Business Development Manager - Purchasing Development

Hej! We are IKEA!

One brand, a full value chain, and many, many people – that’s us in a nutshell.

Spread all over the world, we have a passion for home furnishing and an inspiring shared vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people.  We do this by offering 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.

The Inter IKEA Group is a part of Inter IKEA Systems B.V., owner of the IKEA Concept and worldwide IKEA franchisor.

IKEA Purchasing and Logistics Services US Inc. in King of Prussia, PA is part of our Supply Area Americas which also has an office in Curitiba, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico, and is a subsidiary of the Inter IKEA Group.

At IKEA, we do things a little different. We think differently, act differently. And work differently as well. We like to break things. Like rules. And then make things. Like music-playing lamps. And beds disguised as sofas. Even plant balls that help us look after our planet. It’s all part of our vision - to create a better everyday life for the many. By 2030, we hope to help millions more look forward to going home.

Want to help make this happen? Join our global Purchasing Development business! It is filled with curious and passionate people, that get energy from influencing, interacting, and working together to deliver great business results. Does it sound like your kind of people?

If so, come and develop the IKEA business together with us! We are now looking for a new Business Development Manager for Category Green Plants & Custom Made Work Tops based in King of Prussia, PA.

Custom Made Worktops is a key part of the IKEA kitchen offer. The category is responsible for IKEA made-to-measure kitchen countertops in many different materials. Each worktop produced by our suppliers is unique and it is delivered directly to the customer home.

Green Plants is an important part of the vitality in the IKEA offer. The category is responsible for supply to IKEA Green Plants business with main focus in Americas for our Living segment.

Being a Business Development Manager at IKEA means several things. As a part of the Global Category Management Team, you will actively contribute to the development of the Category Business Plan, securing business results and developing people as well as continuously exploring new business opportunities in your area of responsibility.

As Business Development Manager you will:

• Set the business direction with clear Action Plan(s) to improve and develop business and supplier performance, and deliver to Category Plan, using the Supplier Development Process
• Be accountable for professional and long-term relationships with suppliers through the IKEA way of doing business, based on a shared business model, trust and transparency
• Identify and start-up new suppliers according to business needs through the business development team and/or by giving assignments to New Business teams
• Lead and/or contribute to projects on behalf of the overall category or category area
• Be overall responsible for people development including setting the competence and leadership agenda to meet the business needs as well as securing recruitment, development, performance management, retention and succession plans for co-workers directly in your team
• At any time, use Fact-based Business Leadership

Who are you?

As our Business Development Manager, you have an entrepreneurial spirit with a strong ability to lead both business and people based on previous experience. You are good at both clarifying and inspiring, building networks and long-term partnerships. You combine strategic work with a hands-on approach, and you have the ability to communicate a complex assignment in a logical, clear, and simple manner. You like challenges and stepping into the unknown. You lead the business with an analytical and holistic view, always keeping customer, supplier and IKEA in mind.

What you bring with you?

• Excellent proven leadership skills, being a down-to-earth leader providing clarity with a positive, inspiring approach and leading through others with the aim of letting them shine in their roles and assignments
• Are solution oriented and have a strong business acumen with the ability to work on a strategic level as well as sustaining excellence in daily operations on an operational and tactical level
• Good knowledge and understanding in purchasing and logistics and specifically manufacturing and cost-drivers connected to that
• Excellent understanding of business tools and systems to drive conclusions and actions
• Good communication skills in English, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and in a simple way
• Able to take and execute through decisions

Sounds interesting?

This position is based in King of Prussia, PA and will require some travelling.

At IKEA, we value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are committed to providing coworkers with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We encourage individualism and invite you to come join our team and be yourself with us! 

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need.  

Want to learn more about current opportunities? Come say Hej (hello in Swedish) here: https://about.ikea.com/en/work-with-us