Food Compliance Leader

Inter IKEA Group brings together three core businesses: Retail Concept, Range and Supply. Together we work constantly to improve the IKEA home furnishing offer and make it more accessible for the many people. IKEA Supply is responsible for sourcing, manufacturing, transporting, storing, and supplying the global IKEA range of furniture, furnishings as well as food. 

IKEA Food Supply AG is the main wholesaler together with its subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States to purchase IKEA Food products from suppliers and sells these to the IKEA retail companies.

Compliance is accountable for the coordination and control to ensure products and export/import flows fulfill all relevant internal and external rules and legislation; to provide cost-efficient quality food & beverage products to IKEA Retail companies.

We are looking for a Food Compliance Leader to provide leadership on the Compliance agenda, with a special focus on EMEA. Secure that all requirements related to trade with food and beverage (Legislation, Standards, Regulations, and Sustainability) are met by providing guidance/leadership to internal and external service providers. Own overall compliance risk map and build processes for identification and mitigation.

• Maintain and enhance the IKEA Food Supply’s framework for local Food Safety Management Systems, secure its legal compliance in critical business process (e.g. approving new suppliers). Ensure that there is an e-2-e process for all product dimensions across the value chain.
• Lead, coach and inspire co-workers across teams to ensure a strong focus on Compliance.
• Establish, improve and implement SOPs for IKEA Food Supply in close cooperation with internal and external stakeholders – especially with Risk & Compliance (ISAG), Legal Affairs (ISAG), and Range & Product Engineering (IoS).
• Drive agenda and decision making in relevant decision forums; in close collaboration with internal IKEA stakeholders and matrix managers.
• Keep up to date with industry laws and regulations, trends and developments, and assess their applicability to IKEA Food business.
• Secure that Sustainability Compliance requirements described in IKEA codes of conduct and the purchasing manual are fulfilled. Ensure proper documentation is in place to verify compliance across the markets (e.g. BA cooperation with Retail PR&C).
• Support implementation of Sustainability Compliance requirements in close cooperation with BA/CA/SCO Food.
• Ensure that the products are compliant and sellable by putting the right demands on the right stakeholders.
• Perform risk analysis/assessment relative to requirements, processes, and products - to update the demands/stakeholders. Monitor adherence by initiating spot-checks/verification/audits.
  • Be the spokesperson towards authorities as needed – in liaison with IoS Product Risk & Compliance.

To be successful in this role you should have/be:

• Academic degree & regulatory expertise in fields related to Trade law/restrictions/barriers as well as Corporate compliance/governance, Food product compliance, and liability resolution.
• Leadership experience (especially through others)
• Good understanding of the food business; its logistics, cost drivers and key players
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, communication, and negotiation skills
• Expert knowledge in assessing compliance risks
• Fluency in English, proficiency in German and preferably more languages

At IKEA, we continuously look for better ways of working, following our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people. It is in our culture to work together and to be open, straightforward and inclusive. If this sounds like an environment you could enjoy working in, we are looking forward receiving your application! Please submit both your CV and motivational letter in English by 31 Aug, 2024.

We will be interviewing continuously and close the job ad earlier once we have found the right candidate. 

For further information about the role, please contact Petter Berggren (Write an email).

About IKEA

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 plantballs that help us look after our planet. It’s all part of our vision - to create a better everyday life for the many. And it’s been keeping our co-workers going for over 75 years. By 2030, we hope to help millions more look forward to going home. Maybe you can help us.

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.

At IKEA we believe that we’re better when we’re physically together for collaboration, dialogues and conversations. We believe in the power of human interactions; the informal chats, the energy, belonging and creativity generated by people being in the same place. Our approach is that we spend most of our time in the IKEA workplace and with flexibility to work from home when relevant.

Another thing fueling our success is our values-based culture. While we are unique individuals with endless differences, something we share is our commitment to lead by example, work together, find better ways and to get things done. We believe in life-long learning, where we all play a part in helping each other (and our business) grow. 

Read more about us athttps://about.ikea.com