Automation Development Manager

IKEA Industry, part of the Inter IKEA Group, is the world’s largest producer of wooden furniture and is an integrated part of the IKEA value chain.As IKEA’s own furniture manufacturer our role is to offer a unique advantage for IKEA as a world leader in home furnishing.

IKEA Industry has nearly 38 production units, across 18 sites in 7 countries: Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Sweden, Lithuania, China and Hungary.

Our operations include forestry, sawmills, boards, component and furniture production. IKEA culture and values shape everything we do. Not only do the IKEA values bring us together, they also help us to do business successfully

We are looking for Automation development manager at Manufacturing development department to lead a team and automation development center.

In IKEA Industry, Manufacturing Development Department grows unique manufacturing capability for long-term competitive advantage. Focus areas are Material, Product, and Automation capabilities.

Automation development department has assignment to develop & innovate automatic solutions in manufacturing for sustainable competitive advantage. The role  includes leading development projects as well as managing improvements of such systems in full operation in close cooperation with factory representatives, industry experts, product development and several of the collaborating companies to improving work conditions for many co-workers and business competitiveness.

Automation Development team is located in Manufacturing Development Center (MDC) in Zbasyzn. The MDC is one of the world’s largest furniture development centers where 100+ engineers and leaders co-create and innovate Materials, Products and Technology together with colleagues and partners. In the area of Automation the current focus is:

• develop and implement scalable automation solutions for furniture manufacturing
• build capability for competitive advantage in automation for IKEA
• enable preconditions for efficient investments in machinery and equipment
• to continue development and implementation of our Industry 4.0 strategy

Who are you?
Are you an experienced leader with ability to develop both business and people? Do you have a holistic view and always acting with the best interest of the customer and the total IKEA value chain in mind? Do you have a passion for home furniture, automation development and production? Then this just might be the right opportunity for you!

The assignment:
As Automation development Manager you will play a key role to develop and support increasing level of automation, improving work conditions and business competitiveness.  

Is this an opportunity for you?
To be successful in this role we believe you have a strong commitment and understanding in how to develop business and people together. To be guided and supported by our values is something that comes very natural to you. In addition to this we expect you to have:

• strategic skills and proven results in leading and developing business and people.
• industrial understanding and manufacturing process knowledge
• strong business drive and are result oriented.
• strong personal value-based leadership with capability to create togetherness, belonging and trust within cross-functional and remote teams and to deliver results through involving and engaging people.
• flexibility and ability to work and achieve results in a fast-changing environment.

You will in this role report to the Automation development manager and you will be the direct manager of the mechanical designers, robotic engineers, automation engineers, commissioning leaders. This is a full-time permanent position located in MDC Zbaszyn.

Sounds interesting? 
Please submit your application not later than September 25, 2023. 

For job specific questions please contact
Automation Development Manager – rozle.penca@inter.ikea.com

For questions about the recruitment process, please contact
People & Culture Leader - lena.vollbrecht@inter.ikea.com