Food Production Engineer

Company Description
Join the global purchasing team of IKEA food!
IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad. As “it’s tough to do business with hungry stomachs” -the first IKEA restaurant opened in 1959 - only one year after the first IKEA store in Älmhult. Today, we operate IKEA restaurants in 465 stores in more than 50 markets. The IKEA Restaurants together with our Bistro’s and Swedish Food Market are attracting more than 500 million guests every year. With our iconic products like Swedish meatballs, the hot dog and recently added plant balls we are bringing a modern taste of Sweden to the many people.
Protein Category is part of Category Area Food, which, together with internal and external partners, provides the food sold and served in all IKEA Restaurants, Bistro´s, Swedish Food Markets. In Category Area Food, we lead and execute the global purchasing agenda, material direction, responsible sourcing and the Food Safety & quality compliance agenda for the entire food range in IKEA. Today we are over 170 colleagues who work globally while being located across Europe, North America, Asia and other regions in order to be close to our supplier partners.
We are now looking to recruit a Food Production Engineer to join and continue our exciting food journey! As a Food production Engineer, you will be a key contributor to the development of our ambitious plans towards the future.
You will have the privilege to be part of an excellent Food Safety and Quality Engineering team consisting of 45 highly motivated and enthusiastic professionals organised in a global setup. Within Protein Category, you will be responsible to lead the Food Safety & Quality Agenda, on Product & Packaging level, to secure Food we trust, and love safely meets our customers.
“If is not safe, it is not Food” – this is our promise to IKEA customers and co-workers!
Job Description
You will join Protein Category and report to the Business Development Manager (BDM). In your role you will lead & secure the Food Safety & Quality agenda for your assigned suppliers and products, in full compliance to IKEA Food Safety Requirements.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Responsible to secure IKEA Food Safety requirements are fulfilled, as well to plan and execute Food Safety & Quality Assessments at all supplier locations according to IKEA ways of working.
Evaluate potential new supplier’s production facilities from Food Safety, manufacturing and technical capability point of view as well their quality management systems.
Responsible to continuously improve the supplier's production processes, manufacturing efficiency, and share best practices/knowledge.
Facilitate product development at the factory floor from a food safety, democratic design & technical point of view and secure scalability for further implementation at other suppliers.
Responsible for having all IKEA requirements fulfilled before production start and secure the product is at correct quality level according to Food Purchase Agreement and any other applicable IKEA agreement or requirement document.
Responsible for First production Verification for all new, moved and improved products together with supplier, according to IKEA ways of working.
Responsible to secure and validate all IKEA required documents are correct, complete and available in the specified IT systems
Responsible for investigation step in the product deviation process for all cases where Supplier is identified as causing part, with the aim to secure root-cause analysis, stock correction and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

You will cover both food product and related packaging and will be actively involved in raw material agenda as well food innovation agenda.
Qualifications
We offer a challenging role where you will work & contribute on a global arena, within a multiple stakeholder’s environment.
We are looking for a person with a strong education within the area of Food Technology or Food Science, with extensive work experience from Food industry, food service or other food business.
As a person you are a team player and networker with a result orientated mind.
You have good communication skills and are great with people.
You are extrovert and excellent in talking in public.
We see that you are structured, customer orientated, have a problem-solving approach and accuracy and an eye for details.
You are fluent both in spoken and written English.

As a Food production Engineer, you need to have:
Solid Food industry experienced gained across value chain with focus on food product development and product industrialisation
Relevant manufacturing supplier food safety auditing/assessment experience
University Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology /Food Chemistry
Good knowledge on continuous improvement methodologies – lean manufacturing or six sigma
Project Management experience
Ability to work with and through others
Experience to work in a cross organisational process-oriented environment

Your role in a snapshot?
Holding an analytical and holistic view, you lead and secure your agenda, and always act with the Customer, supplier, total IKEA, a Quality in mind, never compromising on Food Safety. You perform analysis and are able to draw conclusions to support the right business decision. You have the ability to deliver results through involving, leading and inspiring people in a remote environment. You are a good communicator in English, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and in a simple way.
Sounds interesting?
Please send us your application in English – CV and motivation letter – no later than 6th Jun. 2022. Please note that we will be interviewing continuously, which means that we may close the application process earlier than stated if we find the right candidate.
If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Business Development Manager Karen Bastiansen Schov at karen.b.schov@inter.ikea.com. If you have questions regarding recruitment process, please contact Recruiter Katie Pettersson on +46 702 99 42 48.
We are looking forward to your application!