Rimowa Strategic Buyer
- Location
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Department
- Supply Chain, Logistics & Inventory
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Apr 23, 2026
About Rimowa
RIMOWA is a heritage German luxury luggage maison within the LVMH group, known for engineering-driven design and premium travel essentials. As part of LVMH, RIMOWA combines artisanal manufacturing with global distribution and offers employees an international, design-led environment with opportunities across the group.
RIMOWA — Strategic Buyer in Cologne, Germany. Lead global sourcing, supplier management and project procurement for industrial product categories.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and execute global sourcing strategies for assigned industrial categories, aligning procurement activity with company policies and cost targets.
- Manage and optimize the supplier panel, evaluating and onboarding new suppliers against defined KPIs and maintaining supplier performance metrics.
- Develop bottom-up cost models to understand supplier cost structures and to inform negotiation and awarding strategies.
- Lead RFQ processes, homologation and awarding activities applying Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) logic and make-or-buy analyses.
- Identify and integrate new suppliers early in the design phase; conduct feasibility studies and supplier audits in collaboration with Quality.
- Monitor market trends and propose innovative materials, technologies and suppliers to support product and process innovation.
- Act as project leader for selected product programs: translate product briefs into sourcing requirements, produce project plans, and ensure smooth handover to supply chain at commercial launch.
- Initiate and support supplier-related improvement projects, including sustainability initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions in the supply chain.
Qualifications
- University degree in Purchasing Management, Engineering or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years' professional experience as a strategic buyer in industrial/manufacturing contexts.
- Demonstrated knowledge of multiple industrial markets (e.g., aluminium, plastics, textiles) from raw material to finished product, including relevant machinery and processes.
- Proven negotiation and contract management skills, with experience in RFQ and supplier homologation processes.
- Strong project management capability, including the ability to define deliverables, timelines and to present results to cross‑functional stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical aptitude with attention to detail and the ability to build and interrogate cost models and supplier data.
- Fluency in English is required; German language skills are appreciated.
Skills
Experience
At least 5 years' experience in strategic sourcing or purchasing roles within industrial or manufacturing sectors, with hands-on exposure to materials (aluminium, plastics, textiles), supplier selection and project procurement.
Education
University degree in Purchasing Management, Engineering or a related discipline.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Benefits
30 days paid vacation per year; flexible working hours; RIMOWA Essential Cabin suitcase after probation; corporate benefits and 30% employee discount; company pension scheme with high employer contribution; subsidised canteen with freshly cooked food; Urban Sports Club membership, public transportation ticket & partly subsidised job bike; international environment and career development opportunities within LVMH.
Culture
RIMOWA blends heritage craftsmanship with contemporary innovation and operates within the international luxury ecosystem of LVMH. The brand emphasises inclusivity, diversity and professional development, fostering cross‑disciplinary collaboration between product, industrial and supply chain teams.
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 Rimowa, 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 «Sourcing Buyer», «Strategic Sourcing Specialist», «Procurement Specialist», «Purchasing Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.