Inventory Planner - Category Food Logistics Services

IKEA; Assago; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

IKEA is seeking an Inventory Planner to join the Food logistics chain, ensuring accurate stock and smooth inbound flow from suppliers to distribution centers and stores.

The role emphasizes planning accuracy, coordination with suppliers, service providers and internal teams to support availability, freshness and cost-conscious logistics. You will leverage ERP, planning tools and data signals to optimize the flow and maintain high service standards across markets.

Qualifications

• Experience in supply-chain operations, inventory planning, inbound logistics or DC flow.
• Proficient in ERP, order-management and planning systems.
• Uses operational KPIs, inventory data and deviation follow-up to make clear decisions, including using Excel and Power BI.
• Understands availability at lowest cost, freshness, quality and inventory-accuracy risks, and knows when to act or escalation.
• Communicates well across suppliers, logistics service providers and internal teams.
• Takes pride in accuracy, structure and keeping the inbound goods flow reliable every day.

Responsibilities

• Own supplier-to-DC and/or DC-DC inbound availability for assigned products, DCs and markets.
• Maintain accurate inventory and inbound flow execution, including orders, ERP corrections and physical-flow corrections.
• Act on daily inventory corrections, inbound order handling, flow bookings and deviations within agreed parameters.
• Balance availability, food safety, freshness, cost, sustainability and lead-time adherence when planning and following up the inbound flow.
• Secure supplier and logistics-service-provider execution through confirmations, holiday planning, inbound coordination and invoice follow-up.
• Manage deviations related to quality, blocked goods, shelf life, shortages and inventory accuracy with timely action and escalation.
• Improve ways of working together with suppliers, service providers, DC/LSP operations and internal stakeholders.

Skills

ERP systems

Order management

Planning systems

Excel

Power BI

Inventory accuracy

Communication

KPIs

Tools

Infor tools

Job description

Company description

In Supply Chain Operations, we lead, plan and execute the supply of IKEA products between suppliers and retailers.
We work across the IKEA value chain to make sure products reach stores and retail partners in a simple, efficient and responsible way. Our shared goals are clear: availability, affordability and sustainability. Together, we help make IKEA products available for the many people.
Within SCO, Category Area Logistics Services secures and develops the logistics services that make the goods flow work in practice. We work with distribution, mid-receiver units and food logistics services. Together with our logistics service providers, we secure the right capacity, cost, service, quality, safety and sustainability.
Category Food Logistics Services is part of CALS and focuses on securing logistics solutions for IKEA Food, including warehousing, cold-chain transportation and goods flow to stores. We work with temperature-controlled flows and everyday follow-up to support availability, food safety, freshness, cost efficiency and sustainability across markets.
IKEA Food is an important part of the total IKEA experience. It helps us welcome people, bring Swedish food traditions to life, support everyday moments in our stores, and make good food available to the many people. Behind every meal, snack and food product, there is a goods flow that needs to be safe, fresh, reliable and cost-conscious. In Category Food Logistics Services, we commit to make that happen.

Job description

We are now looking forInventory Planner who wants to be part of the IKEA Food goods flow, where planning accuracy supports availability, freshness, food safety and a stronger customer experience. In this role, daily planning and execution come together so food products can move safely, reliably and efficiently from supplier to distribution centre and onwards into the IKEA Food experience.
The role works closely with Category, suppliers, service providers, distribution centres and internal planning teams. You will use signals from orders, stock, forecasts, lead times and distribution to take clear inventory actions, supporting the Food transformation ambition to simplify execution, reduce handovers and focus planning where it creates business value.

In this role you will:

• Own supplier-to-DC and/or DC-DC inbound availability for assigned products, DCs and markets.
• Maintain accurate inventory and inbound flow execution, including orders, ERP corrections and physical-flow corrections.
• Act on daily inventory corrections, inbound order handling, flow bookings and deviations within agreed parameters.
• Balance availability, food safety, freshness, cost, sustainability and lead-time adherence when planning and following up the inbound flow.
• Secure supplier and logistics-service-provider execution through confirmations, holiday planning, inbound coordination and invoice follow-up.
• Manage deviations related to quality, blocked goods, shelf life, shortages and inventory accuracy with timely action and escalation.
• Improve ways of working together with suppliers, service providers, DC/LSP operations and internal stakeholders.

Qualification

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience from supply-chain operations, inventory-, supply planning, inbound logistics or DC flow.
• Works confidently in ERP e.g. Infor tools, order-management and planning systems.
• Uses operational KPIs, inventory data and deviation follow-up to make clear decisions, including using excel and Power Bi.
• Understands availability at lowest cost, freshness, quality and inventory-accuracy risks, and knows when to act or escalation.
• Communicates well across suppliers, logistics service providers and internal teams.
• Takes pride in accuracy, structure and keeping the inbound goods flow reliable every day.

Reliable availability depends on many small inventory and inbound flow decisions done right, every day.
As Inventory Planner, you help secure the right products in the right place at the right time, with good freshness, compliance, service and cost-conscious flow. You turn supplier, inventory and distribution signals into action so stores and partners can rely on stable availability, and IKEA Food can be enjoyed with trust, quality and care across markets.

More Information

The expected salary range for this role is €50,000 – €55,000 gross annually, the position will be classified at employment level 3 under the Italian National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for the commercial sector.. This range is based on our internal salary structure and the competence, experience, and knowledge level required for the position.