Category Sourcing Leader
IKEA Supply Services (Sweden) AB · Älmhult · 12 månader – upp till 2 år · Deadline 2026-11-05
IKEA Supply Services (Sweden) AB is recruiting a **Category Sourcing Leader** for a **temporary assignment of approximately 1–1.5 years** to cover maternity leave. Located in Älmhult with global scope, the position sits within Category Filled & Storage Textile under Category Area Textile Furnishing. The role leads end-to-end RFQs across the running range and new products, balancing cost, capacity, quality, sustainability, and supplier capability. Working hands-on with sourcing tools and data such as Cost Breakdown (CBD) analysis, the role provides clear decision options and aligns cross-functional stakeholders—including Category, Range, and Need Planning partners—to support long-term category performance and supplier development. Candidates should demonstrate strong **RFQ expertise anchored in facts**, proficiency with sourcing systems and processes, and the ability to link sourcing decisions to end-to-end business impact across the value chain. Inclusive stakeholder management, constructive accountability, and a collaborative approach are essential. Sourcing experience within the category is preferred. The employer notes that a preferred candidate has been identified, though applications remain open.
Company Description
We are now recruiting a Category Sourcing Leader for temporary assignment in Category Filled & Storage Textile in Category Area Textile Furnishing.
We in Category Area Textile Furnishing are passionate about beautiful textiles and great com
The Category Sourcing Leader is a fact-based, collaborative and accountable sourcing leader who helps the Category make better, faster decisions by connecting stakeholders, tools and data into clear priorities and decision options across the value chain.
Success in this role means: enabling efficient RFQs and sourcing decisions that are optimized and feasible (cost–capacity–capability), anchored in facts, and translated into outcomes for the supplier landscape and long-term Category performance.
Job Description
The Category Sourcing Leader is a fact-based, collaborative and accountable sourcing leader who helps the Category make better, faster decisions by connecting stakeholders, tools and data into clear priorities and decision options across the value chain.
Success in this role means: enabling efficient RFQs and sourcing decisions that are optimized and feasible (cost–capacity–capability), anchored in facts, and translated into outcomes for the supplier landscape and long-term Category performance.
What the role is about
You connect the right stakeholders – generalists and specialists – to understand interdependencies and ensure decisions are made from a total IKEA perspective. You work hands-on with our sourcing tools and processes to drive transparency, structure RFQs, and support fact-based decision-making.
Here are some of the activities you will lead:
- Plan and drive end-to-end RFQs, securing the right structure and collaboration across running range and NEWs.
- Balance and make trade-offs between cost, capacity, supplier capability, quality and sustainability – ensuring decisions are optimized and feasible.
- Use data and fact-based insights (e.g., CBDs) to build strong, credible recommendations and clear decision options.
- Work hands-on with sourcing systems and processes to create transparency, structure, and disciplined follow-through.
- Connect and align stakeholders across Category, Range, Need Planning and other partners – inviting diverse perspectives to improve decision quality.
- Link sourcing decisions to the broader sourcing landscape (supplier capability, allocation logic, long-term development) and contribute to Category plans and performance.
- Drive resolution with strong ownership, constructively hold stakeholders accountable, and ensure decisions are adopted and embedded in ways of working.
How we will work together
This role is about inclusive collaboration, clear ownership and trust building – balancing challenge with strong partnerships across the value chain.
- Invite and actively engage the right stakeholders to understand interdependencies and reach better decisions.
- Build trustful, high-performing relationships by combining collaboration with constructive challenge.
- Create an environment where different perspectives are welcomed and used to improve outcomes.
- Take initiative, keep momentum, and make sure agreements turn into action.
Qualifications
You are curious, fact-based and collaborative – and you enjoy connecting people, tools and data to land good sourcing decisions. We believe you bring many of these strengths:
- Total IKEA & business impact: see the end-to-end picture and link sourcing decisions to the supplier landscape and long-term Category outcomes.
- RFQ expertise, anchored in facts: plan and drive RFQs with confidence, using data (e.g., CBDs) and clear trade-offs (cost–capacity–capability).
- Tools-driven and hands-on: comfortable working in sourcing systems to create structure, transparency and disciplined follow-through.
- Stakeholder inclusive leadership: connect and align the right people across partners, inviting different perspectives to improve decisions.
- Ownership & accountability: take initiative, drive solutions, and hold yourself and others accountable in a constructive way.
Additional information
The position is located in Älmhult, Sweden with a global responsibility. Please note this will be approximately 1-1.5 years assignment to back up maternity leave, sourcing experience within category is preferred.
Please note that we have a preferred candidate for this position, while we encourage all candidates holding a similar ambition and finding the role interesting to apply.