CHANEL
Head of Region: Africa & Middle East - Fondation CHANEL
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About Fondation CHANEL
Created in 2011, Fondation CHANEL (the “Fondation”) is a corporate foundation aiming for women and adolescent girls to be free to shape their own destiny. We work in partnership with nonprofit organisations, international organisations, alliances, academic and research institutions, social businesses, and other charitable funds and foundations to address the overlapping discriminations against women and young girls and advance gender equality.
The foundation is guided by a set of core values which lie at the heart of the way in which it carries out its work, both internally and externally with its grantee partners: trust, humility, attentiveness to power and privilege, holistic thinking, collaboration, learning, and supporting sustainable change.
Fondation CHANEL is committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion and to building a collaborative work environment where everyone can perform at their best and feel fulfilled and confident in their work.
Why this role matters
The Head of Region for Africa and Middle East is a key member of Fondation CHANEL’s leadership team, responsible for advancing the Foundation’s strategic framework within their region. The Head of Region, based in London, leads the development and execution of regional programmes, shapes the Foundation’s impact, and fosters a collaborative, inclusive, values-driven culture. This role is central to building a best-in-class, learning organisation recognised for excellence and trusted leadership in gender-focused philanthropy.
Key responsibilities
Strategic leadership and execution
- Under the leadership of the President, Fondation CHANEL contributes to the design, development and implementation of Fondation CHANEL’s global strategy.
- Translate Fondation CHANEL’s mission and global strategy into a coherent and impactful regional strategy and priorities.
- Develop and implement annual roadmaps to deliver on the strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational goals, regional context, and standards of excellence in gender-focused philanthropy.
- Manage the team in implementing the roadmaps in line with the Fondation CHANEL’s values, and in alignment with global standards and processes.
- Provide oversight and decision-making on the regional partnership pipeline, including validating the prospection process and reviewing, approving, and presenting grants, signatures, payments, and delegated authorities.
- Monitor the progress and impact of all Fondation CHANEL’s regional initiatives against intended outcomes and regularly review to learn and adapt approaches.
- In collaboration with the central impact and learning team, evolve and strengthen the impact evaluation and learning function, working in trusting relationship with partners to understand what works to progress gender equality.
- In partnership with the finance team, develop and monitor the region’s approved budget, and set the risk appetite for the region, ensuring relevant controls are in place.
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People and organisation leadership
- Build, inspire, and retain a high-performing, diverse regional team.
- Provide clear objectives, leadership, and mentoring - empowering team members, supporting their growth, and creating a supportive, inclusive team culture.
- Actively model values-based leadership and cross-organisational collaboration.
- Serve as a member of the leadership team, contributing to the design, development, and implementation of Fondation CHANEL’s mission and impact goals.
- Champion Fondation CHANEL’s values and foster an environment where all identities and backgrounds are set up for success.
- Model collective leadership, trust, and psychological safety; contribute constructively to strategic debates and support decisions.
Stakeholder engagement
- Develop trusted, mutually respectful relationships with Foundation and company leaders, external partners, and key stakeholders.
- Position Fondation CHANEL as a collaborative leader in the philanthropic ecosystem, influencing funding and practices to advance gender equality.
- Influence, advocate, and act as a spokesperson and ambassador for regional programmes and partners, contributing to advocacy efforts and representing Fondation CHANEL at events.
- Lead the development and execution of regional communications and advocacy strategies, coordinating key events and sharing learnings.
Governance and risk management
- Provide leadership in effective governance, preparing transparent and accessible documentation to inform strategy and grant-decision making, and participating in governance meetings as requested by the President and/or Trustees.
- Lead the regional team identifying and navigating programmatic, compliance and reputational risks and defining proposed mitigations working closely with Legal, Finance and Communications teams.
- A deep understanding of the external posture and reputational considerations connected to being a corporate foundation.
What you will bring
- An experienced leader with an excellent record of implementing large social impact programmes.
- Team player with a high degree of emotional intelligence, modelling effective and transparent decision making and ways of working.
- A growth mindset, with an appetite for transformation and leading collaborative change.
- A strategic thinker, able to take a global perspective rooted in local knowledge and experience and have an ability to link the local to the global and vice versa.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with an ability to draw meaningful and strategic insights.
- An excellent ambassador / spokesperson with strong communication and interpersonal skills, who can understand complexity and turn it into clear cohesive messaging.
- Excellent leadership and management skills, and experience building high-performing teams.
- Willingness and ability to effectively delegate, passionate interest in mentoring others, and a demonstrable commitment to learning and collaboration.
- A passion for social impact and demonstrated commitment to feminist principles and proven track record in working for gender equality and/or other closely related social justice goals, including racial and climate justice.
- Thoughtful analysis of their own lived experience and how this shapes their approach to gender equality work and team leadership.
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You are energised by
- Leading the strategic translation of Fondation CHANEL’s global mission into impactful regional strategies that drive gender equality and social justice.
- Building, inspiring, and mentoring a high-performing, diverse team—empowering others, fostering an inclusive culture, and supporting professional growth.
- Operating at the intersection of local context and global vision, ensuring that regional programmes are relevant, ambitious, and aligned with organisational values.
- Serving as a senior leader and ambassador, influencing funding landscapes, advancing sector practices, and positioning Fondation CHANEL as a thought leader in gender-focused philanthropy.
- Driving innovation and continuous learning, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to shape, evaluate, and adapt initiatives for greater impact.
- Engaging in meaningful, values-driven leadership that champions collective decision-making, psychological safety, and trust across the organisation.
- Applying analytical, strategic, and communication skills to solve complex challenges and transform ambitious ideas into action for meaningful, sustainable change.
- Being part of a senior leadership team that values debate, shared learning, and transformative, collaborative change.
What Fondation CHANEL can offer you
- The opportunity to play a pivotal, senior leadership role in advancing gender equality and social justice at a globally recognised corporate foundation.
- A collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven work environment where diversity, equality, and personal fulfilment are prioritised and celebrated.
- The scope to shape and deliver regional and global strategy, with support for innovation, learning, and professional development.
- A workplace culture that models trust, humility, holistic thinking, and attentiveness to power and privilege—where every identity and background is respected and empowered to succeed.
- Direct involvement in sector-leading work on impact measurement, governance, and advocacy, with the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.
- The chance to build a legacy of excellence in philanthropy, contribute to organisational evolution, and drive systemic, transformative change for women and girls worldwide.
At Chanel, we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth and collective progress. We celebrate the uniqueness of every individual and strongly encourage your application, valuing the perspective, experience, and potential you bring.
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