We are a bunch of strategic doers who lead with heart and don't mind hard work. If you know your way around both communication and sustainability – and if you get excited at the thought of helping other people understand these areas and integrate them into their work – then you may be just the person we are looking for!

Ready to apply? Make sure you submit a complete application. Start by reading the whole ad, and then be sure to answer the questions at the bottom and send us a CV in English.

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A little about us

At IKEA, we do things a little differently. We think differently, act differently, and work differently. We like to break things (like rules) and make things (like planet-friendly plantballs). We dare to try, and we also dare to fail. And then we dare to try again. Whatever we do, we are driven by our shared vision – to create a better everyday life for the many people. 

Inter IKEA Systems B.V. is the owner and worldwide franchisor of the IKEA concept. As franchisor, we work to protect, develop and enable the success of the IKEA brand and concept. Right now, we are focused on becoming an even more affordable, sustainable and accessible home furnishing retailer in an omnichannel reality. A lot of what we do is about bringing business, people, and data and technology together to create a better experience for our colleagues and our customers.

One of the greatest things that keeps us going (and growing) is our values-based culture. While we are unique individuals with endless differences, something we share is our commitment to lead by example, work together, find new ways and get things done. We believe in life-long learning and love to see people grow together with our business.

Read more about us at https://about.ikea.com/en/about-us/

One foot in communication, and one in sustainability 
The role of sustainability at the IKEA franchisor is to make sustainability an integrated part of the IKEA Concept and ensure its successful implementation in new and existing markets. As Sustainability Communication Leader, you will report into Communication, but work in close connection to the central sustainability team.

You will represent sustainability within the communication network and communication in the sustainability network. You will be the strategic and tactical communication go-to for all of your colleagues in the sustainability team. Your work will include co-worker communication and B2B communication to our franchisees. You will also work closely with colleagues in external communication. You will have a wide range of responsibilities, so expect a lot of variety in your daily work!   

Increase knowledge and promote integration 
Success will start with building relationships with people across the business. You will engage with them, contribute to creating engagement and clarity on the sustainability agenda, and encourage them to integrate sustainability into their work. As part of this, you will create a communication plan for internal and external stakeholders (such as the IKEA franchisees), and you will also make sure that sustainability initiatives are integrated into the overall communication plan for the total organisation. 

Roll up your sleeves and make things happen 
While you are an influential leader who can hold together a big agenda in a complex environment, you are also a simple and pragmatic communicator who knows how to tell a story, write an article, and make PowerPoint come to life. You like to think big, start small, and act now. You know how to do a lot with a little and don’t shy away from a challenge. Just like all of us at IKEA, you're always ready to roll up your sleeves and get things done when you needed.

• You know all about sustainability and have many years of experience working on this topic in a large, multinational environment. This is a must. 
• You have a strong track record in direct or indirect leadership roles, with people who can vouch for your skills. 
• You have worked with change management (extra points if you have a formal education in this area). 
• You know how to work with business planning and communication planning. 
• You can create clarity and engagement in topics that are complex.
• Creating strong briefs is second nature. You also know how to guide a creative/production process so that the brief comes to life in a way that meets your goals. 
• You have current knowledge of digital communication channels and a solid understanding of working with user-centric approaches. 
• You’re knowledgeable in the area of communication, including proactive, reactive, and crisis communication, as well as external communication (stakeholder management and public affairs). 
• It is great if you understand the IKEA business and IKEA value chain. Comparable experience from a similar (retail) environment is also welcome.   

Are you up for the challenge of building engagement, improving knowledge, and ensuring integration of sustainability in our communication? Send us your CV in English, plus the answers to the following questions, by Sunday, 26 September 2021.

1. What is a common misunderstanding people have when it comes to sustainability, and how have you shifted people’s thinking about this in the past?
2. What are the most important factors for you when it comes to building trustful relationships?

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This role is full-time (40 hours per week) and based in Delft, The Netherlands. This role reports to the Franchisee Communication Manager with a matrix to the Core Business Franchise Sustainability Manager.

At IKEA, we believe that we’re better when we’re physically together for collaboration, dialogues and conversations. We believe in the power of human interactions – the informal chats, the energy, belonging and creativity generated by people being in the same place. That’s why we try to work in our office most of the time, with flexibility to work from home when needed.