Van Cleef & Arpels Head of Atelier
About Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a Parisian maison renowned for its high-jewellery craftsmanship, poetic design language and artisanal savoir‑faire. As part of the Richemont Group, the brand combines historic techniques with contemporary creativity and maintains ateliers that produce pieces to the exacting standards of haute joaillerie.
Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris seeks a Head of Atelier (CDI) to lead haute‑joaillerie workshop operations and uphold maison quality standards.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and manage daily operations of the jewellery atelier, ensuring production schedules, quality standards and delivery deadlines are met.
- Supervise, coach and develop a multi‑disciplinary team of master craftsmen, setters, polishers and apprentices; drive continuous skills development and transfer of know‑how.
- Oversee technical interpretation of design, feasibility studies and prototyping; collaborate closely with design, product development and quality control teams.
- Implement and monitor stringent quality control processes at each stage of manufacture, ensuring compliance with maison standards and regulatory requirements.
- Plan resource allocation and production sequencing, manage workshop workflow and escalate capacity or supply issues to senior management.
- Maintain atelier organisation including tooling, equipment maintenance, workplace safety, and inventory of precious metals and stones.
- Contribute to cost control and budgeting for the atelier, and liaise with external suppliers or specialist subcontractors when required.
Qualifications
- Proven technical mastery in high‑jewellery techniques (goldsmithing, gem‑setting, micro‑soldering, stone setting).
- Demonstrable leadership experience managing a high‑performance jewellery workshop in a luxury or haute joaillerie environment.
- Acute attention to detail and an uncompromising approach to finish and quality.
- Strong interdepartmental communication skills with the ability to translate creative intent into manufacturable processes.
- Familiarity with health & safety standards for jewellery workshops and experience implementing best practices.
Skills
Experience
Typically 7–10+ years of hands‑on experience in jewellery manufacture with several years in a supervisory or head‑of‑atelier capacity within a luxury jewellery house or equivalent artisanal setting; experience in haute joaillerie is essential.
Education
Professional diploma or apprenticeship qualification in jewellery making, goldsmithing or related craft; Master‑craftsman certification or equivalent vocational credential preferred.
Workplace
The role is situated in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Culture
The maison cultivates a culture of meticulous craftsmanship, respect for traditional techniques and measured innovation. The workplace values long‑term skill development, mentorship between master craftsmen and apprentices, and a collaborative relationship between ateliers and creative teams.
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 Van Cleef & Arpels, 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 «Atelier Manager», «Workshop Manager — Haute Joaillerie», «Head of Workshop Operations», «Studio Head — Jewelry Manufacture», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.