Hermès Material Development & Purchasing Assistant (Apprenticeship)

About Hermès

Hermès Sellier is the leather goods and materials division of the Hermès house, recognised globally for artisanal leatherwork, silk and couture-level craftsmanship. As part of the Hermès group, the employer emphasises meticulous product quality, long-term supplier relationships and preservation of traditional savoir‑faire within a modern luxury business environment.

Role & Responsibilities

• Manage fabric, lining and leather sample libraries (including the Carréothèque) and coordinate loans from suppliers.
• Prepare and dispatch material development dossiers to external manufacturers and follow up on deliveries.
• Archive seasonal fabrics and leathers and coordinate end‑of‑collection destructions according to internal procedures.
• Create and maintain material boards (fabrics, leathers, linings) and physical swatch displays for collection reviews.
• Create component samples (cut trials) and place component and sample orders through the PLM system.
• Label and distribute swatches and leather samples to Studio, Atelier, Purchasing, R&D and testing teams; record receipts in PLM.
• Monitor permanent leather stocks and maintain inventory of swatches and skins on racks; perform stock checks prior to work sessions.
• Coordinate leather quality tests and track test outcomes with internal teams.
• Liaise with suppliers for price requests, technical sheets, certificates of origin and other documentation required for material onboarding.
• Oversee dyeing processes for secondary fabrics and linings with the partnered dyehouse and ensure traceability of sourced materials.

Qualifications

• Enrolment in or recent graduate of a Bac+4/5 programme (business school, fashion school or university) with a focus on fashion, product development or purchasing.
• Strong product sensibility with attention to material quality and a refined fashion aesthetic.
• Organised, rigorous and able to anticipate needs across multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, collaborative mindset and active listening with cross‑functional teams.
• Proactive attitude, dynamism and capacity to propose practical improvements.
• Fluency in French and professional command of English.

Skills

Experience

Entry-level — beginners accepted. Suitable for students or recent graduates seeking a 12‑month apprenticeship (alternance) to be based in Paris; prior internships in buying, materials or product development are advantageous but not required.

Education

Bac +4/5 (master’s level or final‑year undergraduate) in business, fashion, product development or related discipline.

Workplace

Culture

Hermès prioritises artisanal excellence, long‑term supplier partnerships and meticulous attention to product quality. The workplace culture combines traditional craftsmanship with structured processes, fostering collaboration between studios, ateliers and development teams while encouraging professional development through hands‑on experience.

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.