Community Engagement Leader

About the Role

The Community Engagement Leader is responsible for representing IKEA and strengthening its position and reputation within the community. This role involves working closely with various teams to support market growth, implement policy initiatives, and ensure effective community engagement and safety measures.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Service Office Public Affairs (SO-PA) to support market growth plans by enabling ease of operations and supporting business needs.
• Lead, steer, and implement policy and regulatory initiatives in collaboration with the SO PA.
• Strengthen IKEA’s position and reputation among key stakeholders within the community.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and state stakeholders.
• Work closely with Sustainability and Community Engagement teams to build a strong and positive IKEA presence in the community.
• Ensure effective and timely implementation of actions and initiatives related to community engagement.
• Represent IKEA at relevant external and internal forums, conferences, meetings, and stakeholder platforms.
• Ensure effective and timely implementation of safety and security-related actions.
• Monitor external developments and provide relevant intelligence and insights to internal teams on safety and security matters.
• Proactively identify and mitigate foreseeable risks in collaboration with Risk, Legal, and other relevant teams.
• Support IKEA in managing crisis situations effectively and ensure appropriate actions are taken in a timely manner.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Strong experience in stakeholder management, community engagement, public affairs, safety, security, or a related field.
• Confidence in building and maintaining relationships with local and state authorities, community representatives, and other key stakeholders.
• Good knowledge of policy, regulatory requirements, and local external developments.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and able to identify and manage potential risks.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Comfortable representing the organisation in external forums, meetings, and conferences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with different teams, including Sustainability, Community Engagement, Risk, Legal, and other relevant functions.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing sensitive situations, including crisis situations.
• Ability to provide relevant external intelligence and insights that support business decisions and operational planning.