Category Sourcing Specialist

Company Description
At IKEA of Sweden, we develop and make the IKEA range available to stores and customers all over the world. Within the responsibilities of IKEA of Sweden lies the development, sourcing, supply and steering of a unique, competitive and efficient range.
Category Area Textile Furnishings is a dynamic workplace where we are purchasing and leading business development in Categories Textile Products, Synthetics & Assembly, Furniture Fabrics & Covers, Textile Carpets, Mattresses, Filled Products and Comfort Seating from all over the globe.
Category Comfort Seating is responsible for supplying, developing, and implementing materials, constructions and techniques for the production of sofas, armchairs, work chairs, dining chairs and soft beds. The Category is also driving the IKEA agenda for Leather and skins, including responsible sourcing and production, through the Leather Competence Centre.
Right now, we are looking for a Category Sourcing Specialist to join our Category Comfort Seating team to lead sourcing activities and help define the future optimal supply setup.
Job Description
As a Category Sourcing Specialist, you will be responsible for securing the material and production knowledge as well as setting up the optimal sourcing conditions. 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 with material, technique and production competence from a Total cost perspective and integration of Category opportunities in NEWs projects
Lead to secure optimal global sourcing set-up for Running range within the framework of the sourcing assignment and in alignment with HFB, including assessing sourcing risk and scenario planning
Be responsible to secure optimal global sourcing set-up for NEWs
Be responsible to define most suitable development suppliers for specific NEWs projects in alignment with HFB
Contribute to Business Contingency Planning
Be responsible to secure quality of the category input into the pricing process (Big run, Tertial runs)
Be responsible for the input to HFB (Home Furnishing Business) Action plans
Support the business team in creation of supplier Action plans and development projects
Support the BDs in their development, and bring feedback for their development talks and seniority process
Lead global projects on Category or Category area dimension
Lead RFQs, category projects and Purchase Development Process when needed
Be a Part of Category management group & responsible to contribute in Category Business Plan

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 Comfortable Seating.
Qualifications
To be a successful Category Sourcing Specialist we would like you to have:
Strong experience and good knowledge in purchasing development including insights on supplier capabilities and product development background and preferably experience with diverse material (for instance wood, plastic, fabrics)
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

As a person you are:
Highly motivated, decisive, analytical
Great stakeholder manager
Independent and with excellent communication skills
Strongly business minded
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

You will work in an environment where your ideas are heard, where there is opportunity to learn new skills and where the goal always is “to create a better everyday life for the many people”.
Additional information
For more information about the role and the recruitment process, please contact People & Culture recruiter Zuzana Vackova, zuzana.vackova1@inter.ikea.com.
We will be interviewing continuously. So don't delay, please send us your application in English until 8th October at the latest!