Älmhult is home to IKEA of Sweden that has the responsibility to develop, design, produce and supply IKEA retail channels with home furnishing solutions available for the many people. Each year IKEA of Sweden introduces around 2,000 new products around the world and the total range is almost 10,000. So what happens in Älmhult definitely doesn't stay in Älmhult. It reaches practically every corner of the globe.

We have a new IKEA direction with many opportunities within our reach and we are taking next steps together to set ourselves up for success. Over the next few years, all of us need to be better than ever. We will strengthen the core of what we do at Ikea of Sweden.

At Business area Bedroom, we are a diverse group of down-to-earth, straightforward people with a passion for home furnishing. We come from all over the world, but we share an inspiring vision: “to create a better everyday life for the many people”. We develop safe and affordable products for a beautiful and a more convenient life at home. Everything we do is based on a spirit of togetherness and enthusiasm, and now we are looking for someone who share our positive attitude and values.

Now we are looking for a Product Engineering Manager to Bedroom, as part of the assignment you will also be responsible for tactical implementation of sustainability projects.
Do you want to be part of our exiting journey? If yes, this might be the perfect challenge for you!

The BA Product Engineering Manager is a business and people focused role in the center of IKEAs product development. Your assignment is to lead and organize the Range & Product Engineering within Business Area Bedroom. You do this by allocating the right competence at the right time in both development and running operations. At business area Bedroom we work with the sleep and storage top families, hence high volumes and on global markets. We work with several different materials such as Wood, Metal and Comfort to mention a few. We secure that our products are safe to use and that they reach our customers in time and with the right quality, and always with the customer in center. This role will focus on developing competences connected to design and range engineering and product quality through all customer touch points, develop ways of working and related methods such as design for circularity and design for low-cost, hence you will drive the sustainability program forward as part of this assignment. The BA Product Engineering Manager reports to the BA Range & Product Engineering Manager.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Succession planning and recruitment
• Develop and secure the right competence level for each co-worker and function
• Secure deployment and efficient usage of aligned working methods and solutions
• Secure usage of product development platforms and shared solutions
• Close cooperation with matrix functions
• Process development connected to tools and ways of working
   

As a Product Engineering Manager, you will lead:

• Alignment of working methods across teams in the BA dimension 
• Identify and brief gaps in working methods and system solutions with a cross functional perspective
• Designated cross BA activities 
• Contribution to a knowledge-based development within engineering
• The sustainability agenda regarding the climate, circularity, and plastic out topics

We believe that you have a University Degree in Engineering or equivalent. You have thorough knowledge and proven experience in IKEA’s product development and in business development, and you understand the full IKEA value chain and how to create preconditions for an efficient development that will reach our targets. 

Leadership comes natural to you, and you have a proven track record of leadership. You are always guided by the IKEA key values you have the ability to lead through communication and creating strong and trustful networks and relationships in collaborative processes. You know how to motivate people and make them perform and deliver towards set goals and on time. You have the interest and ability to coach team members during the product development journey. It is important that you enjoy working with both people and products as well have a strong customer centric approach.

You are used to work with project management and portfolio management processes which will be part of this assignment. You also need to have excellent analytic capabilities and be well familiar with Lean production, 6 Sigma principles.

You have a deep interest and passion in sustainability topics and like to contribute to drive the agenda for the BA.

You have the ability to explore different perspectives, welcome innovation and dare to challenge when needed. You have excellent communication and networking skills and are motivated by continuously improving ways of working and to drive the business forward.

Sounds interesting? 

The position is based in Älmhult with occasional global travelling.

Please send us your application – CV and letter of motivation – in English. We really want to get to know you, so make sure you tell us why you are interested in this role, and why you would be a good fit for this role, you do that under message to Hiring Manager. Please note that we will review applications as they come through so do not delay, send in your application today! The last day to send your application is the 26th of June 2022

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Mathias Persson +46 733904784. For questions regarding the recruitment process, you are welcome to contact Marie Sandman on +46 768545309

You are warm welcome with your application and please note that due to summer vacation we may come back to you in the beginning of August