Senior Purchaser/Buyer - Category Custom Made Kitchen Worktops - Inter IKEA Group

About the job

In this role you will be responsible for Custom Made Kitchen Worktops for the Americas Region while sitting in our King of Prussia, PA office location. 

As a Business Developer/ Purchasing co-worker, you will develop and implement common action plans with your supplier partners, delivering excellent performance in running operations and building professional long term business development. You will also identify and act on new purchasing possibilities in order to secure optimal sourcing set-up.

About the company

Our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. We do this by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing and food 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 Supply is responsible for securing that the product offer is produced and delivered to our customers. We lead the supply agenda across many functions and work together with all business areas, different business units, but also retail markets to secure customer availability in all markets and sales channels at lowest total cost.

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

Most people see a stool. You see innovative partnerships with suppliers. We work hard to make sure everyone’s voice is heard and that everyone can make a difference.  We offer positions that challenge your skills and inspire you to grow.  Come see things a little bit differently with us.

About the assignment

As a Business Developer/ Purchasing co-worker, you will be overall responsible for supplier performance and relationship management.  Among other things, you are:

• Responsible for building professional and long-term relationships through the IKEA way of doing business, based on a shared business model, trust, and transparency.
• Professionally challenge suppliers to constantly improve all aspects of supplier performance according to the supplier action plan.
• Lead supplier development projects to create and implement action plans together with suppliers which delivers to Category Business Plan.
• Responsible for lowering the total cost at the supplier level through optimizing value chain.
• Partner with suppliers to continuously increase the competitiveness through new purchasing possibilities such as new technology, new material and/or production techniques.
• Lead the business agenda by involving and engaging competence needed such as logistics, quality, manufacturing, and sustainability.
• Secure compliance to IKEA Purchasing Manual and working methods.

About you

Establish and develop a high performing and diverse supplier base which will meet the needs of our business and customers. You have a high interest in understanding the markets we are working in, as well as the reality of production. Additionally, we believe you should have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or other relevant degree.
• Purchasing experience working with Total Cost and Value Chain Analysis.
• Experience in supplier development and project management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills. Able to adapt communication style to suit different audiences.
• Proven record of developing business plans and consistently meeting/exceeding results.
• Travel required (30-50%)

Does this sound like your next challenge? We look forward to receiving your motivation letter and application in English.

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