Project Lead - High Jewelry Product Development

The Project Lead-Product Development supports project management for all new products for internal manufacturing.  The responsibilities include the full product lifecycle from intake of new designs and soft prototypes and continues through tooling, hard prototype development and continues into the production launch. The Project Lead manages communication of critical project milestones, updates, issues, and developments to key stakeholders ranging from internal team members to corporate internal clients. The Project Lead partners closely with Craft Engineers, Manufacturing, and other project team members to develop best practice processes and carry the project cycle through completion in a timely manner with a focus on clear communication and accuracy in costing.

Key Accountabilities:

New Product Process:

• Support New Product Integration process for new products with a focus on major launches of new styles and event items through their development lifecycle.  This includes the intake of Critical Requirements, Tooling reviews, and Production Launch.
• Responsible for timely communication of critical project information to key stakeholders, including Product Development, Internal Manufacturing and external vendors as each project may need.
• Manage project timelines and organize resource requirements accordingly with cross functional stakeholders
• Ensure that all critical requirements are met for new products.
• Provide cost estimates with clearly stated assumptions, and create final BOMs and Routes for new products

Stakeholder Partnerships:

• Develop and cultivate a close working relationship with cross-functional partners in the Design team and Product Development to oversee process from concept design through final product delivery to meet creative and business needs.
• Interface with Director, Manager, Designers and cross-functional departments on project direction, timelines and issues.
• Attend and actively participate in departmental meetings with management to identify new and/or updated standards and template needs.
• Proactively communicate risks and opportunities to all relevant TWS counterparts.
• Support internal and external suppliers as needed by the project team to demonstrate product requirements and techniques.

Communication:

• Represent assigned projects at all PD cross functional meetings
• Partner with Manufacturing team for the development of all production tooling and fixtures that are needed for each new product
• Primary contact for external component development as needed
• Run all development process meetings and provide clear meeting summaries and updates throughout the project lifecycle

Reporting and Inventory:

• Responsible for maintaining project timelines and tracking on-time delivery of samples, accuracy of costing and quality yields for all samples stages
• Support Senior Project Leads for tracking internal sample management and WD/WN location.
• Control of inventory assets (e.g. precious metals/stones) within your area(s) of responsibility in accordance with standard operating procedures (e.g. work order audit report)

Documentation & Data:

• Draft and refine Bills of Material (BOM), manufacturing routes, work instructions and cost models; review CAD models and technical drawings
• Ensure consistent format, creation, accurate and timely maintenance and storage of all product related project plans, Critical Requirements and Product Package documentation. Oversee team alignment with file management protocol, including nomenclature and transfer.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and application of an integrated component library (CAD and physical models) specifically related to TWS High Jewelry projects by incorporating data from past, and current projects.
• System entry and verification of all project-related data, such as critical product requirements, BOMs, routes, costs, work instructions, project plans, and time allocation reporting, adhering to SOPs and best practices.
• Oversee the accuracy and completion of project timelines, CAD models, technical drawings, product and tooling estimated costs.  Supervise team alignment with file management protocol, including nomenclature and transfer.
• Support department metrics definition, data collection and reporting.  Provide information for department presentations, as needed.
• Generate, maintain, track, close and report on all project work orders.

Safety:

• Work safely at all times by consistently following safe work procedures for your position, as well as all safety procedures required at your workstation.
• Promptly report all incidents and safety issues to management.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, manufacturing technology, process engineering, automation, or a related field
• Experience working in a high-quality, highly customized, precision manufacturing environment
• Proven experience implementing and managing manufacturing technologies and systems
• Strong project and program management experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting New Product Development
• Strong process improvement and problem-solving skills
• Experience with automation, equipment integration, and/or advanced manufacturing technologies
• Strong analytical and organizational skills,
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• High jewelry industry experience.
• Graduate Gemologist Certification and/or Accredited Jewelry Professional.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience navigating JD Edwards business system
• Knowledge of CAD (Rhino)

The hiring range for this position ranges from $84,000 - $99,000. The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon candidates' relevant skills and experience.