The world is changing and so is the IKEA business. Nevertheless, one thing remains forever the same ─ our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. We believe that a better home creates a better everyday life, which is why we are so passionate about our offer and how it supports people around the world to meet their needs and dreams.

Inter IKEA Systems (our friends call us Core Business Franchise) is the owner and worldwide franchisor of the IKEA concept. Our responsibilities include protecting, developing and enabling the success of the IKEA brand and concept. This may sound simple, but there are a lot of different things we do to make sure the IKEA business stays strong.

Next to what we do, the way we do things is an important and unique part of who we are. We let our values guide us, creating an environment where everyone feels encouraged to experiment, try new ways and dare to ask, “What if…?” We are all committed to leading by example, working together, finding new ways and getting things done. We care about business and people growing together, meaning there is always space for you to develop as a part of your everyday work.

Read more about us at franchisor.IKEA.com

About IKEA Identity, Range and Marketing Communication team

As one of the Leadership Areas in Core Business Franchise, our team's main assignment is enabling and safeguarding the creation of IKEA unique content that positions one strong and consistent IKEA identity  - wherever our customers meet us​.

The work that we do spans from protecting what is IKEA unique to supporting development and the future approach towards a unique, relevant and commercial IKEA Range and an optimal and relevant IKEA communication content with strong reach through the right media landscape​. The area consists of three main teams (Identity, Range, Marketing Communication) supported by Business Navigation, Communication and People and Culture.

We are currently looking for a Communication Leader to strengthen our area's communication capabilities. If you are interested, please submit a complete application, including:

• CV in English
• answers to the questions at the bottom of the job listing
• why is this role for you?

Communication Leader

The Communication Leader role is present in each Leadership Area in Core Business Franchise and is connected to a larger Communication Matrix. Across Core Business Franchise, the communication leaders have many things in common. They all include planning, aligning and executing different communication activities across the Leadership Area and total Core Business Franchise as well as towards other IKEA companies. You will be part of the Area's Management Team, work together with a cross-functional team – and as part of a larger communication network – to ensure that we work as efficiently and effectively as possible when it comes to communicationg our work and our business initiatives. Your tasks can range from strategic to operational, depending on the business need, so we are definitely looking for people who love to both think and do.

As a Communication Leader you will:

• Lead and work closely together with peers across the totality of Core Business Franchise and across IKEA to strengthen and contribute to a strong and relevant IKEA franchise offer.
• Define and lead common communication initiatives that support the Core Business Franchise common business agenda, including development of the IKEA franchise offer, action plan, business plan focus weeks, etc.
• Be the first point of contact from a leadership area perspective on planning and leading communication initiatives and prioritised business topics.
• Contribute to the common CBF communication plan based on leadership area perspective, providing input to the communication planning and resource allocation.
• Secure strategic, tactical and operational communication to the business, partnering up to ensure that we deliver to our common business priorities.
• Be responsible to secure shared good examples and use all available physical/digital channels to stay close to franchisees.
• Enable an aligned, good and timely reactive and proactive communication towards internal and external stakeholders.
• Secure that direction and content of communication is created and produced according to IKEA values and IKEA tone of voice.
• Coach and support leaders to lead through communication; this includes support with planning, developing and delivering communication in the most effective, engaging, inspiring and relevant way.
• Contribute to increase the knowledge of communication across CBF and how it contributes to create business impact.
• Provide quality and speed when being challenged in crisis situations and play an important role in all our different Crisis Management Teams, coordinating across core businesses and leading communication flow within IKEA franchisor.

For this role in IKEA Identity, Range and Marketing Communication, we want people who:

• Have depth of communication knowledge – can both confidently navigate change communication, crisis communication, internal communication and B2B communication in an international environment as well as use their expertise to create the best approach for each context, even when work is still under development.
• Are strategic doers – with both experience working with strategic communication and being part of management teams as well as capable and energised by hands on communication work; we expect you to understand how business planning drives effective communication, and can follow and facilitate the process of making sure these two things align.
• Are an Ambassador of IKEA tone of voice. Our team is one of the guardians of IKEA Tone of Voice so our Communicator needs to be excellent in that too, with the ability to express yourself verbally, as well as in written and visually.
• Display deep business competence – most of the topics we work with have both a high level of complexity and impact the whole IKEA world. For you to be able to support us create business impact through communication, you need to have have experience in large retail organisations, international (matrix) companies, or other parts of the IKEA value chain and also enjoy working with and learning about the specific topics we work with, from Brand and Identity to Marketing and Range building.
• Thrive from creating clarity in the unknown and have a prefference for constantly evolving environments where they can exercise self leadership, a “progress over perfection” approach as well as invite others to co-create in making things better every time.
• Are excellent relationships builders, natural at connecting people and ideas, and hold things together even when they get complex or unclear.

If you find meaning in creating a better everyday life for more of the many and want to help us develop and grow our communication function, send your application by June 22nd 2021.

Please make sure your CV is in English, and answer the following questions in your letter.

• What types of work give you energy? 
• What's the last mistake you made, and what did you do when you realised you made it?
• What is your superpower if you get casted as Communication Superhero?
• What role that you worked in before you think is most similar to this one?

If possible, please also include a short film introducing yourself. (Keep it simple! Keep it under 3 minutes! Just make it on your phone.)

A few more details for you:

This position is full-time (40 hours per week) and located in Älmhult, Sweden. Strong verbal and written English language skills are a must. Travel might be required.

In this role you will report to Tina Petersson Lind, IKEA Identity, Range and Marketing Communication Manager.

If you have any specific question about the role, please contact Alexandra Pode, People and Culture Leader via the recruitment platform.