Partner Development Leader

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. It’s a vision that we try to live up to in many ways, one of them by using our experience to create long-lasting, positive change for those who need it.  
Since 2012, we have been teaming up with entrepreneurs across the globe that create a better world by providing job opportunities that empower people, while also addressing inequality and sustainability. These entrepreneurs are often called social entrepreneurs and run social businesses.

Doing business with these social entrepreneurs we get to lean on each other’s strengths, sharing our learnings with each other and with other parts of IKEA. We know that together, we can create a more sustainable future where everyone is seen and heard – challenging the root causes of poverty, exclusion, and inequality. This is what we call IKEA Social Entrepreneurship.  

Are you passionate about creating livelihood for vulnerable and marginalized people and passionate about the fair & equal direction of IKEA? Do you have the energy, drive, and commitment to deliver social impact products to a broad customer base?
Keep on reading!

We are looking for a Partner Development Leader to help us continuing our important work

We want you to be part of growing and developing the IKEA business in an even more equal and inclusive way. Create business opportunities and positive social impact for people from marginalized groups or vulnerable areas. You will also contribute to the overarching social entrepreneurship agenda to create jobs through building sustainable long-term relationships. Accountable for social business partners in our supply chain, their performance and development. 

Furthermore, you will include home furnishing and IKEA Food needs and opportunities for social impactful suppliers into the New Business and Category plans and constantly look for new opportunities in expanding social impact. Contribute to the movement of social entrepreneurship in the IKEA supply chain and manage and monitor your portfolio of socially impactful suppliers. You will also manage and increase the social business partner base through and in collaboration with New Business and the Categories.

Finally, secure and increase the social impact among vulnerable and marginalized groups through socially impactful suppliers and optimized capacity planning. Making sure social impact assessment is in place and lead the integration of social impactful suppliers into the IKEA sustainability and the Fair & Equal agenda.

You will also work in close partnership with our team that supports social enterprises, outside of the IKEA value chain, scale their impact through development programs and investments (IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV).  

To be successful and shine in this role, you need to understand the IKEA business model and IKEA ways of working. You have competence in the IKEA concept, strategies, processes, and democratic design. You also need deep understanding of the fair & equal agenda and knowledge about global social challenges, special to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

You have knowledge about IKEA value chain possibilities, from understanding production capabilities, skillset, and techniques of social business partner to optimizing sales performance in different touch points. You have a desire to find new business opportunities and make it happen through own work and engaging and motivating other combined with entrepreneurial drive, ability to lead business with a holistic view through people by demonstrating strong leadership capabilities together with strategic skills and vision with ability to convert into operational business solutions. 

Last but not least, you have capability to build trust and relationships across R&S to anchor the social entrepreneur direction and priorities. Strong analytical skills, easily argues through facts for various stakeholders and good Project management skills. You are inspired by the IKEA culture and values and a true ambassador for the social entrepreneur agenda including good at understanding and coaching social businesses in growing their impact.

Please send your application – CV and letter of motivation – in English as soon as possible. We really want to get to know you, so make sure you tell us why you want to work at IKEA and why you would be a good fit for this role under message to Hiring Manager.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact SainathJayaraman,  sainath.jayaraman@inter.ikea.com

If you have any questions regarding this the role or recruitment process please contact Recruitment Specialist, Christina Appelqvist, +46-766-113408. 

Please note that we will continuously look at applications so don't delay, make sure to show us your interest in the role as soon as possible, and by 20th of March 2022 at the latest. Note that we might close the recruitment earlier if we find the right candidate. We look forward to receiving your application!

About the BA: We develop desirable and affordable products for a beautiful, personal, and more sustainable life at home. Textiles create vitality, variety and inspires people to visit IKEA. Textiles grow and position IKEA through textiles alone, as part of Home Furnishing Accessories and by coordinating and completing the total range offer. The Collections are created to stretch and strengthen the IKEA launches, to surprise and attract current and new customers to IKEA. Our Social Entrepreneurship assignment is to maximize social impact by focusing on livelihoods, equality, and inclusion by accelerating the movement inside and outside the IKEA value chain.