Category Sourcing Specialist

Company Description
At IKEA, we do things a little different. We think, differently. Act, differently. And work differently as well. We like to break things. Like rules. And then make things. Like music-playing lamps. And beds disguised as sofas. Even plant balls that help us look after our planet. It’s all part of our vision - to create a better everyday life for the many. By 2030, we hope to help millions more look forward to going home.
Want to help make this happen? Join our global Purchasing Development business! It is filled with curious and passionate people, that get energy from influencing, interacting, and working together to deliver great business results. Does it sound like your kind of people?
If so, come and develop the IKEA business together with us!
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. With having customer always in mind, you will act as a gear box between HFBs / Category and Need Planning function. 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
Identify new business opportunity with close collaboration with HFBs and category team.
Lead and 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 & contribute to build and execute Category Business Plan
Securing overall availability performance and collaboration with internal stakeholders

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
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
Strong entrepreneurship, drive for the change and strive for improvement.


As a person you are:
Driven, decisive, analytical
Great stakeholder manager
Independent and with excellent communication skills
Strongly business minded, ability to see the big picture and apply different perspectives from customer to supplier perspective
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
A good team player



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
Please note, we have preferred candidates for these positions and in the first selection process, we will consider candidates from current IKEA Supply organization. Submit your application, CV and letter of motivation, online via our recruitment system Smart Recruiters no later than 31st of July, 2023. If you have questions regarding the recruitment process please send an email to the recruitment team in SmartRecruiters.