Company Description

Join IKEA global Food purchasing business!

We are now looking for an Engineering and Quality Leader for the Protein Category.

You will be part of the global Category Management team for Protein category’s products and report to Engineering & Quality Manager in Category Area Food. As part of Category Area Food Quality matrix, you will contribute by driving category’s engineering and quality agenda, with a focus to secure execution in line with your Category business plan and your 3 year functional plan you are responsible for.

Category Area Food together with internal and external partners, supply food sold and served in all IKEA Restaurants, Bistro’s, Swedish Food Markets, which +500 million guests are enjoying in 49 markets. In Category Area Food, we lead and execute the global purchasing agenda, material direction, responsible sourcing and the quality compliance agenda for the food range in IKEA. Today we are 65 colleagues who work globally in the Protein Category. We have business teams and food engineers located in Europe, North America, East-, South and South East Asia, being responsible for the suppliers in the regions.

We onboard our suppliers as partners with whom we create long-term relationships. We want our suppliers to grow with us and contribute to deliver on healthier and more affordable and sustainable food for the many. All parts of IKEA democratic design are important when developing and supplying our products. IKEA is filled with curious and passionate people getting energy from influencing, interacting, and working together with others, to deliver great business results.

“If it’s not safe, it’s not Food” – this is our promise to IKEA customers and co-workers!

Job Description

As Engineering and Quality Leader you act as an ambassador of IKEA values. You have a strong focus on both people development and business development, and constantly on the look-out to identify opportunities and implement improvements.

Main responsibilities

Execution of the engineering and quality agenda for the category in cooperation with Business Teams, Category Management and Category Area Engineering and Quality Manager

Develop and implement Business Quality Leadership competences in the category and suppliers to secure consistency in quality, compliance and Food Safety development

Ensure that Quality & Lean Manufacturing tools are used among the business development teams and suppliers to make production more efficient and deliver cost out

Leading Production and Product engineers in local and global engineering/improvement/quality and Food Safety projects and driving the competence development from a matrix perspective

Analyse customer feedbacks, development projects/actions in order to improve customer satisfaction

Support product development projects (News/Moves/Improves) in the engineering and quality dimension

Support business development team to implement quality assurance at suppliers and create pre-conditions for the suppliers to take full responsibility for their Quality, Compliance and Food Safety performance

Engineering community matrix leader and competence development support

Secure Category specific knowledge in introduction of new engineers

Acts as role model for collaboration and change management, as well as fact-based Business leadership

Qualifications

We offer a challenging role where you will work on a global area and get the possibility to lead the engineering and quality agenda for the Protein Category. We are looking for a person with a strong education within the area of Food Technology or Food Science, with extensive work experience from the Food industry, food service or other food business. As a person you are a team player and networker with a result orientated mindset. You have good communication skills and are great with people. We see that you are structured, customer orientated, have a problem-solving approach and accuracy and an eye for details.

As an Engineering and Quality Leader you need to have: 

Previous extensive work experience within the area of Food Industry.

Previous experience in working with GFSI requirements and GFSI recognized Certification schemes

Proven record of consistently delivering results in leading and developing both business and people

Good knowledge of Continuous Improvement methodologies and tools

Good understanding of materials, related production processes and production improvement tools

Good knowledge of Supplier Quality Assurance set up including production processes, process control, cost calculation and materials

Good knowledge of Project Management tools

Remote Leadership skills

From our internal applicants, we’re also expecting you’d hold:

Proven record of consistently delivering results developing both business and people

Very good knowledge in our strategic landscape, purchasing processes and ways of working

Your role in a snapshot? With an analytical and holistic view, you lead the business and always act with the Customer, Supplier, total IKEA and Quality in mind, never compromising on Food Safety. You have the ability to lead on an operational & tactical level with the business strategy in mind. 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, developing and inspiring people in a remote environment, acting like coach and a mentor. You are a good communicator in English, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and in a simple way.

The role involves international travel. (approx. 60 days/year)

Additional information

The location for this position is in Europe, either Dortmund or Älmhult.

Does this sound like your next challenge?

We look forward to receiving your application – CV and letter of motivation – in English latest 6th of February, 2025. Please note that we will be interviewing continuously, so do not delay your application!

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact People & Culture Leader, Ottilia Herremo at ottilia.herremo@inter.ikea.com. If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Engineering & Quality Manager, Irina Tibre at irina.tibre@inter.ikea.com.