Job Description
Master Bench Jeweler
The Opportunity:
This involves working with precious metals (such as gold, silver, platinum) and gemstones (such as diamonds, emeralds, sapphires) to create unique and beautiful pieces according to client specifications. You will play a pivotal role in maintaining our reputation for excellence and exceeding our customers' expectations.
What You'll Do:
- Create custom jewelry pieces based on client specifications, including engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other fine jewelry.
- Set diamonds and other precious stones using various techniques (e.g., prong setting, bezel setting, channel setting).
- Handcraft jewelry components from metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and other alloys.
- Polish and finish jewelry pieces to achieve the desired aesthetic and ensure a high-quality finish.
- Inspect jewelry pieces for quality and craftsmanship, ensuring they meet the company's standards and customer expectations.
- Implement and maintain quality control processes to ensure consistency and precision in all jewelry pieces.
- Work directly with clients to understand their needs, provide expert advice, and guide them through the design process.
- Manage and prioritize service orders, ensuring timely completion and customer satisfaction.
- Train and mentor junior bench jewelers and apprentices, sharing your expertise and best practices.
- Continuously develop your skills and stay updated on new techniques, materials, and industry trends.
- Ensure all tools and equipment are properly
- maintained and in good working condition.
- Manage inventory of materials and supplies being used throughout the process.
- Adhere to safety protocols to ensure a safe working environment.
- Comply with industry regulations and standards, particularly those related to the handling of precious metals and gemstones.
- Apply innovative solutions to complex design and repair challenges
What You'll Need:
- Proven experience as a master bench jeweler, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
- Proficiency in a wide range of jewelry repair techniques, including stone setting, soldering, and finishing.
- Extensive knowledge of precious metals and gemstones, with a keen eye for quality and authenticity.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a passion for delivering exceptional craftsmanship in every piece.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certification from a recognized jewelry institution or association or equivalent years of experience.
- Experience working with CAD/CAM software for design and modeling a plus.
- Familiarity with advanced jewelry-making techniques, such as casting and wax carving.
- Extensive experience in the jewelry industry, preferably as a bench jeweler or similar role.
- Ability to work meticulously with small and delicate materials.
- Capability to bring creative designs to life and execute custom orders.
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients and understand their needs.
- Capability to troubleshoot and find solutions for complex jewelry assembly and production issues.
Schedule: - Business hours are between 7:00 AM-6:00 PM and the FT schedule fits within these hours with limited OT.
Physical: - Manual Dexterity: High level of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to handle small tools and delicate pieces of jewelry with precision.
- Visual Acuity: Keen eyesight or the ability to use magnification tools effectively. Bench jewelers need to work with tiny components and intricate designs, often requiring attention to fine details.
- Steady Hands: The ability to maintain steady hands during intricate tasks to avoid damaging delicate jewelry pieces.
Environment : - Collaborative team
- Designated workspace, clean and fully equipped bench
The successful candidate will enjoy a rewarding, challenging, and principled work environment.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging : Guided by our core values, Rio Grande is committed to treating all people with dignity and respect. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination of any kind. As an advocate for equity and equality, we hire, train, and promote qualified people of all backgrounds. We consider employment candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other underrepresented class. We value our associates and have won the yearly Healthiest Places to Work and Family Friendly Business awards on multiple occasions.
The Reward: Rio Grande provides a generous benefit package for full-time (30+ hours a week) associates that includes:
- Medical plan with low premium rates and no high deductible (includes dental and vision) and telemedicine
- 401(k) matching program
- Paid time-off benefits, plus an additional seven paid holidays
- Paid life insurance and optional additional life insurance
- Long-term and short-term disability
- Flexible spending account
- Pet insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- On-site gym and company wellness program
- Bereavement leave
- Employee discounts at Rio Grande
- Local and national discounts on various travel and entertainment
- Competitive compensation, including an opportunity to share in the profits
Our associates strive for joint accountability. We work together for the success of our stakeholders, and we provide a thoughtful, fun, and creative environment to support them. We encourage professional and personal development through a variety of training opportunities and a focus on promoting from within.
The Company: Established in 1944, Rio Grande, a Berkshire-Hathaway manufacturer/distributor, has thousands of valued customers around the world. We are a principle-based company with a highly evolved team-based environment. We can show you how a profoundly effective organization lives these values every day. You can find our guiding principles, The 3 R's, Respect, Responsibility and Results, on our website as well as information about our community support and how we protect the environment.
Within our 186,000 sq. ft., solar-powered facility, with covered parking, Rio Grande has sales, marketing, supply chain, IT and administrative offices, a climate-controlled distribution center with more than 40,000 items, and a comprehensive, well-equipped manufacturing operation. Manufactured products include jewelry-making equipment (from basic tools to highly sophisticated induction casting machines) and jewelry components-both die-struck and cast. Capabilities include CAD/CAM, casting, stamp and form, metal finishing, CNC machining, manual milling, tool & die and electronics/mechanical assembly.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Apprenticeship, Local area, Flexible hours,