Business Navigation and Operations Group Leader- MFU

About IKEA Kuwait

IKEA is the leading Life at Home brand in Kuwait. We offer well-designed, functional, and affordable, good quality home furnishing beautiful solutions, produced with care for people and the environment. There are several companies with different owners, working under the IKEA Brand, all sharing the same vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people.

IKEA has been in Kuwait for more than 40 years, operated by Al Homaizi Limited and is very well established in Kuwait. IKEA has 6 stores in Kuwait, IKEA The Avenues, The Warehouse, 360, Assima Mall, Khiran Mall and IKEA For Business in Shuwaikh.

Who we are and how we work

We believe in people. We have an optimistic attitude in the way we are and in the way we do things. We believe in diversity, equality and inclusion because they increase our understanding of our customers and each other. We empower and develop our teams through on-job intensive trainings, working together and providing an international and diverse workplace.

In IKEA, every job is different, and every day is different. Are you up to the challenge to join our dynamic and creative work environment?

As MFU Business Navigation and Operations (BNO) you use knowledge of IKEA and local market to work together with the MFU management team and BNO team, in an inspiring and supportive way. You work together to ensure that the MFU is steered towards growth, optimal performance and sustained long term profitability in line with the IKEA objectives and be a business partner in strategic and operational development, closely connected to the business and contributing to improved customer experience.

Accountable for overall availability, quality of logistics and service operations while being an active partner in the MFU and business planning process.

• Navigate the growth of IKEA retailing and steer the business towards sustained long-term profitability;
• Provide accurate, relevant and user-friendly business information for effective decision-making;
• Analyze business information and identifying business opportunities;
• Be an active business partner and contribute to business development initiatives;
• Establish follow-up mechanisms for projects;
• Work with other functions to assure the alignment of business information;
• Secure the business steering process works well in the MFU and that the MFU management is working towards agreed upon goals;
• Lead and develop leaders and teams in the areas of responsibility of the BNO function. Identify and develop talents and secure succession planning;
• Lead the MFU Business Plan process together with the MFU manager and management team and proactively working with local market data to understand our customers experience in our different touch points to provide relevant insight;
• Drive and coordinate the financial business planning process and secure that the financial dimensions are aligned with the MFU and country challenges , priorities while involving and creating commitment among stakeholders when setting goals;
• Together with the MFU team identify opportunities and promote the use of business case thinking when evaluating and acting on these;
• Provide a safe and secure environment for our suppliers and co-workers. Secure implementation of relevant rules and guidelines in the areas of risk and compliance;
• Supporting the management team to create Actions Plans for their areas of responsibility. These are based on the MFU and courty business plan, agreed goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Take responsibility to summarize and communicate our Financial Goals (including P&L) to ensure that they are agreed, communicated and clearly understood by everyone.
• Proactively working to develop the Scenario Plans based on how we will take fast action if the performance is better or worse than planned. You ensure these scenarios are well documented, realistic and communicated.
• Work together with other touch points BNOMs to plan , implement and develop MFU and country business plan. 

• Driving the follow-up process to ensure we focus on delivering the business plan. You support your colleagues to achieve their goals.
• Responsible for co-coordinating and agreeing updated forecasts throughout the year. You ensure the Business navigation team at other touch points and Service Office is up-dated.
• Responsible for securing that the costs are in line with goals and to highlight deviations and potentials, in order that we can take action to achieve our goals.
• Encourage your team and colleagues to discover even more effective and cost conscious ways of working to make us quicker, leaner and simpler, and through this lower our cost structure.
• Negotiate cost effective contracts with external service providers together with purchase departemns and support your colleagues to do the same, always using the tools and competence provided by Indirect Material & Services  When you do this you always consider the sustainability aspect and the environmental impact.
• Work with your colleagues to analyze benefits, costs and investments and develop business cases. You do this to ensure that we invest in projects that give a good return on investment, exceeding our customers’ expectations, whilst securing our long-term profitability.
• Communicate relevant business information and goals to managers and co-workers, in a way which engages and inspires them to create meaningful actions to achieve our agreed goals.

• BSc or MSc in Finance or Business Controlling
• Previous experience in a Business Controlling/opration role with proven strong analytical and numerical skills
• A thorough understanding of the profit and loss and key performance measurements that we use to plan, follow up and steer the business
• Proven record of consistently meeting agreed budgets and goals, and working on plans over a number of years. Setting and implementing action goals and providing clear direction and following up goals
• Ability to develop knowledge of the national and global market and business conditions, and take decisions based on this information
• Ability to communicate confidently and clearly in English, both verbally and in writing
• Experience of working in a fast-paced retail , Logistic and delivery serives environment
• Experience and interest in retailing and/or home furnishing
• Experience of leading and managing a team preferably gained in retailing and/or sales
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (especially Excel)
• Experience of adapting to different styles of working to get the best out of all the team (situational leadership)

Please send your CV in English and tell us in which direction you would like to take career, if you are experienced in a particular field or looking for completely new challenges.