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Inter IKEA Group

IKEA franchising range and supply group

New Business Project Leader

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/15/2026
No salary listed
Mid
Shanghai, China
In Person
Project & Program ManagementProgram Management

About the job

Requirements
  • Knowledge and understanding of IKEA's business model, strategic landscape, and Democratic Design Principles.
  • Knowledge and understanding of IKEA's governance structure, organization, and business-year cycle.
  • Knowledge and understanding of key business-development processes and when to apply them.
  • Knowledge of industry- and market-specific conditions and macroeconomic trends at the country or regional level.
  • Deep knowledge of the IKEA Purchasing Manual and other working methods, especially the process for starting up a new supplier.
  • Fundamental finance and legal knowledge.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of project processes, phases, methods, and tools applied at IKEA.
  • Knowledge and understanding of IKEA culture and values, the IKEA Group Code of Conduct, and IKEA Business Ethics.
  • Ability to lead in unfamiliar contexts, test and try, and step outside the comfort zone.
  • Ability to lead business holistically, identify and develop business opportunities, and deliver results with the customer, supplier, total IKEA, and total cost development in mind.
  • Ability to facilitate, challenge, and balance the interests of multiple stakeholders, create a common view, and lead through communication.
  • Strategic, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities to generate meaningful business insights, define risks and recommendations using a fact-based approach, and make decisions in day-to-day management.
  • Ability to think outside the box.
  • Ability to learn easily and adapt quickly to different business contexts.
  • Ability to motivate, manage change, and deliver results by creating involvement, engagement, and urgency in the project team.
  • Proficiency in both Chinese and English.
Responsibilities
  • Explore and analyze markets, industries, and market trends to identify business opportunities and create business cases.
  • Manage and deliver a portfolio of sourcing projects, including identifying and starting up new suppliers and sub-suppliers, developing new sourcing regions, engaging social entrepreneurs, and exploring sustainability opportunities based on assignments from relevant New Business stakeholders.
  • Manage and deliver a portfolio of deployment projects involving market-specific ranges, product innovations, new business models, logistics, and other business opportunities.
  • Lead assigned projects in line with the Project Management Competence Profile by defining scope, requirements, and goals and engaging relevant IKEA and external expertise to achieve objectives.
  • Establish long-term professional relationships with new suppliers and business partners and guide them through IKEA's way of doing business.
  • Ensure compliance with the IKEA Purchasing Manual and other agreed working methods.
  • Act as a Business Developer for suppliers not handed over to CAT on time when needed.
  • Represent IKEA values and conduct business using fact-based business leadership.

About the company

Operating as the group responsible for the IKEA franchise system, product range, supply, and industrial production, Inter IKEA Group focuses on its stated market and service model. It develops the IKEA concept and range, grants franchise rights, sources and distributes products, and operates manufacturing businesses. Design, product development, engineering, purchasing, logistics, digital, franchise, and industrial teams support that system. The profile is Inter IKEA Group rather than individual IKEA retail franchisees. A broad jobs landing page may mix employers, so evidence should stay within Inter IKEA Group scope.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Delft, Netherlands

Founded

1989

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • 2026 completion of Baltic forest purchase strengthens vertical control after CapMan’s April divestment.
  • Matter's November 2025 round positions Inter IKEA in textile microfibre filtration commercialization.
  • NORNORM raised €50 million, validating IKEA-aligned circular furniture demand across 17 countries.

What critics are saying

  • May 2026 layoffs cut 850 roles, signaling margin pressure and slower consumer demand.
  • U.S. tariffs and rising costs squeeze pricing through 2026, forcing deeper job reductions.
  • A prolonged consumer slump breaks the franchise model's pricing power and kills expansion.

What makes Inter IKEA Group unique

  • Controls IKEA product sourcing and supply for 13 franchisees across 63 countries, not stores.
  • Owns more than 24,000 Baltic forest hectares, securing long-term timber and sustainability inputs.
  • Backs circular suppliers Matter, Colorifix, and NORNORM to shape IKEA-adjacent ecosystem innovation.

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Benefits

  • Commuter Benefits
  • Meal Benefits
  • Wellness Program
  • Performance Bonus

Company News

Yahoo Finance
May 20th, 2026
IKEA franchiser Inter IKEA cuts 850 jobs amid rising costs and tariffs

Inter IKEA, which manages product sourcing and supplies to 13 IKEA franchisees globally, is cutting 850 jobs as part of a cost-reduction effort. The layoffs represent approximately 3% of the company's 27,500-strong workforce. The Sweden-based retailer faces challenges from reduced consumer spending, rising costs and US tariffs. The cuts include 300 positions in Sweden, particularly at Inter IKEA's main hub in Almhult, where IKEA was founded in 1943. "We need to become faster, shorten the decision-making processes, and simply concentrate our efforts on these priorities," said Inter IKEA Chief Financial Officer Henrik Elm. IKEA's largest franchisee, Ingka Group, previously announced plans to eliminate 800 office-based positions.

Tech Funding News
Mar 10th, 2026
Seprify raises $15.1M to scale cellulose replacing titanium dioxide in food and cosmetics

Seprify, a Swiss biomaterials company, has raised €13.4 million in a Series A round led by Una Terra Early Growth Fund to scale production of cellulose-based alternatives to titanium dioxide. Inter IKEA Group, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures and Kickfund participated in the round, bringing total funding to over €22 million. Founded by Lukas Schertel and Oliver Polcher from ETH Zurich, Seprify engineers cellulose microstructures to replace titanium dioxide in cosmetics, food and coatings. The company offers three product lines: SilvaLuma for suncare, SilvaAlba for food whitening, and SilvaFolia for coatings and inks. The funding will scale production to hundreds of tonnes annually through manufacturing partners and support over 100 customers moving from pilot testing to commercial purchasing.

Cision
Feb 27th, 2026
CapMan sells 24,000 hectares of Baltic forest to IKEA, launches European Forest Fund IV

CapMan Natural Capital has completed the sale of approximately 24,000 hectares of forest assets in Latvia and Lithuania from Dasos Timberland Fund II to Inter IKEA Group. The transaction, initially announced in December, returns funds to investors in line with target returns. The divested forests underwent over a decade of sustainability-driven management, including FSC certifications, operational improvements and long-term wood supply agreements. CapMan Natural Capital will maintain its Baltic presence through its fourth main fund, CapMan Dasos European Forest Fund IV, which held its first close in December. CapMan Natural Capital manages approximately 215,000 hectares across eight EU countries with a market value of €1.5 billion, positioning it as one of Europe's leading independent forest asset managers.

Matter.
Nov 5th, 2025
Earthshot 2025 Finalist Matter receives backing from Inter IKEA Group to combat microfibre pollution — Matter.

Rio De Janeiro [5.11.25] Earthshot 2025 finalist and British sustainable tech company Matter has today announced that Inter IKEA Group is leading the company’s current financing round. The investment round will enable Matter to roll out its innovative technology to tackle one of the planet’s most

Brown Brothers Media
Oct 1st, 2025
NORNORM secures €50M for circular growth

Copenhagen-based NORNORM, a circular workplace furniture solutions provider, has raised €50M in a new funding round with participation from Verdane, Inter IKEA, Philian AB, and Banco Santander. The funding will enhance its circular model using technology and AI. NORNORM, co-founded with IKEA in 2020, is operationally profitable in all core markets, with €14M in annual subscription revenue, and operates in 17 countries and 59 cities.