General Counsel – Stichting IKEA Foundation

Our Client

The IKEA Foundation is dedicated to building a world where low emission economies create wellbeing for the many people and sustain planetary health. The IKEA Foundation is an independent philanthropy that fights global warming with and for the many people. To get there, the Foundation supports partners that bring long-term changes to high-emitting systems with a direct impact on people’s lives: Energy, Land, Food and Forests, and Buildings and Transport. Its focus is on emerging and developing economies. Alongside this, the foundation funds emergency response to provide rapid support to people affected by humanitarian crises. To date, IKEA Foundation has provided nearly €3 billion in funding to its partners.

The Foundation’s work is made possible by financial resources generated over decades of IKEA business success. It was founded by Swedish entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad and is funded by INGKA Foundation, owner of the Ingka Group of companies. The Foundation operates independently from the IKEA retail business, but shares its vision: “To create a better everyday life for the many people.” Togetherness is its core value. The Foundation is convinced that the challenges of this century can only be solved through unprecedented collaboration, because no single organisation can meet them alone.

A sharper focus
In 2024 the IKEA Foundation reviewed and refreshed its strategy. With the climate crisis intensifying, it chose to focus its resources more sharply on tackling global warming. The Foundation also saw this as an opportunity to grow and mature as an organisation. Building on years of experience and on what its partners told it, the aim is to become more effective, collaborative and responsive.

Values and team
The Foundation’s values guide everything it does: togetherness; caring for people and the planet; cost-consciousness; simplicity; renew and improve; different with a meaning; give and take responsibility; and lead by example. Its team in Leiden is dynamic, creative and diverse, with people from more than 30 countries working with partners all over the world, united by one culture and one set of values.

More information can be found on www.ikeafoundation.org.

The Position

As General Counsel you lead the legal function and are the trusted legal advisor to senior leaders. You think along on where the Foundation is heading, not only on whether something is legally allowed. You make sure the Foundation operates with integrity, transparency and full regulatory compliance. And you do so in a way that helps the organisation move forward. You report to the Chief Operating Officer and are part of the Operations team.

Your responsibilities as General Counsel:

• Legal advice and governance: advising on critical legal, governance and compliance matters (employment law excluded). You support board and committee processes with the Board Secretary and Chief of Staff, and maintain the Foundation’s corporate governance policy and documents.
• Compliance and legal risk management: overseeing regulatory compliance and legal risk, including the Foundation’s ANBI position. You monitor regulatory developments in key jurisdictions and translate them into policies and pragmatic solutions.
• Integrity and ethics: providing legal oversight of the integrity and ethics framework, including the Trust Line. You advise on investigations, conflicts of interest, misconduct allegations, confidentiality and escalation.
• Grant agreements and contracts: drafting, negotiating and reviewing international contracts and grant agreements. You make sure grants comply with donor intent, charitable purpose and applicable law, manage disputes and litigation, and steer external legal counsel.
• People leadership: leading, inspiring and developing the Legal team, building capability and sound judgement, in line with the IKEA values and leadership capabilities.

The Profile

Legal excellence is a given for this General Counsel role. What sets the right candidate apart is who you are.

• You make judgement calls: You think strategically, take a clear position when situations are ambiguous, while staying curious, listening to others, and adjusting your thinking when new insights emerge.
• You have an entrepreneurial mindset: You look for ways to make things possible rather than reasons why they cannot be done. You take initiative, keep improving how Legal works, and are comfortable with calculated risk.
• You sense reputational risk: You understand what is at stake for an organisation carrying the IKEA brand, and you balance ambition with that awareness.
• You lead without hierarchy: Your authority comes from expertise and trust, not from your title. You are approachable, work as an equal with colleagues at every level, and develop your team.
• You are commercially and culturally aware: With around 30 nationalities in the Foundation, you know that the same message lands differently in different cultures. You adapt naturally.
• You are diplomatic and politically astute. You move with ease between the Leadership Team, the board and external stakeholders, understand their different interests, and build consensus without compromising on integrity.

You bring:

• A Master’s degree in Dutch law and at least 15 years of relevant working experience;
• Understanding of the needs of a Dutch foundation with ANBI status (algemeen nut beogende instelling);
• Extensive legal experience, including as a Dutch-qualified lawyer (advocaat) at an international law firm, followed by significant senior in-house experience as General Counsel, Head of Legal or senior legal counsel in an international organisation, foundation, NGO or corporate environment;
• Experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance and legal risk management, a strong track record in drafting and negotiating international contracts, and solid knowledge of contract law;
• Strong advisory and negotiation skills, and the ability to turn complex legal matters into practical advice;
• Leadership experience and a genuine interest in developing people;
• Fluency in English, both oral and written;
• Strong integrity and a natural affinity with the Foundation’s mission and values.

The Offer

This is a rare opportunity to lead the legal function of a major international philanthropy with real impact on the climate transition. You hold a visible, influential position close to the senior leaders  in an organisation that values different backgrounds, views and personalities. You work in a dynamic, international environment in Leiden, where you are encouraged to keep improving processes, governance and legal practice.