Quality Development Leader, EQR (Engineering, Quality and Requirements) Development Matrix within the Development Function, IKEA of Sweden, Älmhult

IKEA Range & Supply has the responsibility to develop, design, produce and supply IKEA stores with home furnishing solutions available to the many people. Each year IKEA Range & Supply introduce 2,000 new products in the IKEA stores. The total range is almost 10,000 products.

EQR Development Matrix has the assignment to create optimal conditions within engineering focusing on: Competence development, Tools & Ways of Working. All, on behalf of the Business Areas, to significantly deliver stronger capabilities to deliver Better Products at Lower Costs.

We are looking for a Quality Development Leader who can lead the work of building quality and improvements capabilities within the area of engineering – for today and tomorrow! The Quality Development Leader is responsible for securing competence, tools, and way of working within the area of quality and improvements in the product development process. 

The assignment
As a Quality Development Leader you are responsible for:
• Developing mid and long term plan for engineering capabilities within the area of quality and improvements based on IKEA strategies. Communicating and anchoring the plan with relevant managers and stakeholders throughout the IKEA value chain.
• Leading the execution of actions based on the plan, including follow up and adjustments in plans and actions.
• Defining, giving input on, and supporting the development of learning initiatives to fill competence gaps.
• Setting requirements and deciding on suitable tools for the organization and improvements in these to make the necessary movements within quality and improvements.
• Developing methods and ways of working needed for the product quality navigator and product improvement engineer roles at IKEA of Sweden.
• Lead the Product Quality Navigator (PQN) and Product Improvement Engineer (PIE) network in the Business areas.
• Act as grandparent when it comes to recruitment of PQNs and PIEs.
• Managing and leading specialist roles (within matrix organisation) and securing competence.
• Participating in IKEA quality networks to build and align “one IKEA” approach within engineering and quality. Work to strengthen cooperation between connected areas in the different matrixes.
• Participating in external networks for benchmarking and enhance knowledge within quality and improvements area.
• Acting as subject matter expert in projects related to quality and improvements.

Are you driven by the will to build and improve the ways of working within product quality and improvements of products and running range? Do you have a desire to develop engineering and business and have a passion for products in our homes and public use?

Then this might be an interesting challenge for you!

For a person to succeed in this role there is a need for great communication skills together with the ability to easily create trustful relationships and make all involved stakeholders work towards overall goals and strategies. Capacity to lead resources without a formal reporting structure, and to lead change and improvements in a complex global environment is required. Leading according to the IKEA values and a passion for home furnishing is crucial.

To be successful in this role, you need to have:

• Deep knowledge and understanding of quality, from hands-on to strategic approach.
• A strong drive in product quality, to improve and follow up. Experience from Quality management, Six sigma, lean principles, Root cause analysis etc.
• Experience from working with product improvements and quality measurements.
• Experience and knowledge of project and process management principles, methodologies and tools
• Up to date of relevant trends and developments within the area of quality and improvements.

We will also consider leadership experience from large scale product development and product improvements in a global environment from the consumer goods sector and leading change in a global matrix organization as meriting. You have a University degree within Engineering or equivalent and are fluent in speaking and writing English.

If this sounds like the challenge you are looking for apply as soon as possible, we are interviewing continuously and we will close the process when finding the right candidate.

We want your application in English.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact recruiting specialist Jonas Levin at +46 72 886 53 84

IKEA of Sweden, or IoS, is responsible for developing the IKEA range and making it available to stores and customers all over the world. At IKEA of Sweden you will work in a company with endless opportunities to develop in different operational areas and countries. At IKEA we believe that when you as an individual grow - IKEA grows!

The position is located in Älmhult, Sweden. Älmhult has good commuting possibilities with hourly trains to Malmö, Lund and Växjö and an IKEA shuttle bus back and forth to Helsingborg two times a day.