Blancpain Purchasing & Subcontracting Manager
- Location
- Seniority
- Manager
- Posted
- Mar 18, 2026
About Blancpain
Blancpain is a Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture renowned for its mechanical watchmaking and artisanal expertise. Part of a major Swiss watchmaking group, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art production techniques and a commitment to excellence across its manufacturing sites.
Blancpain — Purchasing & Subcontracting Manager in Delémont, Switzerland. Lead procurement and subcontractor partnerships for the Habillage division.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and implement procurement strategy for components, materials and subcontracted operations to support the Habillage division (watch cases and straps).
- Source, select and qualify suppliers and subcontractors in line with quality, cost and delivery objectives.
- Negotiate commercial terms and long‑term contracts, managing price, lead times and service level agreements.
- Manage supplier performance through KPIs, audits and continuous improvement plans; lead corrective actions when necessary.
- Collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Engineering and Logistics to ensure material availability and conformity to technical specifications.
- Run RFQs and tender processes, analyse total cost of ownership and recommend sourcing solutions.
- Control procurement budgets and drive cost‑optimization initiatives while protecting product integrity and brand standards.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental and ethical standards across the supply chain.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in procurement and subcontractor management, ideally within precision manufacturing or the watchmaking/luxury goods sector.
- Strong negotiation skills and commercial acumen with a track record of delivering cost and service improvements.
- Ability to manage cross‑functional stakeholders and lead supplier development programs.
- Business‑level French is required; professional English is strongly desirable.
- Familiarity with quality management and supplier qualification processes (audits, PPAP, FAI).
- Experience with ERP systems; SAP experience preferred.
Skills
Experience
Minimum five years of progressive procurement experience with direct responsibility for supplier selection, contract negotiation and subcontractor management; prior experience in precision manufacturing or the luxury watch industry preferred.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or a related discipline; advanced degree or professional procurement certification is an advantage.
Workplace
The role is situated in Delémont, Jura, Switzerland — conveniently close to Basel.
Culture
Blancpain cultivates a culture of craftsmanship, precision and continuous improvement, where technical excellence and respect for heritage meet modern manufacturing practices. Teams operate in a collaborative, detail‑oriented environment focused on product quality and innovation.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Blancpain, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Procurement and Subcontracting Lead», «Head of Procurement & Outsourcing», «Sourcing & Subcontracting Manager», «Procurement Manager — Subcontracting», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.