Audemars Piguet Service Center Workshop Manager
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Sep 15, 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.
Audemars Piguet seeks a Service Center Workshop Manager in Shanghai to lead technical teams, drive operational excellence, and uphold watchmaking standards.
Role & Responsibilities
- Structure and optimize the technical team's talent pipeline from apprentice through senior watchmaker; develop annual People Development Plans in partnership with Customer Service management
- Establish fair, transparent performance evaluation systems and conduct regular career development dialogues with core technical staff to enhance retention and motivation
- Cultivate a workshop culture anchored in precision, patience, and perfection through technical symposiums, craftsmanship sessions, and informal well-being check-ins
- Conduct regular coaching-style one-on-one sessions with Workshop Team Leaders to strengthen their capabilities in conflict resolution, task delegation, and constructive feedback
- Report regularly to management on team capacity, quality trends, and workforce status; translate brand service strategy into actionable team objectives and resource requests
- Serve as the strategic interface between the Service Center and cross-functional departments including Client Relations, Boutique teams, Spare Parts & Logistics, and HQ Training Center
- Handle in-person technical briefings for select ultra-high-net-worth clients and represent the brand's watchmaking philosophy to visitors and media
- Transform client complaints into internal learning cases, identifying root causes and guiding supervisory teams toward sustainable improvements
- Jointly establish core operational targets including lead time, return rate, and per-FTE output; approve resource deployment decisions such as overtime or external technical support
- Oversee rigorous end-to-end quality control systems and conduct regular audits of quality metrics; require supervisors to explain and correct deviations from brand standards
- Ensure Workshop Supervisors maintain ownership of safety, 5S practices, tool integrity, and environmental protection through periodic capability-building walk-throughs
- Empower supervisors to make independent decisions on rework allocation and shift planning; intervene strategically when issues exceed authority or require executive support
Qualifications
- 10+ years of hands-on experience in high-end service industries with deep knowledge of complex mechanical systems and precision mechanisms
- 6+ years of proven technical team leadership experience using modern management methodologies such as MBO and performance review dialogues
- Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English; ability to communicate effectively with Swiss headquarters and international technical teams via email and video conference
- Exceptional listening and empathy skills; ability to serve as a bridge between demanding clients and technical staff
- Background in precision mechanics, horology, watchmaking, or related field—or executive management education from a recognized business school
- Authoritative-coaching leadership style; demonstrated ability to empower team members while maintaining high standards
- Profound understanding of luxury service delivery, where client perception and technical outcomes are equally valued
Skills
Experience
6+ years leading technical service or manufacturing teams in luxury or high-precision industries, with 10+ years of hands-on expertise in complex mechanical systems. Proven track record driving quality improvements, team development, and operational efficiency in demanding, client-facing environments. Experience managing international stakeholder relationships and translating strategic directives into operational execution.
Education
Background in precision mechanics, horology, watchmaking, or a related technical discipline. Executive management education from a recognized business school is advantageous but not mandatory if compensated by equivalent hands-on leadership experience.
Workplace
The role is situated in Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
Benefits
Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package.
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 «Technical Service Manager», «Workshop Operations Director», «Service Team Leader», «Technical Operations 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.