Product Sourcing Leader

Inter IKEA Group connects IKEA franchisees with range development and suppliers and ensures alignment of the overall IKEA strategic direction. Every day, we strive to develop, produce, and sell products and services that are affordable and accessible to everyone.

In Purchasing Development, we bring IKEA products to life by working closely with suppliers and partners. Together, we turn designs into real, affordable and responsibly produced products. We secure IWAY requirements, improve materials, strengthen sourcing and keep costs low while helping the IKEA value chain stand strong when the world changes.

Within Purchasing Development, Category Area Food is part of the Food total value chain transformation. We are creating simpler and more connected ways of working, with clearer ownership and faster decisions closer to where value is created for our customers. For sourcing, this means using supplier competence earlier, reducing handovers and creating stronger conditions for speed, availability, affordability and growth.

We are now looking for 3 Product Sourcing Leaders who wants to help shape the next chapter of IKEA Food sourcing. In this role, you will connect product development, supplier capability and sourcing optimisation, from early development ideas to sourcing implementation.

Food operates in an industry with short shelf life, strong requirements on freshness, quality and food safety, and a supplier landscape that calls for both strategic partnerships and simpler sourcing solutions. You will bring fact-based sourcing input early, support clear choices and help create feasible, cost-conscious sourcing setups that work in real business life.

Job Description

As Product Sourcing Leader, you will lead sourcing and supplier capability input to product development and portfolio planning. You will support the move towards a more industry-fit sourcing setup by evaluating supplier options, deciding on development suppliers and securing sourcing readiness for news, moves, improves, launches, changes and market expansion.

Your home base will be a dedicated development team, while you also collaborate across development teams within your assigned segment. You will work closely with Range Areas, Category business teams, Regional Sourcing Specialists, Supply Chain and suppliers to align priorities, plan sourcing activities and follow up segment, sourcing and supplier-base performance.

In this role, you will:

• Lead sourcing and supplier capability input to product development and portfolio planning.
• Use supplier competence early to secure realistic product development, cost and availability preconditions.
• Provide sourcing expertise to development teams, decide on development suppliers and secure early supplier alignment and production feasibility.
• Evaluate sourcing alternatives, including strategic partnerships and simpler sourcing solutions where relevant.
• Secure implementation and on-time sales start together with business teams.
• Coordinate product development agreements and sourcing readiness for launches, changes and market expansion.
• Lead creation and implementation of segment sourcing strategies in line with Category Business Plans and Purchasing Development Plans.
• Identify supplier capability gaps, consolidation opportunities and sourcing setups that support speed, affordability and availability.
• Lead or coordinate RFQs, RFPs and RFIs together with Regional Sourcing Specialists when needed.
• Drive fact-based decisions through data, risk assessment, scenario planning and clear prioritisation.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in product development, sourcing, purchasing development, supplier development or food sourcing.
• Understands the Food business context and how sourcing choices affect quality, food safety, speed, availability, affordability and growth.
• Has strong knowledge of sourcing strategy, supplier capability and sourcing implementation.
• Understands product development, portfolio planning and how sourcing input affects feasibility, cost and readiness.
• Has good understanding of supplier capability, materials, production techniques and sourcing alternatives.
• Uses supplier, cost, risk and performance data to create insight, assess scenarios and support clear decisions.
• Can influence and coordinate stakeholders across category, range and development, supply chain and supplier interfaces.
• Communicates clearly in English and can connect different perspectives into practical sourcing outcomes.

At IKEA, strong sourcing helps good ideas become affordable, sustainable and relevant food products for the many people. As Product Sourcing Leader in Food, your work will help us strengthen sourcing readiness, use supplier capability earlier and support faster product development from idea to implementation.

You will be part of strengthening the Food value chain by working close to colleagues across Purchasing Development, Category Area Food, Range Areas, regional sourcing teams and Supply Chain. Together, we reduce complexity, make sourcing choices clearer and create the conditions for better growth at lower cost.

To succeed in this role, we believe you are curious about how products, suppliers and the total Food value chain connect. You enjoy creating clarity when many needs meet, and you are comfortable making choices based on facts, risks and business priorities. You build trust through simple communication, good listening and close collaboration. You bring energy to development work and help others move forward with confidence.

Additional information

We welcome your application!

We look forward to receiving your application by 27th October at the latest. Apply by submitting your CV - please note that we do not ask for a cover letter in this recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as we might start interviewing early for certain roles. Due to high volumes, we have limited flexibility to reschedule, so please make sure to prioritize the interview if you are invited.

If you have any questions about the role or the recruitment process, or if you have a special need that requires accommodation in the recruitment process, feel free to contact the Recruiter Bence Denes.