Professionals passionate about social impact, organisational learning, philanthropy, and global change have an exciting career opportunity to join the IKEA Foundation as Head of Learning & Impact.

The IKEA Foundation is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and purpose-driven leader who can guide the organisation’s learning and impact agenda by developing systems, practices, and a culture that enable meaningful learning across the Foundation and its global partnerships.

This full-time leadership role is based at the IKEA Foundation office in Leiden, the Netherlands, and offers an opportunity to influence how one of the world’s major philanthropic organisations understands impact, improves decision-making, and supports long-term global transformation.

The application deadline is:

Monday, 10 August 2026 at 10:00 AM CEST

About the IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation dedicated to fighting global warming and supporting solutions that improve people’s lives.

Although the Foundation shares a heritage and values connection with IKEA, it operates independently from the IKEA business. The organisation focuses on supporting partners working toward long-term changes in high-emitting systems that affect communities worldwide.

The Foundation’s mission centres on creating a better everyday life for people by supporting initiatives that address major global challenges.

Its work focuses on four key areas:

• Energy
• Land, food, and forests
• Buildings
• Transport

Through partnerships and philanthropic funding, the IKEA Foundation supports people-centred solutions aimed at reducing and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions while creating sustainable social and environmental impact.

To date, the Foundation has provided nearly €3 billion in funding to partners around the world.

About the Head of Learning & Impact Role

The Head of Learning & Impact will lead the Foundation’s Learning and Impact team and oversee the development of approaches that help the organisation understand:

• What is working
• Why it is working
• What lessons can guide future decisions
• How partnerships and strategies can continuously improve

The role is not focused only on measuring outcomes through traditional indicators. Instead, it requires someone who understands that social and environmental systems are complex, constantly changing, and influenced by many factors.

The successful candidate will help create an environment where evidence, reflection, experience, and insights inform strategic choices.

Key Responsibilities

The Head of Learning & Impact will be responsible for leading and strengthening the Foundation’s learning and impact approach.

Major responsibilities include:

Leading the Learning and Impact Strategy

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and guide the Foundation’s learning and impact strategy.
• Ensure learning is integrated into organisational decision-making.
• Build systems that allow teams to generate and use meaningful insights.
• Support continuous improvement across programmes and partnerships.

Building a Culture of Organisational Learning

The role will help create a workplace culture where learning is shared and valued.

Responsibilities include:

• Encouraging reflection and dialogue.
• Supporting teams to learn from successes and challenges.
• Creating safe environments for innovation and adaptation.
• Helping colleagues connect evidence with strategic decisions.

Managing and Developing the Learning & Impact Team

The successful candidate will act as a strong people leader by:

• Providing direction and support to the team.
• Strengthening team culture.
• Creating conditions for high-quality work.
• Encouraging collaboration, curiosity, and professional growth.

Supporting Evidence-Based Decision Making

The Head of Learning & Impact will ensure that:

• Data and insights inform organisational choices.
• Lessons from programmes influence future strategies.
• Teams understand the impact of their work.
• Evidence is translated into practical action.

Collaborating Across the Organisation

The role requires close cooperation with teams including:

• Programmes
• Convening and Engagement
• Communications
• Operations
• People and Culture

The successful candidate will help embed learning as a shared organisational responsibility.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The IKEA Foundation is looking for someone who can combine strategic thinking with practical leadership.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Leadership Experience

Candidates should have experience:

• Leading teams or organisational functions.
• Managing learning, evaluation, impact, or strategy-related work.
• Supporting organisations through change and complexity.

Understanding of Complex Systems

The successful applicant should understand:

• Systems change approaches.
• Adaptive learning.
• Social impact measurement.
• The challenges of creating change in complex environments.

They should be able to bring structure while remaining flexible and open to emerging opportunities.

Strong Communication and Collaboration Skills

The role requires someone who can:

• Facilitate meaningful conversations.
• Build relationships across different teams and organisations.
• Communicate complex ideas clearly.
• Encourage collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Workplace Culture and Values

The IKEA Foundation identifies togetherness as a central value of its work.

The organisation believes that global challenges cannot be solved by one organisation alone and requires collaboration between communities, organisations, governments, and partners.

The successful candidate will be expected to promote:

• Collaboration
• Inclusion
• Psychological safety
• Curiosity
• Continuous learning
• Shared responsibility

Job Location and Employment Details

Position:

Head, Learning & Impact

Organisation:

IKEA Foundation

Location:

Leiden, Netherlands

Employment type:

Full-time (38 hours per week)

Additional requirements:

• International travel may be required.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken, is essential.

Salary and benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit:

1. Cover Letter

The cover letter should explain:

• Motivation for applying
• Relevant qualifications
• Leadership experience
• Interest in the IKEA Foundation’s mission

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Applicants should provide a complete professional CV highlighting relevant experience.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the Perrett Laver recruitment portal.

Click here for more and to apply

Applicants should quote reference number:

8497

Application Deadline

The closing date for applications is:

Monday, 10 August 2026 at 10:00 AM CEST

Interested candidates are encouraged to prepare their applications early and clearly demonstrate how their experience aligns with organisational learning, impact strategy, and global social change.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The Head of Learning & Impact role provides a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to influence how a global philanthropic organisation learns, adapts, and creates lasting impact.

By shaping learning systems and strengthening evidence-based decision-making, the successful candidate will help ensure that resources, partnerships, and strategies contribute effectively to addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

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