Can you really reach out to the whole world, creating a better everyday life for the many people? 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. 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 and energy.

We are looking for a Range & Product Design Manager to join us in the Product Development Platforms organisation at IKEA.

Product Development Platforms (PDP) is identified as a key strategic enabler for us to reach our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. The platforms organisation develops functional and innovative product concepts, platforms and solutions that enable our Business Areas to create new products for the many people built on our democratic design principles.

In this assignment you play a key role in delivering to our vision, business idea and long-term priorities, by actively contributing to the development success of IKEAs range and product offer into the future.

You will lead the work of defining and implementing product platforms as a new foundation for IKEAs product offer, creating preconditions for a more circular product offer, increased innovation, and lower prices. In your assignment you will be responsible to lead change and continually develop preconditions for our development teams to excel.

You will do this with the help of several platform development teams and a direct reporting senior range & product design team, by collaborating across functions in the Platform organisation, with range teams in our different Business areas as well as with other functions throughout the IKEA network.

The work involves leading conceptual and hands on development work, to together with your collaboration partners secure, develop and maintain a strong product offer with IKEA identity. The responsibility reach across the range and product offers of Storage, Comfort (Sofas, Beds and Mattresses), Textiles and Tables & Chairs.
The role is a part of the PDP management team.

The main responsibilities

• Define the need, develop and implement Product Development Platforms across the defined product areas that supports IKEA´s long term direction and strategies
• Lead innovation and development of new product solutions through development teams
• Personnel and competence development responsibility for the Product Design Developers and Range Design Leader within the Platform organisation

We are looking for someone ideally who has proven capabilities in:

• Experience in leading range and product development with design development teams, including leading product development competencies to unleash their creative and business potential
• Ability to explore people´s current and unmet needs and translate these into solution/product needs/concepts
• Leading and taking decisions based on a complete value chain understanding
• Excellent people and communication skills
• A well-developed ability to make organizations come together to prioritize, create simplicity and set clear focus.
• To motivate, engage and reach result on individual levels as well across business units and organizations. 

We offer you a position in a fast paced, truly global environment with an endless supply of challenges and where you will be able to work cross our Business Areas and Home Furnishing business and impact our whole future range development. 

Does this sound like your next challenge?

We look forward to receiving your application in English latest 1St of September 2021. Please note that we will be interviewing continuously, which means that we may close the application process earlier than stated if we find the right candidates.

If you have any questions about the position, you are welcome to contact recruiting manager Mathias Jansson at  [email protected] If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Recruiter, Marie Sandman on +46 768545309