Asia Programme Officer - Fondation CHANEL (12-month Fixed Term Contract)

About Fondation CHANEL

Established in 2011, Fondation CHANEL is a corporate foundation devoted to empowering women and adolescent girls to freely determine their futures. The foundation collaborates with nonprofit, international, academic, and social organizations to combat intersecting discriminations and to promote gender equality. Its work is centered on core values such as trust, humility, attention to power dynamics, holistic thinking, teamwork, continuous learning, and fostering sustainable progress.

The foundation is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive and feel confident in their contributions.

Role Overview

The Asia Programme Officer position is essential in driving Fondation CHANEL's mission by managing a varied portfolio of grants and partnerships. This 12-month contract involves overseeing prospecting, monitoring, evaluation, and cultivating relationships aligned with the foundation’s principles and strategic goals. Collaboration with Operations, Finance, and Legal teams is integral, as is contributing to strategy development and impact storytelling. The role also involves enhancing partners’ networks, advocacy efforts, and shared learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in formulating and executing regional strategies tailored to local needs, based on comprehensive ecosystem insights.
• Support the team in prospecting via ecosystem mapping, research, and information collection to identify promising partners and impactful projects.
• Help document processes ensuring alignment with mission and equity values.
• Lead or assist in specific partner initiatives as required.
• Manage grant portfolios, including prospecting, due diligence, monitoring, evaluation, and closure.
• Support compliance processes by reviewing necessary documentation per foundation standards.
• Maintain transparent and trustful communication with partners throughout grant lifecycles.
• Prepare and update grant-related documentation accurately.
• Organize and attend site visits, travels, and partner meetings, capturing insights to foster learning and relationships.
• Maintain organized filing systems and integrate partner reports into foundation strategies.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams on reporting, financial compliance, agreements, and evaluations.
• Lead or support calls for proposals according to foundation guidelines.
• Track partner payments ensuring adherence to financial policies, identifying and addressing risks.
• Collaboratively identify and manage programmatic and financial risks within the portfolio.
• Support communications by contributing content aligned with regional and internal communications strategies.
• Engage with internal teams for potential pro bono partner support.
• Assist in preparing and hosting team and multi-partner events.
• Attend external network meetings and conferences to share knowledge.
• Develop and nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including partners and corporate teams.
• Lead partner engagement initiatives, capacity building, and collaboration on non-financial programs.
• Coordinate skills-based volunteering, in-kind donations, and joint actions with related teams.
• Implement monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks to track progress, measure impact, and document lessons.
• Collect and analyze data and narratives for robust internal and external reporting.
• Contribute to fostering an inclusive and supportive team environment aligned with foundation values.
• Encourage cross-regional collaboration and sharing of best practices.
• Support recruitment and onboarding processes for new team members.

Candidate Profile

• The candidate may either have lived experience or a degree in social sciences, humanities, economics, international relations, or a related area.
• Professional background in gender equality, philanthropy, or international development within relevant regions is preferred.
• Experience in project and partnership management, including monitoring, evaluation, and compliance, is essential.
• Strong knowledge and enthusiasm for gender equality topics such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health rights, climate adaptation, or economic empowerment.
• Understanding of corporate foundation operations is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of impactful storytelling and clear information synthesis.
• Strong analytic ability, keen attention to detail, and proficiency in presenting data effectively.
• Ability to collaborate across cultures and multidisciplinary teams.
• Fluency in English required; additional languages such as French, Spanish, or relevant regional dialects are a plus.
• Willingness to travel regularly.
• Qualities of empathy, humility, teamwork, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Open-minded, curious, adaptable, self-aware, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.
• Committed to values of empowerment, inclusion, and equity upheld by the foundation.

Motivations and Values

• Passion for social justice causes, particularly gender equality and diversity & inclusion.
• Desire to make meaningful contributions to the gender equality sector through values-driven organizational work.
• Enthusiasm for collaborative cross-cultural, cross-functional teamwork.
• Interest in cultivating and maintaining enduring partnerships.
• Dedication to continuous personal and team development within a global dynamic.

Benefits and Culture

• Opportunity to join an inclusive and diversified workplace that values personal fulfillment and high performance.
• Play a central role in advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls.
• Manage a diverse portfolio integrating social justice aims with corporate foundation rigor.
• Gain hands-on experience in grant management, strategy, and impact storytelling.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across geographies.
• Contribute to strengthening advocacy, networks, and shared learning in the gender equality ecosystem.
• Engage with an organization rooted in trust, humility, critical awareness of power, and support for sustainable change.
• Experience a workplace culture that celebrates individual uniqueness and values diverse perspectives and potential.