Breitling Production Manager – Finishing Machines
- Location
- La Chaux-de-Fonds Neuchâtel Switzerland
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Sep 30, 2026
Breitling seeks a Production Manager – Finishing Machines in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Lead manufacturing operations and team excellence in luxury timepiece production.
Role & Responsibilities
- Pilot and optimize finishing machine production activities to meet safety, quality, cost, and delivery targets
- Anticipate operational disruptions and coordinate support functions to ensure effective communication and problem resolution
- Monitor workshop key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement action plans to sustain performance objectives
- Facilitate performance management rituals and tools within the production environment
- Guarantee application of quality standards and lead problem-solving through rapid response and quality control (QRQC) methodologies
- Identify and deploy continuous improvements to enhance process and equipment performance
- Supervise first-level maintenance and ensure equipment reliability and uptime
- Enforce working standards and champion the 5S workplace organization methodology throughout the finishing area
- Contribute to improvement projects and support the integration of new equipment and tooling
- Mentor, develop, and align team members with clear leadership and exemplary conduct
- Set performance objectives, provide regular constructive feedback, and conduct performance reviews
- Identify skill development needs and foster employee autonomy, cooperation, and engagement
- Manage interpersonal situations with fairness and sound judgment
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of experience in an industrial manufacturing environment
- Minimum 3 years of team management experience
- Engineering diploma or equivalent qualification in an industrial discipline with project management experience
- Mastery of production management, associated performance-management tools, and Lean Manufacturing principles
- Proficiency in budgetary processes and standard IT tools (MS Office, Teams)
- Comfortable communicating with internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels
- Pragmatic, results-oriented leadership mindset with demonstrated ability to align and mobilize teams
- Strong analytical, synthesis, and anticipatory capabilities with a proactive, solution-oriented approach
- Skilled at prioritization and effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams in demanding environments
- Recognized for reliability, commitment, and collective spirit aligned with company values
- Fluent in French (spoken and written); English proficiency is an asset
Skills
Experience
Minimum 5 years in an industrial manufacturing environment, including at least 3 years in team management or production leadership roles.
Education
Engineering diploma or equivalent professional qualification in an industrial discipline, with demonstrated project management experience.
Workplace
This position is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Benefits
Flexible working arrangements (subject to role requirements); employee watch program (wear/purchase options); referral/employee advocacy program; career development opportunities; maternity leave (17–19 weeks)
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 Breitling, 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 «Manufacturing Manager – Finishing Operations», «Production Supervisor – Finishing Department», «Operations Manager – Machine Finishing», «Finishing Production Lead», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.