Independent Consultant - Market Shaping, Lead Exposure

Organisation: WJCF

Experience: Minimum 3 Years

Location: New Delhi, with domestic travel to pilot states

Last Date to Apply: 21 November 2026

About WJCF:

WJCF is an Indian non-profit organisation working to reduce the burden of disease and strengthen government-owned, high-quality health systems. Since 2007, WJCF has partnered with central and state governments to design, implement, and scale public health programmes across India.

Its work spans public health, healthcare access, market shaping, policy, and health system strengthening, with programmes across 19 states and union territories. WJCF collaborates with government bodies, donors, private-sector organisations, and civil society partners to improve health outcomes.

Programme Overview:

WJCF's Lead Exposure Programme aims to address lead exposure in India by improving access to safer alternatives, strengthening supply chains, and identifying opportunities for market-shaping interventions.

The programme focuses on supporting small and medium-sized paint manufacturers in transitioning to lead-free alternatives, while exploring interventions related to portable X-ray fluorescence devices (pXRF), chelation therapy, and lead-free pigments in other sources.

About the Role:

WJCF is seeking an analytically strong and entrepreneurial Independent Consultant to support the design, implementation, and monitoring of market-shaping interventions under its Lead Exposure Programme.

The role will involve market assessments, value chain analysis, stakeholder engagement, policy research, and financial modelling. The consultant will work across government, private-sector, donor, and civil society stakeholders to identify market gaps, evaluate intervention opportunities, and support the development and implementation of practical solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Market Strategies for Lead-Free Paints:

- Support the design and implementation of pilot interventions to help small and medium-sized paint manufacturers transition to lead-free alternatives.

- Assess barriers faced by manufacturers, including raw material sourcing, supply chain constraints, and the feasibility of reformulation.

- Evaluate opportunities to aggregate raw material demand among paint manufacturers to improve access to affordable lead-free inputs.

- Identify institutional paint buyers and explore procurement commitments that can encourage manufacturers to adopt lead-free alternatives.

- Develop pilot implementation plans covering resources, partnerships, budgets, timelines, risks, and mitigation measures.

- Prepare implementation toolkits and supporting materials for pilot roll-outs.

2. Lead-Free Pigments in Other Sources:

- Map lead and lead-free pigment supply chains across relevant sources, including plastics and turmeric.

- Assess barriers to switching to safer alternatives and evaluate the feasibility of lead-free pigment transitions.

- Identify and prioritise market-shaping opportunities.

- Support the development of concepts and proposals for potential interventions.

3. Market Shaping for Portable XRF (pXRF):

- Assess the supplier and distribution landscape for portable XRF devices.

- Evaluate device availability and pricing across suppliers.

- Map demand, existing usage, and unmet needs among relevant stakeholders.

- Examine procurement pathways and applicable regulatory frameworks.

- Assess end-user requirements and product-market fit to identify opportunities to improve affordability and access.

4. Market Shaping for Chelating Agents:

- Assess opportunities to improve access to affordable oral chelation therapy.

- Explore sourcing and procurement strategies to reduce costs and support access to chelation drugs.

- Evaluate opportunities for inclusion of relevant medicines in essential drug lists.

- Assess alternative formulations and delivery approaches that could improve affordability and feasibility in low-resource settings.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Programme Management:

- Conduct stakeholder interviews and primary research across government, industry, donors, and civil society.

- Support the preparation of concept notes, funding proposals, progress reports, and other programme documents.

- Coordinate with stakeholders and contribute to partnership management.

- Maintain programme tracking tools and monitor progress against milestones.

- Support financial modelling, market analysis, and evidence-based decision-making across programme workstreams.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field. A postgraduate degree is preferred.

- Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in market assessment, supply chain analysis, commercial strategy, policy analysis, or related analytical work.

- Strategy consulting experience is preferred.

- Experience conducting primary research, stakeholder interviews, value chain mapping, or market assessments in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

- Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including the ability to develop unit economics and financial models.

- Strong strategic thinking and the ability to identify high-impact opportunities in complex and evolving environments.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare reports, briefs, and presentations for government, donor, and technical audiences.

- Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to work independently, manage workstreams end-to-end, and develop and implement new initiatives.

Engagement Details:

- Location: New Delhi, with domestic travel to pilot states

- Duration: Up to 6 months, extendable based on performance

- Application Deadline: 21 November 2026