Technical Development Project Manager — Costume Jewelry & Leather Belts

Posted Mar 16, 2026

Chanel seeks a Technical Development Project Manager — Jewelry & Leather Belts in Paris. Permanent role leading technical industrialisation for accessories.

Overview

Chanel is a leading French luxury house celebrated for its haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry and accessories. As an employer, Chanel emphasises artisanal savoir-faire, rigorous quality standards and cross-disciplinary collaboration between creative ateliers and industrial teams. The brand offers a culture rooted in heritage and innovation, with a global footprint and a commitment to craftsmanship.

Role & Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end technical development and industrialisation for costume jewelry and leather belts across seasonal collections.
Translate design intent into manufacturable technical specifications, tech packs and clear working drawings.
Coordinate multidisciplinary stakeholders — design, sourcing, production, quality, purchasing and external ateliers — to meet timing and cost targets.
Manage prototype cycles and sampling, driving iterative improvements from first sample to production readiness.
Select and qualify materials, finishes and suppliers; oversee supplier onboarding and technical audits.
Ensure compliance with quality, safety and regulatory standards relevant to jewelry (platings, coatings, restricted substances) and leather accessories.
Control product costing and bill of materials; propose technical solutions to optimise manufacturability and reduce costs without compromising quality.
Monitor production follow-up, resolve non-conformities, and implement corrective actions on site or with suppliers.
Maintain accurate technical documentation and version control throughout the product lifecycle.

Qualifications

Degree in materials engineering, industrial design, product development, jewellery/luxury craft or equivalent technical education.
Proven experience in technical development and industrialisation of accessories — ideally costume/jewellery and leather goods — within the luxury sector.
Fluency in French and professional working proficiency in English.
Strong supplier management and negotiation capabilities, with experience working with external ateliers and manufacturers.
Excellent organisational skills, autonomy and the ability to drive multiple projects to deadline.

Skills

Technical product development for accessories Prototype and sampling management Industrialisation and production follow-up Supplier selection, qualification and management (ateliers and subcontractors) Materials knowledge: metal alloys, plating/finishing processes and leather materials Quality control and regulatory compliance (restricted substances, finishing standards) Costing, bill of materials (BOM) and manufacturability optimisation Cross-functional coordination and stakeholder communication Technical specification and tech pack preparation

Experience

Typically 4–7 years of hands-on experience in technical development or industrialisation of jewellery, fashion accessories or leather goods, preferably within a luxury maison or high-end subcontractor.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in materials engineering, industrial/product design, jewellery making, leather technology or a related technical discipline.

Culture

Chanel's workplace culture blends artisanal tradition with modern technical rigour: teams value meticulous attention to detail, discretion and a collaborative approach that brings designers and production specialists together. Employees operate in an environment that prioritises craftsmanship, sustainable quality and the preservation of heritage techniques while fostering innovation.