LEEP is Seeking a Senior Innovation Manager: Lead-Free Surma Reformulation

Overview

The Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) is seeking a Senior Innovation Manager to lead development of a lead-free alternative to traditional surma, also known as kohl or kajal, a major source of childhood lead exposure. Surma is widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and diaspora communities and may be applied to babies and young children. The replacement must meet technical, safety, manufacturing, affordability, cultural, religious and consumer needs.

LEEP is an evidence-based nonprofit working to eliminate childhood lead poisoning, founded in 2020, with programmes in more than 40 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Its focus is lead in paint, spices and traditional eyeliners.

What the role involves

The manager directs and challenges specialists such as cosmetic chemists, laboratories, process engineers, sourcing specialists and advisers on traditional medicine and religious acceptability, without needing to be the subject expert. Tasks include commissioning laboratory, safety, stability and consumer testing, studying traditional medicine and religious considerations, assessing manufacturing, decontamination and scale-up, examining supplier qualification and unit costs, developing formulations that can transfer across manufacturers and countries, and producing guidance for other manufacturers. In the first six months the manager is expected to develop and validate at least two lead-free formulations for a priority country; in the second six months, to replicate them in three more countries.

Who can apply

LEEP wants entrepreneurial, self-directed people who are comfortable with ambiguity, can question specialist advice, have worked in low- and middle-income countries and can manage distributed teams. Relevant backgrounds include chemistry, materials science, medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, FMCG and manufacturing scale-up, though LEEP stresses demonstrated capability over conventional credentials.

What you get

The contract is full-time at 37.5 hours per week for an initial 12 months, remote or London-based, with at least 8 to 12 weeks of travel per year. Candidates must be located between UTC-5 and UTC+5 and propose their fee expectations. Benefits include 33 days of paid leave, sick and parental leave, a 4 percent pension contribution or equivalent, development opportunities, health insurance where government coverage is limited and an annual team retreat.

How to apply

Candidates complete LEEP's online application form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is found, and the start date is as soon as possible.