Senior Innovation Project Manager, Fashion & Accessories
Richemont — Senior Innovation Project Manager, Fashion & Accessories in Bellevue, Switzerland. Lead cross‑functional NPD and industrialization for luxury accessories.
Overview
Richemont is a Switzerland‑based luxury goods group comprising a portfolio of maisons across jewellery, watchmaking, leather goods, fashion and accessories. The group is recognised for its emphasis on craftsmanship, creative excellence and long-term brand stewardship, operating through a matrix of autonomous maisons supported by central functions in product development, sourcing and innovation.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end‑to‑end innovation and new product development (NPD) projects for fashion and accessories from concept through industrialization, ensuring timely delivery to commercial milestones.
- Define product and technology roadmaps, prioritize initiatives, and translate strategic objectives into executable project plans and budgets.
- Coordinate cross‑functional teams including design, R&D, materials, sourcing, industrialization, quality and manufacturing partners to deliver prototypes and production‑ready solutions.
- Manage supplier selection and performance, oversee pilot runs and pre‑series validation, and de‑risk industrialization pathways.
- Implement and adapt innovation methodologies (Design Thinking, Stage‑Gate, Agile) to accelerate development cycles and improve go‑to‑market predictability.
- Establish and track project KPIs, present regular status updates to senior stakeholders, and escalate risks with recommended mitigation actions.
- Drive integration of sustainability, cost‑to‑serve and compliance requirements into product development and sourcing decisions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, industrial design, product development, business or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
- Proven track record of leading complex, cross‑functional product innovation projects in fashion, leather goods, accessories or luxury goods.
- Project management certification preferred (PMP, Prince2 or equivalent).
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing project budgets and supplier contracts.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change across matrix organisations.
Skills
Experience
7+ years of progressive experience leading product development, innovation or industrialization projects within luxury fashion, leather goods or accessories, including direct coordination with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
Education
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.
Culture
Richemont combines deep respect for artisanal craftsmanship with structured, innovation‑oriented corporate processes. The working environment is collaborative and matrixed, valuing creativity, technical excellence and rigorous project delivery while encouraging long‑term thinking and sustainability in product development.