The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. We do this by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. We operate in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand – and have an ambitious expansion plan to bring a little bit of Sweden to new markets in the region. We are part of the Ikano Group of companies and the only IKEA franchisee owned by the Kamprad family that founded IKEA.
We also develop, own and operate Shopping Centres that are anchored by IKEA and create walkable communities by including residential, office and other types of real estate in our development plans.
We work towards making sustainability a natural part of our everyday work. We are active in our communities, driving and supporting social initiatives that benefit children, women and the environment.
As an HR Specialist, you will support the business by executing people activities and projects to ensure operational excellence across various functions. You will deliver a wide range of HR services - including Talent Management, Industrial Relations, Compensation & Benefits, and Learning & Development - while supporting the implementation of HR policies and guiding internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence: Execute people activities via the Ikano Retail/IKEA Malaysia People Cycle framework. Maintain employee data in HRIS, administer time management, update standard operating procedures, and ensure adherence to national labor laws and company policies.
Building Business Competence: Support and coordinate training programs to enhance performance management skills. Promote continuous learning, track competency initiatives using HR analytics, and deliver effective organization-wide communications.
Leading for Performance: Role model IKEA culture and values. Analyze HR data to identify performance gaps, offer actionable recommendations, and co-create engagement programs (e.g., Diversity & Inclusion, VOICE surveys, recognition programs).
General Support: Actively participate in cross-functional meetings and assist with ad-hoc HR assignments in a matrix setup.
Knowledge & Experience
Comprehensive understanding of the full HR spectrum (Talent Management, Industrial Relations, Employee Engagement, C&B, L&D).
In-depth knowledge of local (Malaysia) employment laws, regulations, and compliance standards.
Expertise in HRIS systems, HR data analytics, and official documentation/record-keeping.
Familiarity with or strong alignment toward the IKEA brand, culture, and values.
Capabilities & Skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels.
Strong analytical capabilities to translate HR metrics into actionable decisions.
Proven ability to build trustful relationships and work independently with reliability.
Agility to drive results with speed, flexibility, and simplicity.
Motivations
Passion for developing co-workers and growing the business through people.
Active interest in problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Strong alignment with core IKEA values
Please apply by 17-Sep-2026.
Skills Required
- Comprehensive understanding of talent management, industrial relations, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, and learning and development
- In-depth knowledge of Malaysian employment laws, regulations, and compliance standards
- Expertise with HRIS systems and HR data analytics
- Experience with official documentation and record-keeping
- Familiarity with or strong alignment to the IKEA brand, culture, and values
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills across organizational levels
- Strong analytical capabilities for translating HR metrics into actionable decisions
- Ability to build trustful relationships and work independently with reliability
- Agility to drive results with speed, flexibility, and simplicity
- Passion for developing coworkers and growing the business through people
- Interest in problem-solving and conflict resolution
What We Do
Ikano Retail is an IKEA franchisee that operates IKEA stores and shopping centers, focusing on creating better everyday lives through retail and real estate development.
