📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Communication Specialist IKEA/ИКЕА София
🔹 Company: IKEA Bulgaria
🔹 Location: Sofia, Sofia-City, Bulgaria
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-28
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Designing and implementing IKEA's communication strategic plan across all touchpoints
- Enhancing IKEA's brand identity and strengthening customer connections
- Collaborating with leadership to ensure consistent brand messaging
- Managing complex projects, budgets, and tight deadlines
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong project management skills, and excellent communication abilities to effectively manage marketing communications and ensure brand consistency.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Increase visitor volume to all touchpoints through integrated marketing communications
✅ Ensure IKEA's brand identity, values, and key benefits are communicated correctly in local activities and advertising messages
✅ Plan and implement effective and efficient integrated media plans with adequate reach and continuity
ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic planning, creative execution, and stakeholder management to drive brand awareness and customer engagement.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Economics, or a relevant field
Experience: Approximately 4 years of experience as a Marketing Specialist in a multinational company or media agency
Required Skills:
- Excellent communication, influencing, and organizational skills
- Ability to coordinate complex projects, work with budgets, and manage tough deadlines
- Proficiency in Bulgarian and English
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the retail industry
- Knowledge of the Bulgarian market
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with relevant experience and a strong understanding of the Bulgarian market will be at an advantage.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Industry standards for a Marketing Communication Specialist in Bulgaria range from 2,500 to 4,000 BGN per month, based on experience and qualifications.
Benefits:
- Food vouchers up to 200 BGN
- Preferential prices in IKEA bistro and staff restaurant
- Annual bonus based on store achievements
- 1,000 BGN bonus for the "Refer a Friend" program
- Flexible working hours on shifts
- Induction and many other trainings
- Additional health insurance
- Discount in IKEA (20%) and Intersport (20%)
- Holiday vouchers from internal initiatives
- Vouchers for birth of a child (100 BGN), marriage (240 BGN), child with excellent grades (160 BGN), and newly admitted student in university (320 BGN)
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours on shifts
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Benefits are subject to change and may be influenced by the company's performance.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail, specifically home furnishing and design
Company Size: IKEA is a large, multinational corporation with over 10,000 employees globally. This role is part of the Bulgarian operations, which employ around 900 people.
Founded: IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943 and has since grown into a global brand with operations in over 50 countries.
Company Description:
- IKEA's mission is to create a better everyday life for the many people through affordable, well-designed home furnishing
- The company operates through a franchise system, with different groups of companies marketing and selling the IKEA product range
- IKEA's value chain includes product development, design, supply, manufacture, and sales
Company Specialties:
- Home furnishing and design
- Retail and customer experience
- Sustainability and social responsibility
Company Website: IKEA.com
ASSUMPTION: IKEA's global presence and strong brand make it an attractive employer, offering opportunities for career growth and international exposure.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level, with opportunities for growth and progression within the marketing department and the company as a whole
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Marketing Manager and works closely with the leadership team to align marketing communications with overall business objectives
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site, with flexible hours on shifts
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression within the marketing department, such as taking on a leadership role or specializing in a specific area
- Opportunities to work on international projects or transfer to other IKEA markets
- Broadening skillset through training and development programs
ASSUMPTION: IKEA's large size and global presence offer numerous opportunities for career growth and development.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office environment, with a focus on collaboration and teamwork
Office Location(s): Sofia, with the possibility of visiting other IKEA stores and locations as needed
Geographic Context:
- Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, with a population of over 1.2 million
- The city offers a mix of historic and modern architecture, with a vibrant cultural scene and numerous recreational opportunities
- Sofia has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours on shifts, allowing for a good work-life balance
ASSUMPTION: Sofia offers a high quality of life, with affordable living costs and numerous cultural and recreational opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and CV submission
- Phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- On-site interview with the hiring manager and team members to discuss the role, responsibilities, and company culture
- Final interview or assessment to evaluate problem-solving skills and cultural fit
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with IKEA's values
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Understanding of the Bulgarian market and consumer behavior
Application Tips:
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of IKEA's brand and marketing strategies in your application materials
- Prepare examples of your past marketing campaigns and their outcomes to discuss during the interview
- Research IKEA's corporate social responsibility initiatives and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to them
ATS Keywords: Marketing, Communication, Brand, Strategy, Planning, Execution, Coordination, Project Management, Budget, Deadline, Stakeholder, Customer, Retail, Bulgaria
ASSUMPTION: IKEA's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills, cultural fit, and alignment with the company's values and objectives.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Marketing automation and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Mailchimp)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
- Design and creative tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the marketing department's preferences and the projects at hand.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Democratic, with an open and inclusive culture that values diversity and collaboration
- Customer-centric, with a focus on creating value for customers and understanding their needs
- Cost-conscious, with a commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality products and services
Work Style:
- Collaborative, with a focus on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
- Adaptable, with the ability to work in a dynamic and changing environment
- Results-driven, with a focus on achieving objectives and delivering results
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment?
- Are you comfortable working in a dynamic and changing environment?
- Do you have a customer-centric mindset and a passion for creating value for customers?
ASSUMPTION: IKEA's culture is democratic, open, and inclusive, with a strong focus on customer-centricity and collaboration.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing complex projects and tight deadlines in a dynamic and changing environment
- Balancing the need for creativity and innovation with the requirement to maintain brand consistency and adherence to IKEA's global guidelines
- Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including internal teams, external agencies, and customers
- Adapting to the unique cultural and market dynamics of the Bulgarian retail landscape
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome through strong project management skills, effective communication, and a customer-centric mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Marketing Manager or Marketing Coordinator position in a retail or consumer goods company
- However, this role has a stronger focus on brand management and communication strategy, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities of the retail industry
- Career progression in this role could lead to a Marketing Manager or Marketing Director position, with the opportunity to specialize in a specific area or take on a leadership role
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other marketing positions, its unique focus on retail and brand management sets it apart.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a marketing campaign to launch a new IKEA product line in Bulgaria
- Conducting market research to understand customer preferences and behaviors in the Bulgarian retail landscape
- Managing the IKEA Bulgaria social media presence, including content creation, scheduling, and engagement
ASSUMPTION: These projects are designed to showcase the candidate's ability to manage complex marketing initiatives, conduct market research, and engage with customers through digital channels.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the marketing team's structure and how this role fits into it?
- How does this role contribute to IKEA's overall business objectives and growth strategy?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the marketing department and the company as a whole, and how can this role help address them?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within the marketing department and the company?
- How does IKEA support work-life balance for its employees?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help the candidate understand the role's context, the company's objectives, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the IKEA Bulgaria careers page
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your past marketing campaigns and their outcomes to discuss during the interview
- Research IKEA's corporate social responsibility initiatives and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to them
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
