Rimowa Senior Sourcing Buyer

Cologne • Germany

Thursday, March 13, 2025

RIMOWA, the first German Maison of the LVMH Group, stands as a global lifestyle brand renowned for crafting essential tools for a lifetime of travel. With a heritage spanning over 125 years, RIMOWA has consistently delivered products that seamlessly blend function with luxury, innovation with tradition, and craftsmanship with design. As part of the prestigious LVMH conglomerate, RIMOWA offers unparalleled opportunities for growth and development within an international 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. Utilize analytics within the Purchasing department to build intelligence on suppliers' cost structures, empowering effective negotiations throughout contracts.
6. Monitor and continuously improve supplier performance.
7. Identify and integrate new suppliers during the early design phase of projects.
8. Deploy the End-to-End Supplier Management Process throughout project lifecycles, including Request for Quotation (RFQ) follow-up, homologation, and business awards.
9. Collaborate with the Quality team to assess and audit suppliers prior to business awards.
10. Actively participate in Project Reviews, providing clear status updates and action plans.
11. Lead improvement initiatives in the End-to-End Supplier Management Process, from RFQ definition to KPI monitoring.
12. Collaborate with Product Marketing to understand the product brief.
13. Identify and integrate suppliers in the early design phase and conduct feasibility studies.
14. Design comprehensive project plans from brief to commercial launch.
15. Enhance collaborative relationships with Product Marketing teams and achieve Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) targets in line with project objectives.
16. 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.
7. High communication and presentation skills, with strong influencing and persuasive talents.
8. Ability to adapt in a changing environment and navigate between strategic and hands-on activities.
9. Fluent in English; German proficiency is appreciated.

1. Global sourcing strategy design and implementation.
2. Supplier relationship management.
3. End-to-End Supplier Management Process development.
4. Analytical skills for supplier cost structure analysis.
5. Project management and execution.
6. Negotiation and contract management.
7. Communication and presentation skills.

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 and a 30% discount on the RIMOWA assortment, a company pension scheme with a high employer contribution, a great canteen with freshly cooked and affordable food, Urban Sports Club membership, a public transportation ticket, and a job bike (partly subsidized).

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