Operations Manager

LEEP seeks a highly organised Operations Manager to be the first point of contact for our global team, run our core people processes, and problem-solve complex employment and HR issues

Position Summary

Application Deadline: 1 November 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

Hours: Full time

Location: Fully remote. LEEP is unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Time Zone: Candidates must be located between UTC and UTC+3. Exact working hours are to be confirmed based on location to optimise overlap with LEEP’s People and Operations teams.

Language requirements: Full professional proficiency in English. Additional languages are a plus.

Reports to: Head of People

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; €53,320 - €56,875 euros for Lisbon-based roles; £51,900 - £55,360 GBP for London-based roles.[1]

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 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.
• Our current paint programs have the potential to protect 97.8 million children from lead poisoning in their homes over the next 35 years. Our programs on eyeliners and spices have the potential to protect a further 12.6 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 looking for an Operations Manager who will serve as the “point person” for our entire team on all things HR. You will field, triage, and problem-solve a wide range of queries every week, administer and oversee our appraisal processes, and manage our Employer of Record relationships across various countries. This is a role for someone who takes pride in getting the details right, enjoys variety, and is comfortable working across different employment regulations. This is much more than a process oversight or administration role: an ideal candidate will be a strong strategic thinker and problem solver, with the ability to navigate novel and nuanced HR and employment issues and arrive at the best solution.

You will report to the Head of People, who sets the people strategy and policies for LEEP. Your job is to make that strategy work in practice by running our people processes; understanding in detail the employment requirements of our various locations and keeping us compliant; and making sure every team member’s query is picked up, tracked, and resolved.

Responsibilities

First Point of Contact for Team Member Queries

• Be the first responder for all people queries across the organisation (e.g., leave, contracts, and benefits to part-time requests, relocations, disputes, etc)
• Triage and route queries, resolving them yourself or assigning them within the People team, and track every one through to a resolution
• Spot patterns in what comes in and propose fixes to the policies or processes behind them
• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and good judgement, escalating to the Head of People where needed

Appraisal Process

• Deploy, run, and monitor LEEP’s performance and appraisal cycle, keeping managers and team members on schedule
• Maintain and administer pay grids, and prepare the data and paperwork that pay reviews require
• Deliver line manager training on people processes, including appraisals and handling common team member issues

Employer of Record and Multi-Country Compliance

• Own LEEP’s day-to-day relationships with our employer of record (EOR) providers, including contracts, changes, invoices, and service quality
• Keep people policies, contracts, and templates current and compliant across the countries where our team works
• Research employment requirements in new or unfamiliar jurisdictions, draw on EOR and legal advice, and turn it into practical guidance
• Contribute to EOR and entity decisions, with the Head of People owning the overall strategy

People Operations and Systems

• Ensure team member records and data are accurate and up to date
• Prepare monthly payroll changes and coordinate with Finance and Operations for execution
• Build and improve the systems, trackers, and processes that stop things falling through the cracks

Partnering with the Head of People

• Turn people strategy and policy decisions into clear processes, communications, and timelines
• Flag risks, bottlenecks, and compliance issues early
• Support with anything else reasonably required for LEEP to succeed

What We’re Looking For

An ideal candidate will possess or be the following:

• Passion for LEEP’s mission and values, and a strong commitment to achieving meaningful, scalable impact
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Highly organised, with a track record of managing a high volume of varied requests
• Strong ownership and proactivity
• Systems-oriented, with an aptitude for building processes that make work reliable and repeatable
• Comfortable with ambiguity: the ability to work out a sensible answer when there is no playbook
• A very strong multi-tasker who is comfortable in a fast-changing, start-up environment
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills
• Discretion with sensitive information
• At least three years’ work experience
• Experience in an HR or People role is desirable but not required (ideally with hands-on experience of employee relations, performance processes, and HR administration)
• Experience of employment across more than one country, or with employer of record providers is desirable but not required
• An HR qualification is desirable but not required
• Experience working with senior leadership is desirable but not required
• Experience living or working in low- and middle-income countries is desirable but not required

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
• Life insurance
• 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 November 1st.
• 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 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.

Note: We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.

[1] Note: The salary range is a gross annual salary. Actual take-home pay will vary depending on local tax laws and statutory deductions in your country of employment.