounts or programs.
• Can take a broad strategy and turn it into a practical plan, setting priorities, identifying actions, and driving execution across multiple countries.
• Are proactive and tenacious when faced with obstacles, ambiguity, or stalled engagement, and are comfortable finding creative ways to move things forward.
• Have strong technical curiosity and are comfortable learning about paint, chemicals, raw materials, and manufacturing processes. Experience in these areas is a plus, but expertise is not required.
• Are highly self-directed and able to manage competing priorities and take ownership in a fast-paced, remote environment.
• Are motivated by LEEP’s mission and excited by the opportunity to use your commercial skills to drive large-scale change in the paint industry.
• Have full professional proficiency in English.
• Are willing and able to travel approximately 8–12 weeks per year to engage manufacturers and support LEEP’s programs in person.

Other promising attributes:

• Having full professional proficiency in other languages, in particular: French, Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi or Urdu
• Familiarity with lead generation, sales, outreach, or partnerships in complex industries like chemicals or pharma

We are most interested in talent, not credentials. If you don’t fit some of the above criteria but think you are a good fit for this role, we’d love to see you apply.

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 60+ 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 October 11th.
• After submitting your application, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete a short, 30-minute screening assessment. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) within 24 hours of completing your application.
• Attend a 30-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
• Receive an employment offer!
• Submit references

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.

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

Full professional proficiency in English