Head of Region: Africa & Middle East - Fondation CHANEL

About Fondation CHANEL

Fondation CHANEL, established in 2011, is a corporate foundation focused on empowering women and adolescent girls to determine their own futures. The foundation collaborates with nonprofits, international alliances, academic and research institutions, social enterprises, and other philanthropic entities to address multiple forms of discrimination and promote gender equality. The foundation upholds core values such as trust, humility, awareness of power and privilege, holistic thinking, collaboration, continuous learning, and fostering sustainable change. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Fondation CHANEL cultivates a cooperative workplace where individuals can thrive and feel confident in their roles.

Role Overview

The Head of Region for Africa and the Middle East is a vital leadership position within Fondation CHANEL, responsible for driving the foundation's strategic framework across the region from its London base. This role entails overseeing regional program development and implementation, shaping impact, and nurturing a culture that reflects the foundation's values of inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence in gender-focused philanthropy.

Core Responsibilities

• Contribute to the global strategic planning under the President's guidance.
• Adapt the foundation's mission and worldwide strategy into a practical, impactful agenda tailored for the Africa and Middle East region.
• Create and execute yearly plans aligned with organizational goals and philanthropic standards.
• Supervise the regional team to ensure roadmap adherence respecting Fondation CHANEL's values and global benchmarks.
• Oversee regional partnership development and manage the grant approval and payment processes.
• Evaluate and track regional initiatives to ensure they meet targeted outcomes, incorporating lessons learned to refine approaches.
• Collaborate with the central impact and learning team to enhance evaluation methods, fostering trusting partnerships to identify effective gender equality interventions.
• Work with the finance team to manage the regional budget, set risk tolerance, and guarantee proper controls.

• Lead and motivate a diverse, high-performing team with clear goals and supportive leadership that encourages growth and inclusion.
• Demonstrate values-centered leadership and cross-organizational cooperation within the leadership team.
• Advocate for the foundation's values, fostering an environment where diverse identities can succeed.
• Promote collective leadership, trust, and psychological safety, supporting strategic conversations and decisions.

• Build strong, respectful relationships with foundation executives, corporate partners, and external stakeholders.
• Position Fondation CHANEL as a collaborative influencer in philanthropy to advance gender equality.
• Represent the foundation publicly, leading advocacy and communication efforts regionally.
• Organize key events and develop communication and advocacy strategies for the region.

• Provide effective governance leadership with transparent documentation supporting strategic and grant-related decision-making.
• Identify and manage programmatic, compliance, and reputational risks in collaboration with Legal, Finance, and Communications teams.
• Understand reputational dynamics pertinent to operating as a corporate foundation.

Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership experience managing extensive social impact programs.
• Strong teamwork skills paired with emotional intelligence and transparent decision-making.
• A growth-oriented mindset open to transformative collaboration.
• Strategic global thinker with deep local insight and the ability to connect regional and global perspectives.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Skilled communicator and ambassador adept at simplifying complex ideas into coherent messaging.
• Experienced team builder with a passion for mentoring and fostering learning.
• Commitment to feminist principles and impactful work on gender equality, racial justice, and climate justice.
• Reflective about personal experience and its influence on gender equality advocacy and team leadership.

What Energizes You

• Translating global mission into effective regional strategies promoting gender equality and social justice.
• Leading and inspiring diverse, high-performing teams with an inclusive, empowering culture.
• Bridging local context with global mission to ensure relevant and ambitious programming.
• Serving as a senior leader and ambassador influencing philanthropic funding and advancing sector norms.
• Driving innovation and continuous learning with stakeholders to maximize impact.
• Embodying values-driven leadership fostering collective decision-making, trust, and psychological safety.
• Tackling complex challenges with strategic, analytical, and communicative expertise.
• Contributing to a senior leadership culture of debate, shared learning, and transformative change.

What Fondation CHANEL Offers

• A prominent senior leadership role focused on advancing gender equality and social justice globally.
• A collaborative and inclusive culture prioritizing diversity, personal fulfillment, and equity.
• The chance to shape and implement regional and global strategies with support for innovation and development.
• An organizational culture that models trust, humility, and respect for diverse identities and backgrounds.
• Participation in sector-leading initiatives involving impact measurement, governance, and advocacy.
• An opportunity to build lasting philanthropic excellence and drive systemic change benefiting women and girls worldwide.