Hermès Workshop Manager — Leather Goods
About Hermès
Hermès Sellier is part of the Hermès group and the Maroquinerie–Sellerie division, renowned for its artisanal savoir‑faire and uncompromising standards of manufacture. The organisation operates specialised manufactories that combine centuries‑old craft traditions with modern production disciplines, prioritising transmission of skills, long‑term development of talent and product excellence.
Hermès Sellier in Riom seeks a Workshop Manager — Leather Goods to lead ~30 artisans, ensuring safety, quality and on‑time production at Les Manufactures d'Auvergne.
Role & Responsibilities
- Act as ambassador of Hermès culture within the workshop and manage a team of approximately 30 artisans, fostering professional development and artisanry transmission.
- Ensure production delivery in terms of quality, volume and lead times while upholding the Maison’s ‘zero‑defect’ quality standards.
- Enforce HSE rules and ergonomic best practices, ensure proper functioning of safety equipment and lead safety‑behaviour initiatives.
- Conduct quality follow‑up and audits during manufacturing and on finished goods; analyse defects for continuous improvement and request quality reviews when necessary.
- Organise and orchestrate production flows according to established processes; anticipate needs and monitor delivery commitments versus production plans.
- Coordinate equipment, consumables and material availability for Table, Cutting and Stitching operations and ensure workshop cleanliness and order.
- Drive team performance through coaching, skills development plans, training tools and evaluation dossiers; promote autonomy of artisans.
- Participate in and lead local continuous improvement projects; propose technical and ergonomic improvements to increase comfort, quality and efficiency.
- Manage administrative responsibilities related to the workshop, maintain a positive social climate and liaise with HR and support services to resolve personnel issues.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (Bac+3) to Master’s degree (Bac+5) in industrial engineering, manufacturing management, business administration or related field.
- Proven leadership experience in a production environment; demonstrated ability to manage and develop artisan or operator teams.
- Knowledge of leather goods manufacturing is highly desirable and will be viewed as a strong advantage.
- Strong organisational skills with experience in production planning, quality control and HSE implementation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, decisiveness, pragmatic problem‑solving and an aptitude for fostering engagement and recognition within teams.
Skills
Experience
Solid production management experience, preferably with responsibility for artisan or operator teams; prior exposure to leather goods or luxury goods manufacturing is strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience in quality control, HSE and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
Education
Bachelor’s degree (Bac+3) to Master’s degree (Bac+5) in a relevant discipline.
Workplace
The role is situated in Riom, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France — conveniently close to Clermont-Ferrand.
Culture
The workplace culture emphasises artisanal excellence, meticulous attention to detail and intergenerational transmission of skills. Employees operate within a values‑driven environment that combines respect for craft with structured processes and opportunities to contribute to continuous improvement.
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 «Leather Goods Workshop Manager», «Production Workshop Manager», «Workshop Supervisor — Artisan Leather», «Leather Goods Production Supervisor», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.