PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC

Far from the forests of Sweden, an innovative part of IKEA develops and creates new ways to bring a better everyday life to the many people. Based in Shanghai with additional units in Taiwan, Vietnam and India, the IKEA Product Development Center Asia Pacific (PDC AP) comprehensively researches life in Asia while working closely with IKEA suppliers to design and develop products that make a difference.

Can you really reach out to the whole world, enabling a better everyday life for the many people through great product? With IKEA you can. Here the IKEA range is developed and made available to stores and customers all over the world. We are here to offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. That is our promise, and we do this every day with great passion.

About you

To be successful in this role: 
• You will be the one to drive, motivate and organize the team and stakeholders, so a solid leadership background and experience in project management is an absolute must. 
• A degree in product development, design, interior design or similar. 
• Experience of working with, leading and managing product development including building, maintaining and/or merchandise a range of products. 
• The knowledge, experience and motivation to create a profitable range. 
• Passion, curiosity & deep knowledge about life at home and customer needs. 
• Deep knowledge about Democratic design and good knowledge about home furnishing the IKEA way, or the willingness to acquire quickly. 
• Having passion to learn from our suppliers and seeing the opportunities. 
• Ability to lead creative processes and cooperate effectively with designers, consumers and suppliers. 
• High ability to explore different perspectives, be innovative and be comfortable in the unknown (Entrepreneurship).

On top of this you need to be business focused, a talented communicator and great at building strong working relationships. You have a great passion and interest in trends and what is in the market. This also touches upon new materials, production techniques, sustainability etc. within a global scope and you are capable of generating new ideas to our products from that knowledge. Entrepreneurial mind set is a must! You thrive on change and for acting in a dynamic workplace. Our corporate language is English, so fluency both verbally and in writing is required. 
 

About the job 

PDC is an affiliation to IKEA of Sweden with goals to develop products with speed, to develop BTI (Breath Taking Items) and low price products, take initiatives of product development by being close to suppliers and provide better quality. We have teams in India, Taiwan, Vietnam and China. To work in PDC is to be close with the many customers, the many suppliers, and to work in a highly diverse and high pace organization! We lead and act according to IKEA culture and values and promote a healthy work life balance. We are looking for you who have a great eye for aesthetics, deep insights in the needs and dreams of our customers and know how to lead projects and teams with entrepreneurship. The Product Developer is at the heart of the IKEA Democratic Design idea: developing a great home furnishing offer through form, function, sustainability, low price and quality with a holistic and customer centric view. 

About the assignment

You will lead the product development process through a multifunctional team of experts in sales, sourcing, engineering, supply, innovation and design, and co-create the final product offer with a holistic and customer centric approach according to the Democratic Design principles and the IKEA identity. As the Product Developer you are key of making this happen and develop products! 
The product developer is responsible for: 
• Leading the Product Development process 
• Accountable for securing all aspects of democratic design in each product, striving to exceed customer expectations. 
• Developing and managing a profitable and high performing range in the designated product area 
• Leading the design process in close cooperation with the designers, and securing IKEA identity in each product. 
• Challenging the existing points of view and drive creativity and innovation in the designated product area. 
• Responsible for involving and optimizing cross-functional competencies and stakeholders in the development team. 
• Communicating the strategic and the operational status of the development process with all stakeholders. 
• Optimizing the IKEA total value chain possibilities through developing on the home-, factory- and store floor. 
• Securing that our product offer is based on knowledge and research about life at home. 
• Translating relevant strategies and business needs in to objectives.

We look for people who continuously push the boundaries in terms of innovation, value, sustainability and simplicity in our product development processes. Delivery on time and within budget is a big focus in this role. A Product Developer is driven by the passion to develop the future products of IKEA and create a better everyday life for the many people. Someone with the ability to see things from a customer perspective and conceptualize things that do not exist. This means that the Product Developer interprets people’s needs and dreams into IKEA products.

GROWING TOGETHER 
Product Development Center 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.

Please send your application in English as soon as possible!