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Director, Project Unleaded

Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, California, United States

New

Administration

Post Date 5 days ago

Requisition # 107694

_This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause._

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, clickhere.

TheStanford Woods Institute for the Environmentworks to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

TheCenter for Human and Planetary Health, launched in October 2024, is the newest Center hosted at the Woods Institute, in close collaboration with the Center for Innovation in Global Health at the Stanford School of Medicine. The Center advances research, solutions, and education to improve health and sustainability. The Center’s lead contamination research initiative, now called Project Unleaded, is a critical part of the new Center. Project Unleaded’s efforts began in 2020 and have spanned 6 countries with 7 external partners. Project Unleaded prioritizes policy-relevant research and deep engagement with local partners in affected countries to achieve lasting change. Project Unleaded’s mission is to create a healthier world by addressing lead poisoning at the source. Research priorities center around 3 goals:

1. To identify critical lead exposure sources linked with the human lead burden

2. To develop, test, and scale-up interventions to eliminate sources of lead

3. To advance lead detection techniques

Project Unleaded and the Center for Human and Planetary Health are seeking a founding Director for Project Unleaded to provide leadership and management for all aspects of the expanding program. Project Unleaded recently secured $11 million in funding, and the founding Director will be responsible for implementing and managing all aspects of the global program and its impact. The role will act as a scientific subject matter expert and will be responsible for shaping and implementing strategy, managing a large team, designing and leading a robust program of global research, obtaining and overseeing program funds, engaging a global network of partners, ensuring project success and impact, and providing overall vision and leadership. This position reports to Dr. Steve Luby and requires some international travel and a flexible work schedule to accommodate meetings with a large global network of partners.

Your Responsibilities will include:

+ Independently lead multi-year, multi-country research programs addressing lead contamination in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and other low- and middle-income countries. Own and be accountable for study design (aims, methods, survey design, data collection), oversee protocol development, field implementation, data collection, and data management and analysis.

+ Build and manage a high-performing team of 10 staff and postdocs. Develop staffing plans, lead hiring, onboarding, mentoring, performance management, and professional development. Partner with the Faculty Director to supervise two postdocs, multiple graduate students, 4 full-time staff, and 1-2 part-time / contingent workers with specialized skills.

+ Oversee 2–4 large international subawards up to $1million each to universities, NGOs, and other partners in Bangladesh, India, and other LMICs. Ensure partner performance and impact, manage deliverables, and oversee spending. Maintain regular communication to ensure awardees are on-track for meeting deliverables and impact.

+ Develop and manage budgets; track expenditures, forecast, and reallocate resources to ensure the team meets program goals. Current program portfolio exceeds $11 million.

+ Lead dissemination efforts, including oversight of manuscripts, policy briefs, and conference presentations. Findings will have major global health and policy impacts and are likely to be high profile.

+ Engage with academic colleagues at Stanford and universities worldwide working on lead poisoning prevention to ensure that approaches Project Unleaded is developing are aligned with the latest techniques. Cultivate and steward relationships with multilateral institutions (e.g., UNICEF, WHO), in-country stakeholders, NGOs, and the broader scientific community to ensure appropriate partnerships for impact.

+ Act as the main interface with Project Unleaded’s current donors; develop and present donor reports. Engage them where appropriate; partner with Development to steward the relationships.

+ Identify high-value strategic research questions and competitive funding opportunities. Lead fundraising efforts and proposal development (concept notes, study designs, budgets), pitch to donors, work closely with Stanford’s development colleagues to secure new grants from foundations, individuals, or agencies.

+ Coordinate closely with the Center for Human and Planetary Health to align priorities, share platforms, and maximize impact and efficiency.

+ Lead communications and policy translation in collaboration with the Center. Develop a clear narrative that is easily digestible by multiple audiences; support media engagement and stakeholder briefings. Oversee development of a website that hosts useful tools to research partners.

+ Manage annual program-wide progress reviews, evaluating program effectiveness, research plans, risks and assumptions, and outcomes and impact. Adjust plans as appropriate.

_* - The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned._

To be successful in this position, you will need:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

+ Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to influence and motivate constituencies which could span multiple organizational boundaries.

+ Demonstrated excellent planning, organizational, and analytical skills.

+ Demonstrated ability to make sound business decisions using good business judgment and innovative and creative problem-solving.

+ Demonstrated ability to manage financial, organizational, and staff resources.

+ Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with the ability to cultivate professional and business partnerships.

+ Relevant subject matter expertise.

In addition, our preferred qualifications include:

+ Advanced degree e.g., PhD in environmental health, exposure science, environmental epidemiology, implementation science, or a related field.

+ Experience managing complex, multi-partner research in LMIC settings, including field surveys, lab studies, and subaward management.

+ Demonstrated expertise in lead exposure studies; strong quantitative skills and familiarity with mixed-methods.

+ Experience working in interdisciplinary research projects which involve social sciences, business, epidemiology, policy, and more. Experience engaging new disciplines to contribute to studies.

+ Proven track record of grant writing and fundraising; $1M+ awards preferred.

+ Exceptional partnership management, cross-cultural communication. An established network within the international lead contamination space.

+ Experience with team management and people leadership; supervision of PhD-level staff.

+ Excellent writing for scientific and policy audiences; strong publication record in related field.

+ Experience with translating research to policy change. Experience with international government engagement.

+ Knowledge of supply chains for lead sources (batteries, spices, paints, ceramics, cosmetics).

+ Familiarity with IRB, human subjects protection, data use agreements, and open-science practices.

_* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job._

The expected pay range for this position is $162,809 to $197,109 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

How to Apply

We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting acontact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

+ **Schedule: Full-time**

+ **Job Code: 4123**

+ **Employee Status: Regular**

+ **Grade: K**

+ **Requisition ID: 107694**

+ **Work Arrangement : Hybrid Eligible**