Chemical and Regulatory Quality Apprentice (Footwear)

Overview

Hermès Sellier is the leather goods and footwear division of Hermès, the French luxury house renowned for artisanal craftsmanship and high-quality materials. As an employer, the brand combines rigorous product standards with long-term supplier relationships and an increasing focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing within the wider Hermès group.

Role & Responsibilities

• Monitor international regulatory developments relevant to CSR, chemical safety and material/product compliance (REACH, CLP, Prop 65, etc.) and assess their impacts on footwear activities.
• Identify and analyse short-, medium- and long-term regulatory risks and present implications for product development and sourcing.
• Participate in cross-functional working groups to align practices and share regulatory feedback across métiers.
• Maintain and ensure accuracy of supplier documentation and specifications; support contract/cahier des charges follow-up and signature processes.
• Support internal training sessions on regulatory changes and best-practice RSE processes.
• Coordinate chemical innocuity testing for each collection launch with external laboratories and monitor testing timelines.
• Ensure traceability and integrity of chemical analysis data and optimise management tools for results handling.
• Collaborate with laboratories, IT and Quality teams to enhance tools for chemical result management and train end-users on their correct use.
• Communicate test results and corrective action plans to tanneries, manufacturers and development teams.
• Track compliance KPIs and monitor trends using Power BI dashboards.
• Develop a regulatory and RSE risk map for key materials and suppliers and contribute to automated regulatory-tracking tools by geography.
• Contribute to cross‑functional improvement projects such as material approval process redesign, supply‑chain studies and document harmonisation.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a Bac+4/5 (Master-level) programme in chemistry, sustainable development (RSE) or engineering school.
• Solid familiarity with polymer chemistry.
• Strong ability to formalise information and produce concise syntheses.
• Methodical, well organised and reliable.
• Good interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Product sensitivity and interest in luxury footwear.
• Proficiency in Italian is a desirable plus.

Skills

Experience

Open to beginners; suitable for a student currently enrolled in a Master-level programme. Prior laboratory experience or exposure to regulatory affairs or quality processes is advantageous but not required.

Education

Master-level student (Bac+4/5) in chemistry, RSE/sustainability or engineering school.

Culture

The team emphasises craftsmanship, technical rigour and cross-disciplinary collaboration typical of Hermès divisions, with an increasing commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing. The workplace values careful attention to product quality, collective problem-solving and inclusive practices.