Audemars Piguet Operational Excellence Manager
- Location
- Le Locle Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Employment
- Contract
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Sep 30, 2026
About Audemars Piguet
The brand is a prestigious entity within the luxury fashion sector, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and innovative designs. As part of a leading global luxury group, it offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and development in a dynamic and sophisticated environment.
Reporting to the Head of Quality, this role encompasses the leadership of multidisciplinary quality teams responsible for continuous improvement, sustainable resolution of production quality issues, and securing new product launches from development through market entry. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence through Lean Management and Kaizen principles, oversee operational excellence projects, manage non-conformity investigations, and ensure comprehensive product quality assurance.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of 6 quality professionals
- Deploy operational excellence strategy leveraging Lean Management and Kaizen continuous improvement methodology
- Pilot and execute operational excellence projects to enhance process efficiency
- Identify and implement process improvement opportunities across manufacturing operations
- Oversee product quality assurance activities from development through first-year market performance
- Supervise investigation and resolution of internal and external non-conformities using structured problem-solving approaches
Qualifications
- Upper-level degree in Quality, Engineering, or equivalent discipline
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar quality leadership role
- Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma); Green Belt certification preferred
- Strong knowledge of industrial quality management and problem-solving tools
- Deep understanding of watchmaking and horological manufacturing processes
- Demonstrated leadership capability and collaborative mindset with cross-functional team experience
- Proficiency with standard enterprise software (ERP, MES, Excel, Power BI, project management tools)
Skills
Experience
Minimum 5 years in a comparable quality assurance or operational excellence position, preferably within the watchmaking or luxury manufacturing sector, with proven experience in leading quality teams and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
Education
Upper-level degree (Bachelor's or Master's) in Quality Management, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent discipline.
Workplace
This position is based in Le Locle, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, within easy reach of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Benefits
Health insurance coverage (basic and supplementary); 5 weeks annual vacation plus 2 additional weeks between Christmas and New Year through daily minute accrual; subsidized participation in sports or cultural activities; remote work flexibility depending on role requirements; on-site company restaurant; advantageous pension plan (LPP).
Culture
The brand fosters a culture of excellence and innovation, where creativity and individual contributions are highly valued. Employees are encouraged to pursue personal growth and are supported in their professional development within a collaborative and inclusive environment.
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 Audemars Piguet, 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 «Quality Operations Manager», «Continuous Improvement Lead», «Manufacturing Quality Leader», «Process Excellence Director», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.