Hermès Leather Development Manager
- Location
- PantinÎle-de-FranceFrance
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Jun 22, 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 seeks Leather Development Manager in Pantin, France. Lead material innovation and supply strategy for luxury leather goods.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end material development projects from creative brief through industrialisation, managing timelines and coordinating with materials, design, and commercial teams
- Curate and expand the leather portfolio in partnership with design and collection teams, ensuring visibility and appeal of all materials while fostering creative inspiration
- Scout new suppliers and develop strategic partnerships with tanneries, proposing innovative materials that align with group sustainability objectives and Hermès standards
- Establish and maintain analytical tools to track material offerings, market trends, and evolving needs, providing strategic recommendations for mid-to-long-term development priorities
- Oversee pre-production phases across cutting, manufacturing, and technical quality teams in coordination with the materials office, ensuring repeatability and production autonomy
- Champion Hermès quality standards through sector vigilance, pilot testing, and new material implementation across the leather specialisation
- Facilitate internal knowledge-sharing and cultural education around materials, providing training and updates to stakeholder teams
Qualifications
- Master's degree (Bac+5) from an engineering school or business school
- Minimum 5 years of demonstrated project management experience
- Deep technical knowledge and expertise in leather materials and processing
Skills
Experience
Minimum 5 years of successful project management experience, with substantial expertise in leather sourcing, development, or materials innovation within a luxury or premium manufacturing environment.
Education
Master's degree (Bac+5) from an engineering school or business school, with preference for candidates holding specialisations in materials science, chemical engineering, or supply chain management.
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 «Materials Development Director», «Leather Innovation Specialist», «Materials Strategy Manager», «Leather Supply Development Lead», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.