Hermès Head of Product Development, Industrialisation & Quality – Hats & Gloves
- Location
- PantinÎle-de-FranceFrance
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Jun 16, 2026
About Hermès
This prestigious fashion house, renowned for its timeless elegance and innovative designs, is a part of a leading global luxury conglomerate. The brand is committed to excellence and offers a dynamic environment where creativity and business acumen are equally valued.
Hermès hiring Head of Product Development, Industrialisation & Quality for Hats & Gloves in Pantin, France. Lead development and quality strategy.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and oversee product development and industrialisation in alignment with creative direction, Hermès quality standards, cost targets, and market timelines, whilst integrating sustainable development and innovation strategies
- Establish conditions for successful market launch and assume leadership of the most strategic and complex industrialisation projects
- Consolidate global activity oversight by monitoring project advancement, maintaining production schedules, mitigating risks, and implementing key performance indicators to identify and resolve bottlenecks
- Determine seasonal development capacity, including runway shows
- Work with Collection and Commercial teams to define market launch dates, oversee the refinement and industrialisation process, and manage retroactive project timelines
- Champion product specification review encompassing functionality, production flows, product testing, aging, and wear performance
- Challenge existing processes to drive efficiency and provide data-driven recommendations to guide strategic trade-offs
- Monitor departmental budget allocation and evaluate and communicate resource requirements
- Drive operational performance by combining exceptional quality with service delivery targets
- Develop and implement control tools and mechanisms to ensure quality management during growth
- Conduct risk analyses and define test protocols for new product development
- Establish product quality expectations and oversee prototype, pre-series, and production validation workflows
- Create, update, and maintain quality reference documentation and defect inventories
- Establish, analyse, and oversee key performance indicators and supplier quality assurance frameworks
- Secure quality control consistency and align evaluations across the entire inspection chain
- Address quality alerts and conduct root-cause analysis (8D methodology) with post-incident reviews
- Identify and disseminate best practices in production to guarantee product quality standards
- Conduct low-signal observations and detection audits
- Liaise with the Supply Chain team to ensure the quality of raw materials and components
- Analyse customer returns and implement appropriate corrective actions and responses
- Support the establishment of a local repair network
- Lead and mentor both the Development and Quality teams
- Foster professional development, motivation, and team cohesion whilst cultivating relationships across the business unit and broader division
- Set team member objectives and ensure their achievement, including individual goal-setting, training plans, annual reviews, and performance management as necessary
Qualifications
- Engineering qualification (Diplôme d'Ingénieur or equivalent)
- Minimum 8 years of experience in product development or industrialisation roles
- Strong technical knowledge of textiles, straw, felt, and metal components
- Proven ability to make strategic decisions and take initiatives independently
- Sensitivity to product excellence and luxury craftsmanship
- Excellent interpersonal skills and active listening capacity
- Strong collaborative spirit and team-oriented mindset
- Ability to synthesise information and maintain holistic strategic perspective
Skills
Experience
Minimum 8 years of professional experience in product development, industrialisation, or related manufacturing roles, preferably within the luxury fashion accessories or premium goods sector. Experience managing cross-functional teams and complex product portfolios is essential.
Education
Engineering degree (Diplôme d'Ingénieur or equivalent international qualification).
Workplace
This position is based in Pantin, Île-de-France, France, within easy reach of Paris.
Culture
The company fosters a collaborative and innovative culture, encouraging employees to push the boundaries of creativity while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
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 Hermès, 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 «Development & Industrialisation Manager – Hats & Gloves», «Product Development Director – Accessories», «Quality Assurance Manager – Hats & Gloves», «Development & Quality Lead – Accessories Division», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.