Breitling Procurement Manager, Movement Components
- Location
- La Chaux-de-Fonds Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Department
- Supply Chain, Logistics & Inventory
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Sep 30, 2026
Breitling: Movement Purchasing Manager in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland—lead procurement for watch movements and components with team management and strategic supply chain responsibilities.
Role & Responsibilities
- Prepare, analyze, and monitor monthly capacity reservations and annual departmental and supplier budgets with movement component suppliers, coordinating with Production Planning and Product Development
- Define and enforce strategic purchasing parameters including pricing, batch sizes, sourcing strategies, and supply protocols
- Support product development and new launches through request-for-quotation (RFQ) management, supplier selection, value analysis, and component procurement
- Negotiate prices and lead times with suppliers while implementing initiatives to enhance supplier security, flexibility, and responsiveness
- Manage supplier order portfolios through monthly reviews, identify delivery delays, and maintain systematic follow-up on exceptions and discrepancies
- Maintain ERP systems with current supplier data, including pricing, lead times, and delivery schedules, and resolve supply chain exceptions
- Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Purchasing & Supply Department and suppliers, providing qualitative reporting and driving continuous improvement
- Manage component origin and provenance data, including common-law and preferential origin declarations
- Set and monitor team objectives, conduct performance reviews, provide feedback, and prepare compensation recommendations for direct reports
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, and skills development initiatives, maintaining competency matrices in collaboration with Human Resources
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders including department directors, production management, and cross-functional teams
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with external suppliers and consultants, ensuring fair, professional, and neutral collaboration
Qualifications
- 5–10 years of experience in Purchasing and Supply Management specializing in movement components or similar precision mechanical assemblies
- 3–5 years of direct team management experience
- Technical background in Mechanical Engineering, Microtechnology, or related engineering discipline, complemented by formal training in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Purchasing (or equivalent combination of field experience and education)
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic purchasing, operational procurement, and supply chain management
- Solid understanding of the movement component supplier network and, ideally, prior experience in the horological or watchmaking industry
- Advanced proficiency in ERP systems, data analysis tools, pivot tables, and Excel
- Excellent communication and negotiation capabilities, comfortable engaging with stakeholders and suppliers across all organizational levels
- Fluency in English and French (written and spoken)
Skills
Experience
5–10 years in Purchasing and Supply Management of movement components or comparable precision-engineered components, with at least 3–5 years of supervisory or team management responsibility. Experience within the horological industry or a related precision manufacturing sector is highly valued.
Education
Technical degree in Mechanical Engineering, Microtechnology, or a related engineering field; complemented by formal training or certification in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Procurement. Equivalent professional experience and self-directed learning may substitute for formal qualifications.
Workplace
This position is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Benefits
Work-from-home flexibility (position-dependent), watch-to-wear and watch-to-buy employee programs, referral incentive program, professional development opportunities, 18-week maternity leave, and a culture of ongoing feedback and performance dialogue.
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 Breitling, 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 «Movement Purchasing Manager», «Supply Manager, Watch Movements», «Purchasing Specialist, Horological Components», «Movement Supply Chain Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.