Position Company Overview Welcome to RIMOWA, the first German Maison of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) Group. We are a global lifestyle brand with a mission to create the essential tools for a lifetime of travel. For more than 120 years, we have dedicated ourselves to developing unique products where function coexists with luxury, heritage with innovation, and craftsmanship with design.

We seek to attract, recruit and develop the most talented individuals with all levels of experience. The diversity of our ecosystem offers each person unparalleled career opportunities and therefore holds a definite appeal for candidates. Thanks to our exemplary sourcing and recruitment approach, we are widely recognized as a preferred employer.

Our products are created with longevity in mind because the most meaningful journeys last more than a trip, they last a lifetime. Join us to discover your own.

Description As a Department Manager in our manufacturing facility, you will play a critical role in leading the production lines. This position demands a hands-on approach to daily operations and workforce management, ensuring that production goals are met while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.

Your responsibilities will include comprehensive team management, with particular attention paid to fostering punctuality and attendance, as well as overseeing policy enforcement, capacity planning, safety compliance, material inventory control, cost monitoring, budget adherence and planning, capital expenditure planning, ROI calculation and justification, continuous improvement strategies, problem resolution, cross-functional project coordination, 5S training instruction within your area of responsibility, flexibility and contingency planning in workforce allocation, risk assessment procedures and ensuring the training of your team members to ensure rotations.

Job Responsibilities Management & Team Leadership - Serve as the primary manager for Supervisors who manage production operators, the Assembly Technicians, and Trainers. Lead by example in setting clear expectations for conduct and performance. Handle difficult conversations with diplomacy and decisiveness when necessary.

Shop Floor Management & KPI Visualization - Implement visual management systems on the shop floor for real-time tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Conduct daily stand-up meetings to review these KPIs with your teams, identifying areas for improvement and celebrating successes. Follow up on action plans and actively participate in problem solving in coordination with other departments.

Capacity & Workforce Planning - Analyze production data to manage workloads and schedules effectively. Oversee team scheduling to optimize resource usage weekly — promoting agile rotations for operational efficiency and ergonomic benefits.

Safety & Health Oversight - Enforce health and safety protocols diligently to maintain a safe working environment. Act as a role model in practicing excellent safety habits. Identify hazards/risks proactively (prior to an incident/injury) and conduct an assessment with a JHSC representative to determine root cause. Develop and implement action plans for all reported safety near misses, incidents, and injuries.

Material Management & Cost Efficiency - Monitor raw material levels closely in collaboration with supply teams ensuring availability aligns with production needs while controlling costs. Manage maintenance schedules for equipment to minimize downtime.

Continuous Improvement & Cross-functional Collaboration - Champion lean manufacturing principles to identify improvement opportunities that enhance productivity or reduce costs (such as leveraging technology to reduce manual Prêt-à-portererwork). Collaborate with other departments like QA, Warehouse, R&D, HR on projects that improve plant-wide operations.

Problem-Solving Capabilities - Employ analytical skills to resolve unexpected production challenges rapidly with minimal operational disruption.

Risk Management - Conduct regular risk assessments within operational processes; develop mitigation strategies in partnership with relevant committees.

Team Development & Training - Facilitate regular development opportunities for team members through 5S training programs aimed at optimizing workspace organization practices; promote skill growth through the Rimowa Akademie to alleviate bottlenecks in more complex roles.

Attendance Monitoring & Policy Enforcement - Implement strategies that encourage reliable attendance among operators. Monitor timekeeping records carefully, address patterns of absenteeism or tardiness through coaching and corrective action compliant with company policies.

Profile Qualifications And Experience

• 5-7 years’ progressive experience within a manufacturing environment with a deep understanding of the production operations, processes, and challenges
• 3-5 years’ Leadership Experience - demonstrated experience in leading teams, managing projects, and achieving departmental goals is crucial
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Technology or related field; or high school diploma or equivalent with several years’ related manufacturing experience
• Proven experience working successfully with other departments or in cross-functional projects
• Certification in manufacturing leadership, project management, six sigma, lean manufacturing or other manufacturing related courses preferred

Strong Leadership and Management Skills - The ability to inspire, motivate, develop, and manage a team effectively; including delegation, performance management, resolving complex conflicts and promoting positive inter-team dynamics; Effectively handling pressure and setbacks.; Taking ownership of departmental outcomes and decisions

Quality Management - Ensuring the production team adheres to quality standards and acceptance criteria; Partnering with the quality team and other stakeholders as needed to resolve issues that arise with unestablished standards

Production Planning and Strategy - Developing and implementing department-wide production plans, often involving multiple product lines or complex processes

Data Analysis and Reporting - Analyzing complex production data to identify trends, forecast needs, and create comprehensive reports with action plans for management

Process Optimization - Identifying and implementing advanced process improvements across the departments to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality

Compliance and Regulatory Adherence - Ensuring the departments comply with all relevant industry regulations and standards

Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Superior verbal and written communication, active listening, negotiation, and the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

Complex Problem Solving

• Addressing intricate, multi-faceted problems that impact the entire department

Analytical Decision Making - Making data-driven decisions that consider long-term implications and various departmental factors.

Forecasting and Planning - Developing accurate production forecasts and resource plans; Anticipating challenges and opportunities

Adaptability and Change Management - Leading and managing significant organizational and process changes within the production department

Technical Proficiency - A comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects relevant to the department's function, including software, equipment, and industry best practices; Understanding how different parts of the production system interact and influence each other