Rimowa Production Manager

About Rimowa

RIMOWA is a German maison within the LVMH group, celebrated for precision-engineered luggage that blends craftsmanship, functional design and innovation. As part of LVMH, the brand operates with global reach and an emphasis on operational excellence, artisanal manufacturing standards and cross-border career mobility within the luxury conglomerate.

Role & Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end operational responsibility for production (pre-production and final assembly) and site maintenance at the Cologne facility.
• Lead and embed a robust EHS and safety culture: ensure strict compliance with legal and internal requirements, conduct safety audits, reduce risks and act as safety role model.
• Guarantee manufacturing quality standards by reducing scrap and rework, performing systematic root-cause analyses and standardising processes.
• Consolidate and advance the production organisational structure: define clear roles and responsibilities, implement leadership routines, establish effective communication and escalation pathways.
• Directly manage and develop the production leadership team (8 department heads and 1 project lead direct reports).
• Ensure consistent execution of production plans (planning/scheduling is out of scope) and run daily Shopfloor Management for deviation control, escalation and tracking corrective actions.
• Drive productivity and cost improvement initiatives across the plant (e.g., OEE, changeover times, unplanned downtime).
• Lead Operational Excellence, Lean, TPM and Six Sigma initiatives and secure sustainable adoption of new standards.
• Contribute to production budget planning and oversee adherence to production and investment budgets (OPEX/CAPEX), proposing mitigation when variances occur.
• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality and HR to achieve site-level goals.

Qualifications

• University degree in engineering, production technology, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum five years in a senior production leadership role within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record in establishing and driving EHS/safety culture, including safety walks, behavioral safety programmes and systematic incident analysis.
• Demonstrable experience in organisational development, leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and performance management.
• Practical application of Lean, TPM and Six Sigma methodologies on the shopfloor with measurable results.
• Strong change-management experience with the ability to lead cross-functional transformations.
• Fluent German and English (business negotiation level).

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years in a leadership role responsible for manufacturing or production operations in an industrial environment.

Education

Degree in engineering, production technology, mechanical engineering or equivalent.

Workplace

Benefits

30 days paid annual leave; RIMOWA Essential Cabin suitcase as a gift after probation; corporate benefits and 30% employee discount on RIMOWA assortment; company pension scheme with high employer contribution or other capital-forming benefits; subsidised canteen with freshly cooked, affordable lunches; Urban Sports Club membership, Deutschlandticket & JobRad subsidies; international working environment and development opportunities within LVMH.

Culture

RIMOWA combines German engineering rigour with a heritage-led, design-focused ethos. The workplace emphasises operational excellence, craftsmanship and continuous improvement while offering global mobility and development opportunities within the LVMH network.

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.