Program Manager, India (Chhattisgarh)

Program Manager (Chhattisgarh)

LEEP seeks a Program Manager who will be responsible for running LEEP’s programs on spices in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. We are seeking people with exceptional strategic judgement and people skills, great communication skills and experience working with governments.

Position Summary

Application Deadline: 11 October 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full time

Duration: An 24-month fixed-term contract with the potential to extend or become permanent

Location: Raipur, 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: Dependent upon location and experience: ₹4,289,639–₹4,575,615 INR

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.

In India, lead poisoning from paint and other sources affects approximately 192 million children. LEEP is looking to support manufacturers in creating safer products and positively impacting the lives of millions of children.

About the Role

LEEP is seeking experienced individuals to lead and execute our work in eliminating lead from spices in Chhattisgarh. Under the guidance of the Senior Program Manager, they will be responsible for developing and delivering interventions to reduce lead exposure, which may include: collaborating with state governments to support prioritisation of the issue; providing technical assistance on regulatory implementation; engaging constructively with industry to encourage the removal of lead from products; conducting studies to generate state-specific data; leading public awareness and behaviour-change campaigns; and building partnerships with civil-society organisations. This person may manage a small team of associates and/or consultants, as needed.

This role is ideal for someone who loves building and strengthening partnerships, hands-on program work and developing others, and who is excited by the chance to strengthen LEEP’s program quality and consistency from an “on the ground” perspective. An ideal candidate will have strong experience of working with and navigating state and local government, as well as other local, grassroots actors, to deliver programs. We are looking for candidates who are high-agency, have strong interpersonal skills, have excellent strategic thinking and judgment, and who share LEEP’s values. By running LEEP’s program work, with support from the Senior Program Manager, you will be able to make a huge difference, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Note: we are also looking to hire Program Associates for our spices work in Chhattisgarh; you can review the role description here. If you are also open to being considered for the Program Associate role, please indicate this on the application form.

Responsibilities

Collaborating with government counterparts and providing technical assistance on the implementation of regulations.

• Acting as the primary focal point between LEEP and key Chhattisgarh state government bodies, primarily the Food and Drugs Administration.
• Coordinating and engaging with other allied government agencies and non-profit agencies (if needed) on broader lead poisoning work
• Engaging with policy-makers across relevant agencies and levels of government (state and district), maintaining regular communication.
• Preparing informational materials, technical briefs, and educational resources to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Participating in government meetings and presenting at stakeholder workshops
• Coordinating project planning activities with government partners.

Industry assistance

• Engaging with spice and food businesses’ key industry stakeholders at different levels of the supply chain, particularly those responsible for lead-containing products
• Presenting the case for lead elimination and how LEEP can support
• Strengthening LEEP’s understanding on the economic drivers of lead chromate use to help the team design better, localized economic or regulatory interventions.

Research and data collection

• Conducting spices studies: finding and purchasing spices, preparing samples, and sending them to the lab, in collaboration with government, academic or civil society partners
• Preparing study reports and summarising existing literature
• Analysing data to inform program strategy

Media campaigns and coalition building

• Developing and executing strategic media campaigns to highlight successes by government and encourage action by industry
• Contribute to the designing of consumer behavioural change interventions based on local cultural context
• Building coalitions with NGOs, think tanks, academics and other civil society organisations

People Management

• Potentially managing Program Associates or consultants, providing guidance, feedback, and strategic oversight while empowering them to meet or exceed their goals
• Being accountable for the results and performance of your PAs and/or consultants, you will foster a high-performance and trusting culture through clear expectations, regular and open feedback and a shared sense of purpose

Strategy and planning

• Designing a program plan to meet LEEP’s goals and considering stakeholders’ requirements
• Troubleshooting any program blockers and identifying creative solutions
• Sharing learnings with the LEEP team and constantly improving our programs

Assist with a variety of other tasks across LEEP as and when required.

What We’re Looking For

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

• Passion for LEEP’s mission and a strong commitment to achieving meaningful, scalable impact
• Strong interpersonal skills and adeptness at understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders and collaborating towards shared goals
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• More than 5 years of work experience strongly preferred but not mandatory
• Strong strategic and analytic thinking skills
• Experience working with, or in, government
• Experience working on media campaigns strongly preferred but not required
• Comfort with educating a variety of stakeholders on material that may be new to them
• Ability and willingness to work across a broad range of tasks
• A strong ability to prioritise your tasks and recognise how they tie in with LEEP’s wider goals
• Enterprising, a quick learner, and creative problem-solver
• Comfort with risk and ambiguity, and working with a high level of self-direction
• Ability to remain focused and solution-oriented in a fast-paced environment
• Willing to travel frequently within the state
• Fluent in English and Hindi

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
• Professional development opportunities
• Health Insurance
• Annual team retreat
• All other benefits as required by local laws

How to Apply

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

• Complete the application form by 11 October 2026
• After submitting your application, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete a short, 31-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
• 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
• Professional development opportunities
• Health Insurance
• Annual team retreat
• All other benefits as required by local laws

Full professional proficiency in English and Hindi