Social Impact Leader

Job Description

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship is looking for a Social Impact Leader to a temporary position (maternity leave). You will work with a portfolio of current partnerships as well as developing new partnerships to support and accelerate social entrepreneurs. You see opportunities over challenges and work with passion and purpose. Come see things a little differently with us!

About us

What if your work could help make everyday life just a little bit better for those who need it the most? The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. It’s a vision that we try to live up to in many different ways, one of them by using our experience to create long-lasting, positive change for those who need it most.

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship creates greater opportunities for the people who need it the most to live a better everyday life and we contribute to transforming IKEA into becoming a more inclusive and sustainable business.

Since 2012, IKEA has been teaming up with entrepreneurs across the globe that create a better world by providing job opportunities that empower people, while also addressing inequality and sustainability.

We partner with social entrepreneurs in different ways; we establish business partnerships to offer IKEA customers unique products and services (managed by IKEA Range and Supply, Sweden) and we boost the potential and impact of others through our development programs, making investments and sharing our business knowledge with them (managed by IKEA Social Entrepreneurship B.V, Netherlands).

By working together, we can create a more sustainable future where everyone is seen and heard – challenging the root causes of poverty, exclusion, and inequality.

We call this IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. Read more about us at: https://www.ikeasocialentrepreneurship.org/en 

About the role

Multi-tasking and managing several partnerships, programs and processes at the same time best describes the role. You will work with our current and future partners to support social entrepreneurs. You will lead partnership as defined in partnership with other functions in the team (communication, co-worker engagement and monitoring, evaluation and learning, and project control and investments). You will also work on new opportunities based on our expansion strategy.

Activities you will lead: 

• Co-create, manage and follow up on partnerships and running programs.
• Lead assessment of potential new partners.
• Ensure progress based on Monitoring Evaluation & Learning frameworks for the respective program.
• Capture communications opportunities and implement them together with our communications team.
• Lead the interactions with different parts of the IKEA eco-system when co-creating and developing programs.
• Continue our work on mapping potential markets, sectors, stakeholders and potential partners and research on program relevant topics and themes. 

About you

Are you interested in and passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable people, creating social and environmental impact? Then this role is for you. We are looking for you who have experience of leading project/programs with many stakeholders. If you also have the knowledge of and experience in working with social entrepreneurs, social businesses and NGO’s (non-profit organizations) you are perfect for the role. Building relationships and networks with people internally and externally comes very natural to you. By being solution oriented and finding better ways you are getting things done and can deliver results. You are a strong communicator with very good English language skills.

You will work in a team where we get energy from sharing knowledge and being curious to learn from others. We are constantly looking for opportunities to work together and effectively bring organizations together to create synergy. 

You’re also able to use your coaching skills to develop others. With your entrepreneurial mind-set you enjoy seeing the opportunities for growth in a fast-paced, global, multicultural and changing environment. It is a benefit but not a prerequisite to understand impact measurement and theory of change. It is also a benefit if you have business experience from an IKEA organization. 

Additional Information

This is a full-time position (40 hours a week) and temporary position from March 2025 - April 2026, located in Malmö or in Delft. You will report to the Managing Director. 

At IKEA, we are looking for people who believe everyone deserves a seat at the table. You’re welcome no matter where you come from, what you believe, and what you look like. We don’t even care how you have furnished your home. We’re interested in you simply because you’re you. Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. We believe that people’s different perspectives, backgrounds, and personalities make us better at understanding our customers dreams and needs. At IKEA, we’re all on the same project. 
If you have a special need that requires accommodation in the recruitment process, just let us know. 

Please note that due to the upcoming holiday season in December, our recruitment process may take a bit longer than usual. We will do our best to keep all candidates updated on their status before any breaks. Thank you for your patience during this time! 

31st of December 2024 is the closing date to apply for this role. Please send your application – CV and motivation – in English and tell us why you would be a good fit. We look forward to hearing from you!