Richemont Product Development Manager — Art of Desk
- Seniority
- Manager
- Department
- Creative, Design & Styling
- Industry
- Luxury Furniture & Homewares
- Posted
- May 20, 2026
About Richemont
Richemont is a Swiss-based luxury goods group that houses a portfolio of specialist maisons across jewellery, watches, leather goods and accessories. Renowned for heritage craftsmanship and exacting product standards, Richemont operates with decentralized maisons that combine artisanal know‑how with international commercial reach.
Richemont seeks a Product Development Manager — Art of Desk in Scandicci, Italy. Lead product industrialisation for luxury desk accessories.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end product development for the Art of Desk collection, from concept through industrialisation and launch.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including design, sourcing, quality, production and marketing to ensure alignment on product specifications, timing and commercial objectives.
- Manage supplier relationships and oversee prototype cycles, fittings and final samples, ensuring adherence to luxury quality and finish standards.
- Prepare and maintain detailed technical packages, BOMs, tolerances and production documentation for internal teams and external ateliers.
- Control development budgets and timelines, driving cost optimisation while preserving brand craftsmanship and material integrity.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives across development processes and contribute to materials innovation and sustainability targets.
- Mentor and guide junior developers and act as primary escalation point for technical and production issues.
Qualifications
- Proven ability to lead cross-disciplinary development projects and manage external suppliers in a luxury product environment.
- Strong technical knowledge of materials, manufacturing techniques and quality standards relevant to desk accessories and small leather/metal goods.
- Excellent project management skills, with a track record of delivering on time and within budget.
- High attention to detail and a rigorous approach to technical documentation, tolerances and quality control.
- Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, able to work with ateliers, vendors and internal stakeholders.
Skills
Experience
Several years (typically 5+) of progressive product development experience within luxury accessories, writing instruments, leather goods or small object categories, with demonstrable experience managing sample cycles, supplier industrialisation and cross‑functional launches at an international scale.
Education
Degree in Industrial/Product Design, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience in luxury product development.
Workplace
This position is based in Scandicci, Tuscany, Italy, within easy reach of Florence.
Culture
Richemont fosters a culture that values artisanal excellence, meticulous attention to detail and long-term stewardship of luxury savoir‑faire. Teams operate collaboratively with a strong respect for heritage craftsmanship while embracing selective innovation and responsible sourcing.
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 Richemont, 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 «Product Development Manager, Desk Accessories», «Head of Product Development — Desktop Collection», «Product Development Lead — Writing & Desk Objects», «Senior Product Developer — Desk & Accessories», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.