Breitling Purchasing Agent

About Breitling

Founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling, Breitling is a Swiss watchmaker renowned for its precision chronographs and enduring ties to aviation. Headquartered in Grenchen, the brand combines a distinctive technical heritage with a contemporary approach to luxury, design and responsible business. As an employer, Breitling offers a professional environment spanning watchmaking, engineering, product development, marketing and international retail. Its global presence connects specialist expertise with diverse markets, while its identity remains rooted in Swiss craftsmanship and innovation. For professionals drawn to both mechanical excellence and brand transformation, Breitling represents an opportunity to contribute to the continuing evolution of an established watchmaking house.

Role & Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize the supplier portfolio, identifying new suppliers when needed.
• Propose measures to secure supplies.
• Monitor technical files and support internal departments.
• Improve the performance of purchasing activities and recommend improvements to the line manager.
• Resolve supplier disputes concerning quantities, delivery times or conformity of delivered items.
• Optimize costs and negotiate prices following requests for quotation.
• Manage supplier capacity plans to align with the budget set at the start of the financial year and suppliers’ production capabilities.
• Contribute to the purchasing budget and support the line manager.
• Analyze and process material requirements planning results, place orders and validate data.
• Process requests for quotations with suppliers.
• Process and verify the conformity of order confirmations.
• Ensure the reliability of the purchasing portfolio by checking consistency between UG system data and information provided by suppliers.
• Follow up proactively with suppliers and ensure delivery deadlines are met for orders and returns.
• Notify receiving departments of confirmed delays and update lead times in the ERP.
• Ensure nonconforming products returned to suppliers by Quality Control are exchanged or reworked in accordance with agreed prices, quantities and deadlines.
• Inform the line manager of any deviation in delivery times or prices.
• Draft and update work instructions and activity descriptions to ensure continuity during absences.
• Contribute to defining and monitoring relevant KPIs for purchasing department performance.
• Define and implement action plans to achieve purchasing department objectives.
• Adapt communication to the audience and convey clear, concise and structured information to internal stakeholders—including the line manager, colleagues and other departments—as well as external suppliers and consultants.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience as a Purchasing or Procurement Agent, ideally in the watchmaking industry.
• Higher education in purchasing or supply chain.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills.
• Knowledge of watchmaking manufacturing processes and related materials.
• Proficiency with role-specific tools and statistical analysis methods.
• Proficiency with role-specific IT tools, particularly ERP systems and pivot tables.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders at different levels.
• Team-oriented, committed and collaborative.
• Results- and objectives-oriented.
• Responsible, rigorous, organized and reliable.
• Service-oriented, with strong listening and communication skills.
• Flexible, dynamic and able to anticipate.
• Fluent in French and English.

Skills

Experience

3–5 years as a Purchasing or Procurement Agent, ideally in the watchmaking industry.

Education

Higher education in purchasing or supply chain.

Benefits

Remote work depending on role requirements; a watch to wear or purchase; employee referral programme; development opportunities; 17–19 weeks of maternity leave.

Culture

Breitling’s workplace culture draws on its Swiss watchmaking heritage and close ties to aviation, placing precision, technical expertise and a pioneering spirit at the heart of its professional environment. The brand brings together craftsmanship and contemporary design, offering a distinctive setting for professionals who value both tradition and innovation in luxury watchmaking.

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.