Chanel Head of Global, Fondation CHANEL

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Location
LondonEnglandUK
Seniority
Director
Department
Corporate Affairs, Sustainability & CSR
Industry
Media, Art & Cultural Institutions
Posted
May 6, 2026

About Chanel

Chanel is an independent French luxury house renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and beauty. The company sustains a global creative and cultural presence and operates Fondation CHANEL to support artistic, cultural and environmental initiatives worldwide. As an employer, Chanel combines craftsmanship-led excellence with discreet, globally minded stewardship of heritage and cultural patronage.

Chanel seeks Head of Global, Fondation CHANEL in London to lead international cultural programmes, partnerships and strategic philanthropy.

Role & Responsibilities

  • Define and implement the Fondation CHANEL’s global strategy, setting priorities for cultural, artistic and environmental programmes across regions.
  • Lead programme design and delivery, overseeing project lifecycle from concept and grant-making to evaluation and impact measurement.
  • Develop and steward strategic international partnerships with museums, cultural institutions, NGOs, artists and academic partners.
  • Secure and diversify funding and resources for the foundation’s initiatives, working closely with executive leadership and external stakeholders.
  • Manage governance processes, ensuring compliance with legal, fiduciary and reporting requirements across jurisdictions.
  • Own annual budgeting, financial oversight and resource allocation for global programmes.
  • Lead, coach and expand a small senior team and external consultants, cultivating cross-functional collaboration with Chanel’s brand and corporate functions.
  • Represent Fondation CHANEL publicly at high-level forums, conferences and donor meetings, acting as chief spokesperson when required.

Qualifications

  • Proven senior leadership experience (typically 10+ years) within a philanthropic foundation, cultural institution, museum or comparable organisation with an international remit.
  • Track record of designing and delivering complex cultural or environmental programmes and managing multi‑stakeholder partnerships across geographies.
  • Demonstrable experience in fundraising, grant-making, budget management and oversight of governance/compliance.
  • Exceptional strategic thinking, diplomatic stakeholder management and public representation skills.
  • Fluent in English; high proficiency in French strongly preferred.
  • Advanced degree in arts administration, cultural policy, museum studies, humanities or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience.

Skills

Strategic programme development International partnership cultivation Fundraising and grant-making Budgeting and financial oversight Governance and regulatory compliance Cross-cultural stakeholder management Public speaking and representation Team leadership and people development Project management and impact evaluation

Experience

Senior leadership tenure of approximately 10+ years in foundation management, cultural institutions, museums, or international NGOs, with direct responsibility for multi‑region programme design, partnership development and budgetary oversight.

Education

Master’s degree in arts administration, cultural management, humanities or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Workplace

This position is based in London, England, UK.

Culture

Chanel’s workplace culture blends exacting standards of craftsmanship with a discreet, international professional ethos. Employees at Fondation CHANEL operate at the intersection of cultural patronage and strategic philanthropy, working collaboratively across creative, legal and corporate functions while upholding the brand’s commitment to artistic excellence and social impact.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.

Frequently Asked Questions

A.

The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Global Director, Foundation Programs», «Director of International Partnerships and Philanthropy», «Head of Global Cultural Initiatives», «Director, Global Foundation Strategy», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.