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 introduces 2,000 new products in the IKEA stores. The total range is almost 10,000 products.

Material & Innovation - New Business & Innovation
IKEA of Sweden, Älmhult

Can you really reach out to and influence the whole world, while working in a tranquil idyll in the middle of nowhere? In Älmhult, Sweden you can. Älmhult is home to IKEA of Sweden. Here the IKEA range is developed and made available to stores and customers all over the world. It is also in Älmhult where we explore the future to create ideas and innovations for a better everyday life at home for the many people.

Throughout its 70 year history IKEA always had entrepreneurship and development at the core of its DNA. Through New Business & Innovation IKEA is setting up for the next 70. With the task to capture the opportunities of a changing world, New Business & Innovation explores 2030 and beyond. We are here to generate and nurture ideas and innovative solutions for the life at home, relevant for the many people. We are curious, eager to step into the unknown and co-create across borders. We are here to collaborate and challenge known truths in a world of ideas and technology. 

With the IKEA vision as a starting point, and without limitations to products, we focus on creating capabilities and solutions that are relevant in the life at home today and tomorrow. Care to join us?

Let’s make things better
With the task to capture the opportunities of a changing world, New Business & Innovation explores 2030 and beyond. We are here to explore the big problems in everyday life, for the planet and society, creating solutions relevant for the many people. We are curious, eager to step into the unknown and believe in co-creating across borders. We are here to collaborate and challenge known truths in a world of ideas and technology. With the IKEA vision – to create a better everyday life for the many people - as a starting point, and without limitations to products, we focus on creating capabilities and solutions that are relevant in the life at home today and tomorrow. Our circular vision includes taking a lead in developing products based on renewable materials and ensuring that our products are easy to reuse & recycle.

About the assignment
The department of Material & Innovation Development within Textiles are working with developing new materials and technologies to decrease the dependency of e.g. virgin cotton as well as virgin polyester. With the Project portfolio we have today and the strategy going forward, we would like to complement our team with a Material and Innovation Developer with chemical competence and experience in cellulosic based textiles as well as synthetic textiles.

About the job
Right now we are looking for a Material & Innovation (M&I) Developer for Textiles within the NB&I Material and Innovation team. You will lead development projects of new materials & innovations, creating the foundation for an outstanding IKEA range. For us this means fulfilling all aspects of IKEA Democratic Design; meaning quality, function, form, affordability and sustainability. The position reports to Material and Innovation Leader, Textiles.

Key features of the role:
- Based on IKEA directions and knowledge about life at home, market situation and competitors on the IKEA markets, identify, initiate and lead material innovation projects for Material & Innovation within Textiles area;
- Identify, evaluate, develop and maintain partnerships and potential new technologies of relevance leading to IKEA home furnishing applications;
- Formulate clearly defined objectives/goals in all democratic design dimensions, communicate and anchor material innovation development projects in IKEA innovation councils describing necessary needs/budgets for successful development;
- Secure that all necessary agreements are in place together with legal counsel and support in negotiations and initiate patent application processes together with the t team responsible for this;
- Support development of IKEA material strategies in terms of material & innovation objectives and goals.

To be able to deliver in this role, the M&I Developer Textiles should have:
- Engineering degree (minimum Master level and preferably PhD) within Chemistry or equivalent;
- Preferably 5-7 years of experience in industrial chemistry within textiles;
- Deep knowledge and successful track record in managing and executing material and technical development projects from early research and innovation phase;
- Knowledge and experience in the specific material and production techniques within the area, preferably in consumer goods sector;
- Knowledge and interest in market trends, future demands and technologies within Textiles areas;
- Experience from strategic development, product development processes and international business, preferably from several parts of the value chain;
- The capacity to steer and work in a developing and changing environment.

Interested?
The M&I Developer Textiles position is a challenging and rewarding position with great impact but it needs something to be successful. Curiosity and an open-mind for new possibilities, always with an analytical and structured approach. Passion and capability to connect ideas from different fields and create new solutions. An ability to lead resources, without formal authority, in order to reach common goals. The capability to build networks, sharing knowledge and coaching others. Strong skills as a communicator and influencer – someone capable of getting ideas and solutions understood by a broader audience. This person is characterized as a problem solver with the business and customer in focus - making sure things happen. We love what we do and we seek people who love their work too and who share our values in their professional and everyday life.

Growing together
IKEA of Sweden is a vibrant culture where 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”. We give down-to-earth, straightforward people the possibility to grow, both as individuals and in their professional roles.
We offer this position in a fast paced, truly global environment with an endless supply of challenges and development opportunities.
Additional information
We look forward to receiving your application in English, at the latest Wednesday 21st February 2018.
The position is located in Älmhult, Sweden. Älmhult has excellent commuting possibilities with hourly trains to Malmö, Lund and Växjö and an IKEA shuttle bus back and forth to Helsingborg two times a day.

We look forward to receiving your application in English, at the latest Wednesday 21st February 2018.   

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

If you have any questions about the position and regarding the recruitment process, please contact Johanna Hansson +46 73 376 1744.