Travel Leader

IKEA; Malmö kommun; On-site; SEK 1,100,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

IKEA Malmö seeks a global Travel Leader to shape the Ingka Travel Program across markets, delivering governance, partnerships and scalable travel solutions. You will lead global strategy, governance, and supplier performance while driving sustainability and traveler safety.

The role requires strong stakeholder management, data-driven decision making and the ability to operate effectively in a matrix organization across multiple markets. Based in Malmö, this is a permanent, on-site position.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading global travel programs in large, international organizations.
• Strong knowledge of travel management, supplier landscapes and industry trends.
• Proven experience developing governance, policies and standards for global programs.
• Proven ability to lead through influence in a complex matrix organization.
• Experience delivering travel sustainability programs and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop and continuously improve the Ingka Travel Framework, Travel Program and Group Rule for Meeting & Travel.
• Lead the global strategy for travel-related services and solutions, driving partnerships and performance management.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships, aligning travel priorities with business objectives.
• Lead and develop the global network across Ingka markets for collaboration and adoption of frameworks.
• Drive change management and capability-building to strengthen engagement with the Travel Program.
• Establish and monitor performance measures and governance to evaluate program value.
• Identify trends and innovations to translate them into strategic improvements.

Skills

Travel program leadership

Travel technology knowledge

Supplier management

Policy governance

Data-driven insights

Stakeholder management

Change management

Sustainability programmes

Tools

TMC

OBT

Travel platforms

Job description

\"You care about making a positive impact in the world. You understand greatness requires thinking differently. An inclusive and accepting work environment is important to you.\"

A job at IKEA is so much more than home furnishings. Together, we work to make a better everyday life for the many. It's the perfect fit if you want to contribute, grow, and share. Join the team and start a better life for yourself.

If you are an experienced travel-program professional looking for the opportunity to shape how business travel works across Ingka markets, we would like to hear from you.

We are looking for a global Travel Leader for the HR & Travel category.

In this role, you will lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of the Ingka Travel Program across markets. You will bring extensive experience in leading global travel programs, combined with a strong understanding of travel and supplier management, travel technology, policy governance and service development. Through strategic leadership and stakeholder management, you will translate business needs into frameworks, priorities and scalable solutions that create value across Ingka.

To be successful in this role, we believe that you have the following key expertise, skills & experience:

• Extensive experience leading and developing travel programs within a large, complex and international organization.
• Strong knowledge of business travel management, travel technology, supplier landscapes and evolving industry trends, including travel management companies (TMC), online booking tools (OBT), airlines, accommodation, ground transportation and payment solutions.
• Proven experience developing global frameworks, governance models, policies and standards that balance global consistency with local business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Strong experience driving supplier partnerships, category development, strategic sourcing initiatives and performance management.
• Experience leveraging data, market intelligence and performance insights to develop strategies, drive adoption and enable continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to lead through influence in a complex matrix organization and create alignment across functions, markets and organizational levels.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to establish trust, build networks and engagement around shared objectives.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify opportunities, assess risks and translate business needs into strategic and scalable solutions.
• Experience developing and delivering travel sustainability programs, including emissions measurement, reduction initiatives and integrating traveler safety, duty of care and risk management into travel programs and decision‑making.

Your responsibilities

As Travel Leader, you will be accountable for the strategic development and performance of the Ingka Travel Program. Through matrix leadership and stakeholder engagement, you will set direction across Ingka markets and enable effective local delivery of global priorities.

• Define, develop and continuously improve the Ingka Travel Framework, Travel Program and Group Rule for Meeting & Travel, ensuring alignment with business priorities, industry developments, sustainability ambitions and market needs.
• Lead the global strategy for travel-related services and solutions, driving supplier partnerships, category development, strategic sourcing initiatives and performance management frameworks, leveraging market intelligence and data-driven insights to optimize traveler experience, safety, compliance and total cost of ownership.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment of travel priorities with business objectives and evolving organizational needs.
• Lead and develop the global network across Ingka markets, enabling collaboration, knowledge sharing and the adoption of global frameworks, priorities and best practices through matrix leadership and stakeholder engagement.
• Drive communication, change management and capability–building initiatives that strengthen engagement, understanding and continuous improvement of the Ingka Travel Program.
• Establish and monitor relevant performance measures and governance mechanisms to evaluate program effectiveness, supplier performance, compliance, sustainability outcomes and business value.
• Identify and assess emerging trends, technologies and innovation opportunities within the travel industry, leveraging travel technology expertise to translate them into strategic improvements that support business priorities.

About this work area

Ingka Procurement is one of Ingka Group's functions. Our ambition is to develop meaningful and better procurement. We bring IKEA into the lives of the many people in more than 30 countries around the world. Together with colleagues worldwide, we work to identify and understand business needs across IKEA operations. Together with our suppliers, we meet those needs innovatively, cost-effectively and with sustainability built in from the start.
HR & Travel is one of the three categories within Category Area Marketing & Business Solutions, consisting of a team of 10 professionals across HR and Travel. Travel is an integrated part of the category, working closely with markets and stakeholders across the business to support effective, sustainable and well-governed ways of working for co-workers. While being part of the Procurement organization, your primary focus will be to lead and continuously develop the Ingka Travel Program.
This is a permanent position, based in Malmö, Sweden and you will report to Category manager, Catarina Karlsson.