Role: Program Manager – Made-to-Order Ring Program
Location: onsite 3 days a week in Whippany, NJ required
Duration: 6+ months
Interview:
VideoMust-have qualificationsMake-to-order / build-to-order experience (top priority). Has run or designed a configure-to-order or personalization model, not just make-to-stock.
Luxury or high-value product background. Jewelry or watches are ideal. Other relevant backgrounds include luxury goods or products with high unit value and serialized components.10+ years leading cross-functional programs, with much of that time in manufacturing, retail, or luxury.
Multi-year, multi-system programs spanning several departments, with reporting to a steering committee.
Supply chain and manufacturing knowledge: pull-based planning and DDMRP, critical inventory control, lead times and service levels, and international shipping of high-value goods. A global luxury jewelry brand is moving part of its engagement ring line from stocked inventory to a made-to-order model. Customers will choose the setting, stone, metal, and size, and each ring will be built to order at the company's U.S. manufacturing facility.
Cross-functional and high visibility: spans Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Retail, Product, Legal, Finance, and IT.Where it stands: the business process map is underway. Next come detailed requirements and the first program timeline.
Why this role is needed: to keep requirements aligned across a large team and to build a realistic timeline across many systems, workflows, and IT teams.
Key responsibilities:- Own the program plan and timeline. Build the preliminary timeline the steering committee is waiting for, then hold it through go-live.
- Run governance. Lead 7 working groups, present to the Project Committee, maintain the decision log, and secure decision sign-off every two weeks.
- Drive requirements. Complete the end-to-end business process map, then lead detailed business requirements that IT can build from.
- Align business and IT. Ensure every stage has a named business owner, IT owner, and system plan.
- Manage risks and escalations. Track risks and dependencies, and escalate decisions when working groups can't resolve them.
- Coordinate key decisions across:
- Diamond supply: stone storage, reservation, and tariff impacts
- Manufacturing: agile production line setup and DDMRP planning
- Retail: the in-store selling journey and sales associate (client advisor) tools
- Product: styles, SKUs, master data, and pricing
- Legal and compliance: returns policy and international shipping
- Serve as the single point of contact for leadership and operating teams.
- Must-have qualificationsMake-to-order / build-to-order experience (top priority). Has run or designed a configure-to-order or personalization model, not just make-to-stock.
- Luxury or high-value product background. Jewelry or watches are ideal. Other relevant backgrounds include luxury goods or products with high unit value and serialized components.10+ years leading cross-functional programs, with much of that time in manufacturing, retail, or luxury.
- Multi-year, multi-system programs spanning several departments, with reporting to a steering committee.
- Supply chain and manufacturing knowledge: pull-based planning and DDMRP, critical inventory control, lead times and service levels, and international shipping of high-value goods.
- Hands-on requirements and process work. Can run workshops, map business processes, and write requirements developers can build from.
- Systems fluency across ERP, warehouse, planning, and retail selling tools. Works comfortably with IT on integrations.
- Consulting presence. Leads through influence without direct authority and is credible with executives from day one, as there is no ramp-up time.
- Clear communicator with experience working with stakeholders across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Nice to have:- Retail rollout and change management across a store network, including training and phased launches
- Product master data, bills of material, and SKU and pricing setup
- Returns policy and compliance work across countries, including EU regulationsPMP or another program management certification (not required)
