Food Operations Leader, IKEA

IKEA

Location:
Italy, Carugate, Milano

Category:
Hospitality and Tourism

Contract Type:
Employment contract

Salary:

Not provided

Save Job

Apply Position

Job Description:

In the role as Country Food Operations Leader, you are responsible for leading the food operational excellence and ensuring a commercial food experience that is safe, people and planet positive, healthy and delicious, affordable and convenient, human and joyful, with a Swedish touch. Further responsibilities include strengthening food operational systems through administrative tasks, food operational competence and leading activities to address key gaps of food quality and operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Job Responsibility:

Coach, and re-direct where necessary, the units to drive food operational excellence – in-store logistics, food production, waste management, meeting the customer, equipment and sustainable operations
ensure that food operations are compliant with IKEA standards and local legal demands
be responsible for monitoring units in order to identify and optimise food operational needs and requirements
ensure all the administrative tasks are completed timely and shared with the proper stakeholders
be responsible for developing and implementing common operational framework, standards, plans, WoW (way of working), tools and KPI’s to deliver to the business goals
contribute to food business financial results through monitoring the performance, identifying gaps and proposing and initiating improvements
contribute insight and ideas to the market business plan as an integrated commercial partner
ensure correct operational process to secure food product availability, food stock management, food quality and to minimize food waste
ensure up to date, appropriate and sustainable equipment and facilities
contribute to the development of market specific range operational needs and requirements in line with IKEA range strategy, requirements and processes
plan, conduct and follow-up operational performance review as well as act upon them e.g. lead information and escalation process to ensure performance excellence throughout the year
train co-workers in new food production, serving techniques and tools as well as ways of working
contribute with knowledge transfer and information sharing to, and between, the units
act as a member of the food team and proactively contribute to food plan/output in order to deliver to the common objectives and goals
actively cooperate with all key stakeholders within commercial and beyond to secure integration, common focus and to maximize impact
be an active player in working on sustainability within food (sourcing of local ingredients, circularity in production, usage of sustainable materials and services)
be an active player in driving an open and sharing climate, be a role model of the IKEA values and contribute to the transformation of IKEA

Requirements:

Strong experience in working with food operations, commercial kitchens or similar and delivering results
significant experience in leading and influencing co-workers
experience from retail, preferably food sector
broad knowledge of operational management such as in store logistics, inventory, production, serving and sustainability
good knowledge of project and change management methods and tools as well as stakeholder management
broad knowledge of the multichannel reality and online customer behaviours
broad knowledge of operational plans and goals as well as follow up on KPIs
broad knowledge of food trends that influence customers’ needs and demands in the market
broad knowledge of how consumer acts, feels and behaves in a retail environment to apply the insights in the food experience design in all touch points
good leadership capabilities including ability to lead peers and stakeholders while communicating in an inspirational way with IKEA tone of voice
strong analytical skills with ability to prioritise relevant operational data and make decisions with speed and simplicity
ability to follow up and measure performance of output and capture learnings to improve planning and performance moving forward
ability to work with systems and digital tools

What we offer:

Inclusive work environment
supportive climate regardless of age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy and ability

Additional Information:

Job Posted:
July 24, 2025

Employment Type:

Fulltime

Work Type:

On-site work

View All Jobs In This Company

Job Link Share:

Food Operations Leader