Novelties Production Planner (m/f/d)

Welcome to RIMOWA, the first German Maison of the 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’ve dedicated ourselves to develop unique products where function coexists with luxury, heritage with innovation, and craftsmanship with design.

At RIMOWA we believe that great ambitions demand resilient companions. It’s why our tools are created with longevity in mind. Because the most meaningful journeys last more than a trip, they last a lifetime.

Position

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Novelties Production Planner to join our dynamic Production & Procurement Planning department in Cologne. This is a 12‑month fixed‑term contract (maternity leave replacement).

The Novelties Planner, within the Central Production & Procurement Planning team, is the key individual responsible for defining the global production parameters and schedules for new product launches, as well as all non‑Suitcases category, produced across our factories. This coordinating role is fundamental to ensuring the successful launches and activations of the RIMOWA brand worldwide. The planner works in close collaboration with the procurement planning team, factory planning teams, distribution, and product development teams. This position also includes the management of finished product Master Data, thereby ensuring the reliability of information in the systems throughout their lifecycle.

Job Responsibilities

Novelties Planning Management and Coordination

• Define detailed production schedules and parameters (quantities, ramp‑up, timings) for Rimowa's new launches, integrating the capacities and constraints of the factories.
• Collaborate closely with the product development team to analyze specifications and requirements, in order to establish a realistic production start for validated launch assumptions.
• Maintain constant liaison with Procurement Planning to synchronize the supply of components and raw materials for novelties production.
• Work in close collaboration with the Production Planner to harmonize novelty production plans with those of permanent references, thereby optimizing the overall allocation of factory production capacities.
• Maintain daily liaison with distribution and factory planning teams to monitor production progress, track discrepancies, and raise alerts in case of deviations.
• Facilitate inter‑departmental communication (product development, factories, global planning) to ensure a common understanding of objectives and constraints.

Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Implement and monitor production KPIs for novelties: adherence to plan, analysis of production variances and identification of their "root causes," to communicate this information to the organization and fuel process improvement.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of capacity planning tools for non‑suitcases products category, in close collaboration with the factory planning teams, to increase our agility and provide greater transparency.
• Develop and share a standard production timing definition tool (in collaboration with development) to enhance the transparency of product launch retro‑timings.

Finished Product Master Data Management

• Manage and maintain all finished product master data in our V3 tool throughout its entire lifecycle (creation, modification, obsolescence).
• Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of this data within information systems to guarantee continuous reliability.

Profile

• Master in engineering or business ideally with specialization in supply chain management.
• Significant experience (e.g., 3‑5 years) in production planning, ideally in an international manufacturing environment.
• Strong collaborative and negotiation skills to work effectively with diverse teams (development, production).
• Highly organized and proactive, with strong written and oral communication skills.
• Analytical mind and ability to solve complex problems to manage and interpret large volumes of data.
• Proficiency in office software (advanced Excel essential).
• Fluency in English (written and oral) is essential. Proficiency in German is a strong asset.

Benefits

• 30 days paid vacation per year.
• Flexible working hours.
• Corporate benefits and 30% discount on the RIMOWA assortment.
• Company pension scheme with a high employer contribution or other capital‑forming benefits (after 6 months of employment).
• Great canteen with freshly cooked and affordable food.
• Urban Sports Club membership, public transportation ticket (partly subsidised).
• International environment and development opportunities within LVMH.