Vendor Operations Specialist

At Inter IKEA Systems B.V., we do a lot of different things to make that vision come to life. As the franchisor of the IKEA Concept, it’s our job to protect, develop and enable the success of the IKEA Brand, together with our colleagues in other IKEA companies around the world. That can make our work – and our workplace – a bit complex. And that’s why strong, clear communication is key to our success.   

We want to become an even more affordable, sustainable and accessible home furnishing retailer in an omni-channel reality. We bring business and data & technology together to improve how we work and meet customers, and enable us to focus on creating value. So we can continuously improve and scale IKEA, together with our partners and the many people. 

About you 

We are looking for a positive team player who is passionate about creating value in an omnichannel environment. You have 2-3 years’ experience in IT operations, and preferably in vendor management. Ideally, you have in-depth knowledge of the IKEA Brand, IKEA culture & values and the IKEA value chain and understanding of our role as a franchisor as well as our responsibility within the IKEA system. 

We believe that you have a strong interest for people's life at home; and the energy, drive, and commitment to deliver better products for the many people. You get energy from working with agile methodology and you’re enthusiastic about digital products and the value they can bring. Furthermore, you are someone who finds it motivating to work in an environment in constant change. 

To be successful in this role, you should have excellent organisation skills and be analytical, methodical, structured and accurate. You should be able to work with both details as well as the big picture. You have great communication skills, including active listening and the ability to communicate complex issues in a clear, engaging way, with a down-to-earth, simple tone of voice. 

You have a University degree in the business administration area and you are proficient in English both verbal and written. You have exceptional negotiation and decision-making skills and can navigate a complex business and technology landscape with ease.  

About us 

Our vision, to create a better everyday life for the many people, influences everything we do. It is a vision that lives in the everyday efforts of all co-workers, all over the world.  

Fulfilling the IKEA vision requires a strong, efficient, and sustainable business setup. That is why it is built on a franchise system. The IKEA Franchisor, Inter IKEA Systems B.V., is the worldwide owner of the IKEA Concept and has the responsibility to ensure that the IKEA Concept stays attractive and competitive while enabling growth and a profitable business for IKEA franchisees. 

Retail Operation Solutions & Support (ROSS) is an integral part of Core Business Franchise and consists of a team of people with passion for retail and competence in business and technology. We are moving into a new chapter with an ambition to provide IKEA retailers with a set of digital products and services that are integrated into IKEA value chain and supporting the omnichannel IKEA Concept. We call this the Retail Package and it covers key capabilities for retail operations. 

Take time to explore the IKEA Franchise system here, and read more about us here. 

About the role  

As a Vendor Operations Specialist, you will be responsible for maintaining the quality and integrity of the vendors and external resources implementation and on-boarding. You will also provide day to day service to vendors and external resources by supporting them and identifying ways to improve internal processes. 

You will work in close collaboration with procurement, to support in sourcing new vendors according to the business needs; as well as help the vendor management leader to maintain and develop new and existing vendor(s) to sustain a long-standing business relationship. It will be your responsibility, together with product and chapter managers, to establish clear internal administrative processes related to vendors and external resources. 

Moreover, you will be accountable for continuously improving internal processes and agreed working methods by working closely with the Business Developer in procurement. Overall, you will lead and work closely together with peers across the totality of Core Business Franchise and across IKEA to strengthen and contribute to a strong and relevant IKEA franchise offer. 

At IKEA we believe that we’re better when we’re physically together for collaboration, dialogues and conversations. We believe in the power of human interactions; the informal chats, the energy, belonging and creativity generated by people being in the same place. Our approach is that we spend most of our time in the IKEA workplace and with flexibility to work from home when relevant. 

This is a full-time role (40 hours per week) located in Malmö, Sweden. You will report to the Business Operations Manager in ROSS.  

27 May, 2022, is the closing date to apply for this role. Please send your application – CV and motivation – in English and let us know why you would be a good fit. We look forward to hearing from you!