Technical Director, Africa at Pure Earth
Worldwide
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>About Pure Earth: </strong> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Pure Earth (www.pureearth.org) is a global leader in improving public health and development outcomes by reducing exposure to lead and other toxic pollutants. We work closely with governments to embed evidence-based, sustainable solutions into public systems at the national scale. By translating data into action and pairing technical expertise with local partnerships, Pure Earth designs and delivers practical interventions that reduce pollution and poisoning risks, strengthen public response systems, and support long-term health and economic progress.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Position Overview:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Pure Earth is seeking an experienced Technical Director to support Pure Earth’s project and country teams across Africa, which at a minimum will include Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa, with a special focus on providing toxic site remediation support and oversight. </p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The Technical Director will provide scientific rigor, analytical judgment, and quality assurance across Pure Earth’s Africa programmatic portfolio. The role is responsible for ensuring that the best-available science, appropriate technical/health and safety protocols, and global and national standards are utilized in identifying lead exposure sources, follow up biomonitoring studies, and contaminated site investigation and risk-mitigation/remediation work.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The Technical Director role requires the ability to apply scientific and analytical rigor to the prevention of lead exposure—while translating that rigor into practical, implementable programmatic approaches in various African countries. This includes experience working on heavy metal exposure issues—particularly lead—strong analytical judgment in prioritization and design; and the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and credibly to program teams, government counterparts, donors, and community stakeholders.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This is a field-embedded role that requires regular engagement in on-ground program activities, site visits, data management, hands-on problem solving, and quality assurance and control alongside program teams and partners. The role demands comfort working in complex field settings and applying environmental health and safety judgment in real-world conditions—not only desk-based analysis.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Reporting and Team Structure:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Reports to: Regional Director, Africa</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Key internal partners: Technical Support and Research Department, Technical Managers</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Work Location:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Accra, Ghana or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia preferred.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Remote work in other African country possible, with preference for Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, or South Africa.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Employment Type:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Full-time</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Scope of Work:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Technical Support & Quality Assurance</strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Work with Pure Earth’s Technical Support and Research Department to provide technical support across Pure Earth’s programs in Africa focused on lead exposure source identification, risk assessment, source intervention, risk-mitigation, and site remediation. Technical support for site remediation will be a priority component of the role.</li> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Contribute to, adapt, and maintain technical standards, SOPs, protocols, data analysis and decision frameworks for programmatic activities in conjunction with Pure Earth Technical Support and Research Department, and consistent with global best practices and applicable regulatory contexts.</li> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Review and sign off on technical approaches for program design, pilots, and scale-up initiatives.</li> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Ensure consistent application of quality assurance and control, health and safety protocols, and ethical standards across states and projects.</li> <li style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support Country Directors to spearhead country level strategic plans by providing technical support.</li> </ul> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></strong></h3> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Programmatic Technical Support</span></strong></h3> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="text-align: justify; border-width: medium medium 0in; border-color: currentcolor currentcolor black; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-width: 1; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; padding: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support the implementation of initial, preliminary, and detailed site screenings and remediation activities in the country.</li> <li style="text-align: justify; border-width: medium; border-color: currentcolor; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-width: 1; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; padding: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Provide field support related to source identification, exposure assessment, and risk mitigation across market, community, and home assessments.</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support Technical Managers and program teams in translating scientific evidence into </span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">operationally sound program designs</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">.</span></strong></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Guide prioritization of sources and interventions based on risk, feasibility, and impact.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Provide inputs to country-level strategies, workplans, and implementation approaches.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Work closely with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) team to ensure indicators, data collection methods, and interpretations are </span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">methodologically appropriate</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">.</span></strong></li> </ul> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></strong></h3> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Protocols, Tools & Capacity Building</span></strong></h3> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Adapt, develop, and institutionalize </span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">training materials</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> related to lead exposure assessment, mitigation, and remediation, with materials on remediation considered highest priority. </span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Build and strengthen the technical capacity of Technical Managers, Program Managers, field teams and government counterparts through in-person and online trainings, mentoring, and on-the-job support.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Contribute effectively to data management and analysis, supporting informed decision-making and high-quality project outcomes.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support the procurement and safe and effective use of technical equipment (e.g., XRFs, GPS, Lead Care II devices) and related QA/QC and documentation standards.</span></li> </ul> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></strong></h3> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Research, Evidence & Knowledge Integration</span></strong></h3> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Provide guidance to country teams on field investigations, exposure assessments, and applied research activities.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Review technical components of concept notes, proposals, and donor reports.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support synthesis of evidence and lessons learned to inform policy engagement and scale-up.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Contribute to publications, guidance documents, protocols, and learning products as required.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Coordination & Representation</span></strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Coordinate closely with the Pure Earth Technical Support and Research Department to ensure alignment with Pure Earth protocols and guidance documents while adapting for country-specific needs.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Engage with government departments, technical institutions, laboratories, and expert bodies as a technical representative of Pure Earth Africa.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Support donor and stakeholder discussions, as required. <br><br><strong>Required Qualifications and </strong><strong>Experiences:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 8pt 0in 3pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Education</strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Master’s degree in a relevant technical field such as environmental health, environmental engineering, public health, toxicology, chemistry, or related disciplines. (PhD preferred but not required.)</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 8pt 0in 3pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Experience</strong></p> <p style="margin: 8pt 0in 3pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Required</em></strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">6-12 years of experience in environmental health, pollution control, or public health programs, preferably in low- and middle-income country contexts.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience leading or managing toxic or contaminated site remediation or clean up required.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Demonstrated experience applying scientific evidence and analytical judgment to real-world program design and implementation.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Demonstrated experience working in field-based or implementation-heavy roles, with comfort operating in diverse, resource-constrained, or complex on-ground environments.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Ability to translate complex environmental health concepts into clear, actionable guidance for program teams, government counterparts, donors, and non-technical audiences.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience working across multidisciplinary teams and translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Demonstrates strong skills in data management and data analysis.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Professional fluency in English; working knowledge of French or other African languages is an advantage.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Ability and willingness to travel internationally (up to 40%), as needed.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Authorization to work in an African country.</span></li> </ul> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: windowtext;"> </span></strong></h3> <h3 style="margin: 0in; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 55, 99); font-weight: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: windowtext;">Preferred</span></em></strong></h3> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Demonstrated experience developing or applying </span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">technical protocols, standards, and quality assurance systems</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> in programmatic settings.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Hands-on experience supporting or leading components of exposure assessment, mitigation, remediation, or related interventions. </span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience with environmental laboratory testing and sample collection.</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience with </span><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">lead, heavy metals, or hazardous waste</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> exposure pathways.</span></li> <li style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience in drafting technical publications.</li> <li style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Familiarity with African regulatory frameworks related to pollution control, public health, or industrial safety.</li> <li style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experience engaging with government agencies, research institutions, or international donors.</li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Prior work in an international NGO or large-scale, multi-state program environment.</span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Work Environment:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It is preferred that the Technical Director work in a Pure Earth office or project country in Africa (Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, or South Africa), but remote work in another African country will be considered. The Technical Director is expected to work in an African time zone. Travel to project countries (Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and South Africa) is expected 40% of the year.</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>How to Apply:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">To apply, please submit your application through Pure Earth’s online career portal. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. </p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Tentative Date of Joining:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">October 2026</p> <p style="margin: 13pt 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><strong>Equal Employment Opportunity</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It is the policy of Pure Earth to provide equal opportunity for all qualified persons and not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender or gender identity, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 5pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">This job description may be revised and updated as required to meet organizational objectives.</p>
Apply Now