Zenith Movement Project Manager

About Zenith

Founded in 1865 in Le Locle, Zenith stands among Switzerland’s most distinguished watch manufactures, celebrated for its pioneering spirit, precision engineering and iconic El Primero chronograph movement. As an employer, the Maison offers a rare environment where heritage craftsmanship meets contemporary innovation, uniting master watchmakers, designers, engineers and commercial talents around a shared pursuit of excellence. Zenith values curiosity, technical mastery and entrepreneurial energy, encouraging its teams to challenge convention while preserving the integrity of fine watchmaking. Within an international luxury context, employees contribute to a brand defined by authenticity, performance and a bold vision of time.

Role & Responsibilities

• Serve as principal liaison to internal and external clients, capturing requirements and developing detailed specifications and scope documentation
• Identify and communicate project risks collaboratively with departmental partners; define cost structures and prepare client proposals including development costs, unit pricing, and delivery timelines
• Direct project milestone planning and ownership to achieve quality, cost, and delivery objectives; establish and monitor project schedules with defined checkpoints and provide regular reporting with risk identification and mitigation plans
• Coordinate make-or-buy strategy and manage tender solicitations with the approved supplier panel; collaborate with the database department to initiate and validate product creation and associated bill of materials
• Oversee procurement and supply chain tracking for purchased and manufactured components from prototype phase through first production runs
• Maintain and update the movement roadmap (launch plan) and drive movement project success rate metrics

Qualifications

• HES engineering degree in microtechnics or mechanical engineering
• Expert-level technical project management expertise with strong horological knowledge encompassing manufacturing and movement design
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in movement development or equivalent technical project management roles
• Exceptional communicative ability with demonstrated capability to unify cross-functional teams and translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Proven leadership and collaborative approach that builds strong partnerships and synergies with clients and internal departments
• Advanced analytical capability with demonstrated expertise managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects
• Autonomous and meticulous in execution with demonstrated resilience and organizational discipline
• Proactive, results-oriented mindset with capacity for identifying and proposing process improvements and innovative solutions

Skills

Experience

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in technical project management within the horological or high-precision manufacturing sector, with demonstrated expertise in movement development and complex product engineering.

Education

HES (Higher Education Specialised) engineering degree in microtechnics or mechanical engineering.

Workplace

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance coverage and family benefits through the Horological Collective Bargaining Agreement; on-site healthy and locally-sourced restaurant facilities; complimentary fitness classes on-site; additional complementary benefits.

Culture

Zenith fosters a workplace culture rooted in Swiss precision, technical mastery, and a pioneering spirit shaped by its watchmaking heritage. As an employer, it values craftsmanship, innovation, and collaboration, offering teams an environment where heritage and modern performance come together to advance the future of fine watchmaking.

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.