Rolex Head of Industrialisation
- Location
- GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- May 16, 2026
About Rolex
Rolex is a global leader in high‑end watchmaking, renowned for technical excellence, in‑house manufacturing and uncompromising quality. The maison combines traditional craftsmanship with advanced industrial capabilities and operates as an autonomous Swiss firm with a long‑term, discreet ownership structure. As an employer, Rolex is known for rigorous standards, investment in skills development and stable, craft‑centred career paths.
Rolex — Geneva: Head of Industrialisation to lead production transfers, process optimisation and industrial launches in high‑precision watchmaking.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead the industrialisation department, setting strategy and priorities to transfer new movements, components and watches from development to serial production.
- Define and implement robust industrial processes, work instructions and quality gates to meet precision, tolerance and volume targets.
- Plan and execute production launches, including pilot runs, process validations and ramp‑up activities to secure on‑time, on‑quality launches.
- Coordinate cross‑functional projects with R&D, production, quality, supply chain and suppliers to ensure manufacturability and cost‑to‑target.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives (lean, value stream mapping, process capability) to increase efficiency and reduce scrap and cycle time.
- Manage and develop a technical team, allocate resources, and foster cross‑disciplinary skills within the industrialisation service.
- Oversee supplier industrialisation and transfer activities, establishing quality and process standards with external partners.
Qualifications
- Degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering or equivalent technical discipline.
- Proven leadership experience in industrialisation or manufacturing engineering within precision industries (preferably watchmaking or micro‑mechanics).
- Demonstrable track record of successful product transfers, production launches and cross‑functional project leadership.
- Strong command of industrial methodologies: DFM, DFMEA, GD&T, process validation and statistical process control.
- Practical experience implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement programs; Six Sigma or equivalent certification desirable.
- Fluency in French and professional proficiency in English.
Skills
Experience
Typically 8+ years of progressive experience in industrialisation, manufacturing engineering or production management within precision manufacturing; prior exposure to watchmaking or micro‑mechanical production strongly preferred.
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or equivalent technical qualification.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Culture
Rolex combines artisan heritage with industrial excellence: a culture defined by precision, discretion and long‑term thinking. Employees operate in a highly disciplined, collaborative environment that values technical mastery, continuous improvement and respect for craft.
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 Rolex, 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 «Industrialisation Manager», «Head of Industrialization», «Industrial Engineering Manager», «Manufacturing Industrialisation 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.