Can you really reach out to and influence the whole world, while working in a tranquil idyll in the south of Sweden? 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?

About the assignment

IKEA has decided to take a leadership position to create new value chains in the bio-materials arena along with our partners and we are currently looking for a Material and Innovation Developer Bio-polymers - Fibres to join the team!

We believe with our approach to start with basic polymers and design / engineer fibres with our development partner will long term give IKEA unique possibility to define the comfort and textiles agenda. As always, here the material development and process development go hand in hand to create the uniqueness. The M&I Developer Bio-polymers - Fibres 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.

About the job

As a Material & Innovation Developer Bio-polymers - Fibres you will together with a diverse and experienced team explore and create ideation for solutions that need fibres as base for development.

The Material & Innovation Developer Bio-polymers - Fibres is responsible for:

- 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 Polymers area
- Identify, evaluate, develop and maintain partnerships and potential new process technologies (partnering to exploit technologies) of relevance for fibers based applications like textiles and comfort 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 patent team
- Support development of IKEA material strategies in terms of material & innovation objectives and goals

About you

The 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.

To be able to deliver in this role you should have:

- Engineering degree (minimum Master level and preferably PhD) within chemistry or equivalent.
- At least 10 years of proven experience in polymers applications with experience in fibers based applications
- Deep knowledge and successful track record in managing and executing material and technical development projects from early research and innovation phase
- Deep knowledge and experience in the specific material and mass production techniques within the area, preferably in consumer goods sector
- Deep knowledge about market trends, future demands and technologies within processing technologies from granulates to fibers, filaments and yarns
- Extensive 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

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. If you are interested in applying, please send us your CV and motivational letter in English. We are looking forward to getting to know you! Last day to apply is the 17th of June.

Älmhult has excellent commuting possibilities with hourly trains to Malmö, Lund and Växjö, and an IKEA shuttle bus runs back and forth to Helsingborg three times a day.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Puneet Trehan at +46 723527410. If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Fanny Trossö at +46 70 830 33 35.