Location: Remote (global), with international travel required
Application Deadline: September 20, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we may begin interviewing candidates before the application deadline,
About the Organization
Imagine you are walking past a shallow pond. A small child is drowning in it. You could wade in and save her — at no risk to yourself, at the cost of nothing more than muddy clothes. Do you have an obligation to act?
Most people say yes, without hesitation.
Peter Singer's next question is harder: if that is true, what ought you to do about the thousands of children who die every day from causes that are equally preventable, equally treatable, and equally real — just farther away?
That question is the founding idea of The Life You Can Save (TLYCS). Since Singer published his book of that name in 2009, TLYCS has grown into a global organization that translates moral argument into measurable action: identifying the nonprofit organizations whose work has been most rigorously demonstrated to save and improve lives in some of the world's poorest countries, and inspiring donors worldwide to support them. Over 150,000 people have encountered this argument through the book alone. Many more have engaged with it online. And more than a hundred million dollars have flowed to extraordinarily effective organizations as a result.
We are now looking for the leader who will take TLYCS through its next chapter.
Role Summary
The CEO is the senior leader of TLYCS, reporting directly to the Board of Directors and responsible for the organization's strategy, culture, operations, and growth.
This is not a steady-state leadership role. We are looking for a builder — someone who will look at what TLYCS has achieved and ask how to multiply it. The organization currently moves approximately $24 million annually to some of the most effective poverty-relief work in the world. The CEO's central charge is to grow that number, significantly and sustainably, while maintaining the intellectual rigor and donor trust that make TLYCS's recommendations credible.
Key Responsibilities
Set the direction. Working closely with the Board, you will shape and execute TLYCS's long-term strategy — identifying where the organization can have the greatest leverage, translating strategic goals into clear priorities, and ensuring every decision stays anchored to the mission.
Own the growth agenda. Fundraising is the engine of TLYCS's impact. You will take personal ownership of major donor relationships, lead the development team's efforts, and bring the ambition and skill to substantially expand the organization's impact. This includes both growing the funds directed to our recommended charities and securing the operational funding needed to sustain and grow TLYCS itself.
Control the resources. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, you will determine how TLYCS's budget is sized and allocated, making the hard choices that keep a lean, high-performing organization effective.
Lead the team. You will manage a senior leadership team spanning marketing, operations, research, and fundraising, and foster the kind of remote-first culture — high-trust, mission-driven, globally distributed — that draws exceptional people to work that matters.
Carry the flag. You will be a principal public voice for TLYCS: with donors, with the media, with partners in the effective altruism and broader philanthropic communities, and with anyone who needs to hear a compelling case for evidence-based giving.
Essential Qualifications
We expect competitive candidates to meet all of the following requirements:
● Demonstrated commitment to TLYCS's mission and values. You will have a meaningful track record of acting on values aligned with TLYCS's mission, demonstrated through your professional work, philanthropy, volunteering, advocacy or other sustained commitments. Intellectual agreement with the mission alone is not sufficient.
● Experience in international development and/or global health, including an understanding of evidence-based approaches to reducing extreme poverty and awareness of approaches used to identify high-impact, cost-effective interventions and organizations.
● A demonstrated track record of nonprofit fundraising, preferably with a focus on cultivating and securing support from major donors, foundations and/or other institutional funders, alongside an ability to spread a compelling message widely and thereby grow a broad base of individual donors.
● Experience leading or overseeing marketing and communications, including an understanding of how brand, audience engagement and compelling communications can support fundraising, organizational growth and increased giving to highly effective charities.
● Several years of senior leadership experience, with a track record of organizational growth, developing and executing strategy, building and leading high-performing teams, managing significant budgets, and earning the trust of boards and senior stakeholders.
● Strong communication and external representation skills, including the ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and conviction to donors, partners, staff and public audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
● Demonstrated effectiveness in a remote and globally distributed working environment strongly preferred.
● Existing networks among potential funders and across the philanthropy, global health and development sectors.
You are likely to be someone who combines leadership competence, intellectual seriousness and an unusually strong personal commitment to improving the lives of people living in extreme poverty.
Practical Requirements
Work environment and right to work. This is a fully remote role. Candidates must already have the legal right to work from the country in which they will be based. TLYCS is not able to provide visa sponsorship or relocation support for this position.
Time zones and working hours. We welcome applicants from different time zones, but this is a genuinely global role. The CEO must be able to participate regularly in internal and external meetings across TLYCS's key markets in the United States and Australia, as well as work with team members based in South Africa. Depending on where you are based, this will require some flexibility to attend meetings outside standard working hours.
Full-time position. This is a full-time leadership role and requires the CEO's full professional commitment to TLYCS.
International travel. International travel is an essential requirement of the role. Candidates should only apply if they are able and willing to travel internationally as required for Board meetings, donor engagement, team meetings, conferences and other organizational priorities.
What We Offer
A salary commensurate with experience, the flexibility of fully remote work, and the knowledge that the organization you lead will, this year, direct tens of millions of dollars to people who need it most.
The Life You Can Save is an equal opportunity employer. We actively welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and nationalities.
Application Instructions
To apply, complete our short online application form.
Application Deadline: September 20, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we may begin interviewing candidates before the application deadline.
careers@thelifeyoucansave.org
This position was originally posted by TLYCS and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
