IKEA has decided to take a leadership position to create new value chains in the future polymers arena together with our partners, and, we are looking for a Material and Innovation Developer for Polymers to join the team!
With our engagement throughout the  value chain, you will lead development projects  for new materials and innovations, assessing different partnership models and creating the foundation for an outstanding IKEA range. For us this means fulfilling all aspects of IKEA Democratic Design; quality, function, form, affordability and sustainability.

As a Material & Innovation Developer you will, together with a diverse and experienced team, explore and create solutions based on the variety of polymers used in the IKEA range.

You will be responsible for:
- Identify, initiate, and lead material innovation projects for Material & Innovation within Polymers area
- Identify, evaluate, develop different partnership models and potential new value chains of relevance for different applications like rigid plastic, synthetic fibers, adhesives used in the variety of IKEA home furnishing products
- Develop and maintain extensive network of innovation partners ranging from start-up to established global companies 
- Develop and execute on a deployment roadmap in collaboration with relevant partners and stakeholders 
- Secure that all necessary agreements are in place together with legal counsel, support in negotiations and initiate patent application processes together with the 
patent team

The position is a challenging and exciting position with great impact and relevance in today’s business environment. But it requires 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. The ability to lead resources, without formal authority, 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 (preferably Master level or PhD) within polymer chemistry or equivalent.
- At least 10 years of proven experience in polymers applications 
- Deep knowledge and successful track record in managing and executing material and technical development projects from early research and innovation phase
- Deep knowledge about market trends, future demands and technologies within chemical industries and emerging climate tech landscape
- 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 rapidly changing environment

Please submit your application in English, CV and letter of motivation, online via our recruitment system SmartRecruiters no later than 30th November 2021.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact hiring manager Minh Nguyen Hoang at [email protected]. Regarding recruitment process, please contact Aivita Grockyte at [email protected]

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.

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