Rimowa Senior Buyer

Cologne • Germany

Thursday, September 4, 2025

RIMOWA, a prestigious German Maison under the LVMH Group, is renowned for its dedication to crafting essential tools for a lifetime of travel. With a legacy spanning over 125 years, RIMOWA harmonizes function with luxury, heritage with innovation, and craftsmanship with design. As part of the LVMH conglomerate, RIMOWA offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and development in a global luxury environment.

1. Design and implement global sourcing strategies in alignment with company policies and targets.
2. Define and manage the Suppliers Panel, including the integration of new suppliers based on KPIs.
3. Foster and enhance supplier relationships to achieve optimal performance in terms of cost, delivery, quality, and project execution.
4. Develop and maintain an efficient End-to-End Supplier Management Process, from sampling to commercial launch.
5. Create bottom-up cost models to build intelligence on suppliers' cost structures, empowering effective negotiations throughout contracts.
6. Monitor and continuously improve supplier performance.
7. Identify, document, and drive sustainable actions to reduce CO2 emissions.
8. Identify and integrate new suppliers during the early design phase of projects.
9. Deploy End-to-End Supplier Management Process throughout project life-cycles, including Request for Quotation (RFQ) follow-up, homologation, and business awards.
10. Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) logic to business awards, make-or-buy decisions, and re-sourcing initiatives together with the Industrial Team.
11. Collaborate with the Quality team to assess and audit suppliers prior to business awards.
12. Actively participate in Project Reviews, providing status updates and action plans.
13. Lead improvement initiatives in End-to-End Supplier Management Process, from RFQ definition to KPI monitoring.
14. Collaborate with Product Marketing to understand the product brief.
15. Identify and integrate suppliers in the early design phase and conduct feasibility studies.
16. Design comprehensive project plans from brief to commercial launch.
17. Enhance collaborative relationships with Product Marketing teams and achieve Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) targets in line with project objectives.
18. Ensure smooth execution throughout the commercial launch and handover to supply chain teams.

1. University degree in Purchasing Management or Engineering.
2. Minimum 10 years’ experience as a buyer or cost engineer in industrial fields.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of several industrial markets, including aluminium, plastics, and textiles.
4. Strong project management skills, including developing action plans, identifying deliverables, and presenting results.
5. Proven analytical skills and passion for data with great attention to detail.
6. Enthusiastic negotiation skills and contract knowledge, high communication and presentation skills, with strong influencing and persuasive talents.
7. Ability to adapt in a changing environment and navigate between strategic and hands-on activities.
8. Fluency in English and German is appreciated.

1. Global sourcing strategy development
2. Supplier relationship management
3. End-to-End Supplier Management Process
4. Cost modeling and negotiation
5. Project management
6. Analytical and data-driven decision-making
7. Effective communication and presentation
8. Adaptability in dynamic environments

A minimum of 10 years of experience as a buyer or cost engineer in industrial fields is required.

University degree in Purchasing Management or Engineering.

The position offers 30 days of paid vacation per year, flexible working hours, a RIMOWA Essential Cabin suitcase as a gift after the probationary period, corporate benefits including a 30% discount on the RIMOWA assortment, a company pension scheme with a high employer contribution or other capital-forming benefits, access to a great canteen with freshly cooked and affordable food, Urban Sports Club membership, public transportation ticket, and job bike (partly subsidized), and development opportunities within LVMH.

RIMOWA celebrates an inclusive and diverse culture, which is integral to its DNA. The company thrives on diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills, and capabilities, reflecting its broad consumer base. Diversity is viewed as a key enabler for business growth.