Category Sourcing Leader - Carbon Steel

Company Description
Who we are
At IKEA, we do things a little different. We think, differently. Act, differently. And work differently as well. We like to break things. Like rules. And then make things. Like music-playing lamps. And beds disguised as sofas. Even plant balls that help us look after our planet. It’s all part of our vision - to create a better everyday life for the many. By 2030, we hope to help millions more look forward to going home.
​The materials of metal, plastic and float glass are found in every part​ of the home and our products touch the lives of every IKEA customer. We believe that a Better​ Everyday Life at Home is the result of great work together and strive to only produce products that we genuinely love. We in Category Area Metal, Plastic & Float Glass are very proud of this – it is a privilege and a responsibility.
Category Carbon Steel is responsible for supplying, developing and implementing materials and techniques for the production of its 9 segments; Drawers, Extensions, Hinges & Lifters, Large Profiles, Open & Close Features, Sheet Forming, Sliding Systems, Small profiles, and Wire products. Carbon Steel is an integrated category sourcing products for Home Furnishing and IKEA Components.
Job Description
What you will do
As a Category Sourcing Leader, you will be responsible for securing the material and production knowledge as well as setting up the optimal sourcing conditions. With having customer always in mind, you will act as a gear box between HFBs / Category and Need Planning function. From that position you will lead and secure that all products within your area of responsibility are sourced with optimal global sourcing set-up. You will contribute with material, technique and production knowledge in the product development process and ensure that material and choices of techniques related to cost, capacity, quality and sustainability are in-line with supplier production capabilities, as well as with product development process and category strategy.
In this role, you will:
Contribute to the execution of the Category BPL by being responsible for:
Defining most suitable development partners for specific NEWs projects and services.
Leading the establishment of the global sourcing set-up for running range, NEWs in line with Category desired supplier movements IKEA Best Buy Principles, including scenario planning and assessing sourcing risks.
Engaging the right category resources in specific development projects and connecting them to development teams or other Range/Service owners through indirect leadership.
Securing Business Contingency Plans and to monitor and initiate actions to mitigate deviations, through stakeholder collaboration and indirect leadership.
Ensuring the quality of the Category input into pricing process (Big run and tertial runs)
Contributing to the Business Agreement creation and execution, in close collaboration with Range Areas or other stakeholders.
Consolidation of relevant business input affecting Category plans as example: Range Area portfolio plans, Growth Plans or other stakeholder input.
Leading specific projects on behalf or through allocation from the Category Manager; as example Leading the Creation and Implementation of a Segment Strategy.
Securing overall performance and collaboration with internal stakeholders
Contributing to the category management meetings as permanent member of the category management team

Qualifications
Why we love you
We believe to be a successful Category Sourcing Leader you have:
Strong experience and good knowledge in purchasing development including insights on supplier capabilities and product development background and preferably experience with diverse material
University degree in technology, business administration, Furniture education or corresponding knowledge
Leadership skills and project leadership experience is an advantage
Holistic view with being comfortable thinking on both operational, tactical, and strategic level
Deep knowledge of value chain and value chain analysis capabilities
Strong entrepreneurship, drive for the change and strive for improvement.

and you are:
Driven, decisive, analytical to be able to lead conclusions and realise business opportunities.
Great stakeholder manager with capability to lead and deliver results through involving and engaging people independent of location
Independent and with excellent communication skills
Strongly business minded, ability to see the big picture and apply different perspectives from customer to supplier perspective
Able to foresee the consequences of one's own actions and act based on high moral and ethical principles
Fluent in English, both spoken and written
A strong team player

Why you will love us
As a part of Category Area Metal, Plastic & Float Glass, you will have access to a huge knowledge base and experience in both leadership and material, production, and value chain. We offer trust and space to test and try, explore, make mistakes, and develop us and our partners. Are you ready to be part of a journey towards reaching more of the many people?
You will meet the same motivated, skilled people like you on daily basis and you will have a good feeling about your job because it makes sense and your contribution is recognized!
Additional information
Please note, we have a preferred candidate for this position.
The position is located in Älmhult, Sweden with a global responsibility. Älmhult has excellent commuting possibilities with hourly trains to Malmö, Lund and Växjö and an IKEA shuttle bus back and forth to Helsingborg two times a day.

In this role you will report to Category Manager for Carbon Steel.
If you have any questions please connect with us via the Smart Recruiters System.
Does this fit in with your previous experience and ambitions for the future? Then we look forward receiving your application in English at the latest November 25, 2023
We will be interviewing continuously so please send in your application as soon as possible.