Merchandise & Commercial Planning Specialist

Our Merchandise & Commercial Planning Team is part of Retail Concept and we are on the lookout for four commercial planning specialists.

We are looking for people who excel with complex topics, possess a solid understanding of retail and specifically, have solid experience in how IKEA works with merchandise and commercial planning (and their digital tools) in our units and global functions.

About the Role:

As a Merchandise & Commercial Planning specialist, you’ll be pivotal in helping shape IKEA’s future merchandise and commercial planning landscape. This role empowers you to contribute to intricate topics across the value chain, harmonizing creativity and efficiency to support IKEA retailers in planning and maintaining compelling commercial spaces. Your scope and responsibility will focus on enabling the optimisation of retail operations in the planning processes (everyday operations and establishment), enhancing co-worker experiences and providing strategic guidance and direction to the team through indirect leadership.

What You'll Do:

You will be an integral part of the team, supporting the Merchandise & Commercial Planning team with specialist knowledge bridging both Sales and Present the Offer expertise. You will be a key support to our retail co-workers, digital development teams and other stakeholders across the value chain. Amongst other things:

• Support the conceptual development of merchandise and commercial planning methods and tools and in some cases, lead related activities.
• Collaborate in assignments to other IKEA organisations (ex. Common Retail Solutions, franchisee’s, Central Planning Hub etc.).
• Collaborate closely with peers across IKEA to strengthen and contribute to a strong and relevant commercial planning and merchandise planning offer.
• Communicate, plan and distribute relevant information to all relevant stakeholders.
• Support business success through competence and learning development for retailers (and other stakeholders) in this area – specifically, contribute (and sometimes lead) learnings, trainings, facilitations, educations and similar.
• Lead by example and create clarity and direction within the Merchandise & Commercial Planning team. Be a team player and directly support (and sometimes lead) topic movements, supporting resource allocation and creating/enabling transparency on deliverables.
• Support the development and testing of a variety of digital products used by our co-workers including: Revit, Kinship, Merchandise Administration Application (MAA), Merchandise Planning Suite (MPS) and several others.
• Support portfolio planning, budget, prioritisation, financial assessments and follow-up and overall development plans for the area

Who You Are:

You’re a team player. Someone who can bring their senior commercial planning experience from retail to the global (franchisor) arena. You have a very strong understanding of how IKEA works with Merchandise Planning and Commercial Planning and the digital products that are currently used for supporting these activities. You celebrate diversity and can easily work with a diverse team, working together towards a common vision and goal.

You know retail at IKEA and you likely (but not necessarily, mandatory) have solid experience from one (or perhaps all) of the areas below:

• Commercial functions on unit level with assignment as Revit or MAA/MPS superuser and/or 3+ years working with these processes and tools (all or some)
• Country Expansion teams
• Common Retail Solutions
• Central Planning Hub (Formerly, Common store planning)

Your knack for working with complex topics through collaboration enables you to drive results and navigate the “unknown”.

Your Skills & Savvy:

• In-depth knowledge of Retail and retail operations
• Deep knowledge of the IKEA Concept, the IKEA Vision and business idea, IKEA culture and values
• Extensive experience and knowledge of IKEA retail operating model from direct IKEA work experience from Com&In/HFR&D/Sales from a retail unit or global function
• Expertise in customer-centric design, processes, methods, and IKEA’s digital products within the merchandise and commercial planning domain.
• Strong capability to lead across organisations, influencing outcomes and fostering collaboration.
• Awareness of digital trends and global shifts that enrich customer experiences.
• Healthy competitive spirit with a forward-looking, pragmatic and creative mindset.
• Inspired by the challenges of the unknown, committed to enhancing coworker and customer experiences

Why You’ll Love Being Here:

By contributing to strategic topics, you'll push boundaries, inspire innovation, and redefine commercial success. Embrace this opportunity to contribute and sometimes lead impactful initiatives that elevate our co-worker and ultimately, our customer’s experience. Your pivotal contributions will help transform how every physical customer meeting point connects with customers, ensuring a glorious future.

At IKEA, your journey is more than a career – it’s about being part of something bigger, crafting positive change in everyday life for the many people.

Additional Information

Ready to redefine IKEA’s commercial planning experience? Be sure to include a motivation letter along with your CV (in English) elaborating on why you think this role is a great fit for YOU and IKEA.

For any questions regarding the recruitment process, including any specific accessibility considerations, please contact our recruiter Chris Ellis at chris.ellis@inter.ikea.com

For any questions about the role itself, please contact the hiring manager: Chad Randver-Baker at chad.baker@inter.ikea.com

This position is a full-time, permanent position located in Malmö, Sweden. International mobility support may be provided and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Note: as this position is based in Sweden and we do LOVE our summer vacation time …and this job ad is being posted right before everyone goes on vacation…please allow and excuse what will likely be a longer-than-usual recruitment process. The closing date for this role is July 11th, 2025. Interviews are likely to commence Mid-August for these positions.