Planning Specialist

WHO YOU ARE
We believe you have passion in creating the future IKEA and that you get inspired by working together in an ever-changing multi-dimensional environment. You get energized by driving business growth and by contributing to overall success and results through collaboration. As a person you are motivated by increasing customer value and finding new ways through co-creation with colleagues and other IKEA units and of course you share and live the IKEA culture and values.
To be successful in this role you have proven advanced training in retail design, graphic communication design, media and typography with knowledge and experience of using graphic design software and production tools. We believe you have IKEA retail experience, bringing minimum 5 years’ experience working with home furnishing and retail design solution development.
You are responsible for ensuring IKEA Customer Meeting Points use the right tone of voice, communicate and visualize the uniqueness of the IKEA Brand in all graphic communications.
Moreover we believe you have interpersonal skills and experience working in a multicultural environment.
You have knowledge in:
• Retail Establishment Process
• how to execute a cross-functional project
• trends that influence home furnishing, retail design and communication to gain insight to a more appealing product presentation for customers in our retail environment
• customers' living situations in different areas around the world as well as their needs in everyday life at home
• methods for optimisation of commercial square meters, methods for presenting the range and service range using store media, display techniques and store layout as commercial tools
• how to steer the customer to relevant products or services
• a deep understanding of the IKEA graphic and visual identity
• IKEA visual and verbal identity in order to facilitate the creation of commercial environment with a distinct brand impression
• IKEA concept, brand objectives, values and vision
• how to create and implement change initiatives and manage stakeholders in IKEA
• IKEA multichannel shopping experience
• Computer proficient with knowledge and experience of using graphic design software (Adobe creative suit) and production tools, e.g. printers, plotters and print techniques.
In the role as Planning Specialist you need the ability to design retail spaces and home furnishing solution using new methods, digital systems and processes to improve performance. You have a creative mind-set with ability to encourage creative ideas and new value-adding perspectives. Moreover you understand the customer needs and you challenge common ways of working. You are a successful communicator and you can present clearly within your specific area of expertise using IKEA tone of voice.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
We are recruiting for several Planning Specialist positions. We are looking for a mix of Planning Specialists, bringing knowledge and experience from different competence areas. We are looking for you who bring experience in Graphic Design.
In this role you are responsible to plan and design retail spaces and home furnishing solutions for new Customer Meeting Points (CMPs) and major rebuilds based on our most recent home furnishing and merchandising solutions. You will secure planning of CMPs that present the range in a vital, inspiring way fitting the needs of the many and that enable access to the whole range in a multichannel retail world of IKEA.
You will:
• create detailed planning of new CMPs and major rebuilds
• work with an array of different CMP formats within strict deadlines
• design retail spaces and solutions to become visually attractive and drive sales, based on the customer journeys of the new CMP and based on market input and local needs
• create inspiring presentation solutions that reflect a wide variety of styles and price levels and life at home activities with seasonal relevance connected to the commercial activities
• provide design solutions that are documented and ready for implementation by market organisations
• provide information of planned range and products for all design solutions
• provide information of all merchandise equipment and other support elements for turn-key implementation
• ensure efficient CMPs that present the range in a vital, inspiring way fitting the needs of the many and that enable access to the whole range in a multichannel retail world of IKEA
• create solutions that are adapted to efficient daily operation of the CPM
• be at the forefront of new solutions and new technology in order to optimise customer experience and efficiency of CMPs
• support the market implementation, in order to learn for new projects and share knowledge
• work with and support a diverse commercial team
• work across functions within Ingka Group and collaborate with other IKEA units
• drive an open and sharing climate, being a role model of the IKEA values
• use your graphic design skills, the IKEA Concept and IKEA visual and copy identity to create and implement graphic solutions that are clear, consistent, understandable, uncluttered and correctly placed.
• apply your knowledge of people’s life at home and their buying behaviour to improve graphic communication in the IKEA Customer Meeting Points to facilitate the customer experience.
• Plan and provide communication to ensure that it conveys the benefits of the IKEA Concept as well as completes and enhances range presentation by using best practices, guidelines and global directions.
This role is based in Malmö and will report to the Planning Team Leader.
ABOUT THIS WORK AREA
With the customer at the heart of everything we do, Group Expansion takes responsibility for strategic expansion planning enabling penetration of existing and new markets. We take the lead for business development of existing and new customer meeting points. We act on business needs and empower the markets to maximise accessibility, implement our retailing concepts and fully utilise our assets in the new world of IKEA – all at lowest cost, with economy of scale and sustained profitability.
QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT? LET'S CONNECT!
If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Sofie Skarlöv at sofie.skarlov1@ingka.com. Please note that we will be reviewing applications on a continuous basis and that previous experience from IKEA is a requirement for this position.