Associate Director, Lead Exposure (Governance Strategy & Operations)

Lead Exposure Program Overview

Lead (Pb) exposure is a silent yet devastating global health crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Roughly 1 in 2 children in LMICs have elevated blood lead levels, contributing to neurological damage, reduced cognitive development, and a range of serious health impacts. CHAI's Lead Exposure program builds on our proven capabilities and experience partnering with governments to address large-scale and cross-sectoral health challenges.

CHAI's approach to Governance focuses on establishing or revitalizing multi-sectoral coordination structures, typically Technical Working Groups (TWGs), Technical Support Units (TSUs), or similar platforms, that enable evidence-based strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, and sustained implementation. Through our work in other health areas (e.g., oxygen, assistive technology, infectious disease), such structures have been shown to be highly effective in driving strategy development and coordinating program delivery, leveraging efforts not just of governments but also of NGO partners and private sector players. These structures are designed to be government-owned and action-oriented.

We often serve formally or informally as the secretariat, helping drive follow-through while respecting, maintaining and ensuring government ownership and leadership. We typically work discreetly behind the scenes to build capacity and momentum. Across all settings, our goal is to ensure coordination platforms are not symbolic or siloed, but actively drive strategy development and implementation. Our support is dynamic by design, working in partnership with government to chart a strategic direction with the flexibility to adapt and respond based on changing needs or emerging issues.

Position Overview

This is an exciting and challenging role to help address one of the most pressing global health challenges while scaling CHAI's Lead Exposure program. As Associate Director, Lead Exposure Strategy & Operations, you will serve as the strategic and operational backbone of the Lead Exposure program’s Governance work, with a particular focus on supporting impactful engagements with national and subnational government partners.

• Ensure that country teams are well-supported and well-coordinated.
• Ensure that program performance is rigorously tracked.
• Proactively manage relationships with governments, donors, and partners.

Program Management & Monitoring

Develop and maintain cross-country management tools — including KPI dashboards, work plan trackers, and regular program review processes — to monitor progress against grant milestones and strategic objectives.

• Partner with country teams to identify and resolve emergent programmatic issues, providing problem-solving support and escalating where needed.
• Cross-country learning and lesson-sharing to ensure insights from one country context are systematically applied across the program portfolio.
• Maintain a strategic view of the overall program portfolio, tracking interdependencies across country and thematic workstreams.

Technical & Programmatic Support to Country Teams

Partner with country teams to develop in-country implementation roadmaps and work plans, drawing on experience from across the program, the global lead community, and broader multisectoral governance work.

• Engage global or regional stakeholders, provide technical input into country-level work products, and adapt global frameworks for country-specific needs.
• Interface with internal expert teams (e.g., CHAI's Global Markets, Global Diagnostics) to bring in relevant expertise for program execution.

Partnerships & External Engagement

Maintain collaborative relationships with key global partners and peer organizations working in the lead exposure space, and support country teams in building and maintaining these relationships at the country-level.

• Represent CHAI externally with donors, technical partners, and at international fora as relevant.

Fundraising & Donor Stewardship

Develop new funding concepts and lead the preparation of high-quality grant proposals, in close collaboration with the Senior Director and country teams.

• Maintain strong relationships with current and prospective funders, ensuring proactive communication, timely reporting, and accountability to donor commitments.
• Oversee donor reporting processes, ensuring outputs are accurate, compelling, and delivered on schedule.

Program Administration & Operations

Hire, manage, mentor, and support staff within a matrixed team environment.

• Manage program hiring, onboarding, and staffing processes to build and sustain a high-performing team.
• Oversee financial management across grants and projects, including budget tracking, forecasting, and compliance.
• Liaise with CHAI headquarters functions — including Finance, HR, Operations, and Communications — on behalf of the Lead Exposure program.

Other Responsibilities

• As Needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus at least 10 years' work experience, or advanced degree plus at least 8 years' work experience, or equivalent work experience.
• Strong track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and programs in dynamic environments.
• Experience working directly with government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in global health, public health, environmental health, or a related field.
• Experience in program management, monitoring & evaluation, or operational roles in a global health or development context.
• Experience building and managing high-performing teams.
• Exceptional analytical (qualitative and quantitative) and communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational and government processes and to influence decision-making collaboratively.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Commitment to humility, resourcefulness, tenacity, and CHAI's values.
• Experience living or working in low- and middle-income countries.

Advantages

• Advanced degree in business, public health, public policy, international affairs, or related fields.
• Experience facilitating, supporting, or participating in multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms (e.g., technical working group, cross-sectoral or interministerial task force, technical support unit).
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, and donor relationship management.
• Expertise in lead exposure, environmental health, or related fields.
• Experience in the private sector (e.g., strategy consulting, investment banking, pharma, or similar fast-paced, results-oriented environments).
• Experience working remotely with decentralized teams across multiple geographies and time zones.
• Professional fluency in additional languages such as French, Hindi, Yoruba, or Swahili.