Lapidary Apprentice - Santa Fe, NM

Jacques Marie Mage, Inc • Santa Fe, NM

7h • Onsite

About The Position

Jacques Marie Mage is seeking a Lapidary Apprentice to join its team in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Reporting to the Director of Lapidary, the apprentice will learn to cut, shape, grind, and polish stones and other natural materials to the company’s standards. This hands-on, learn-by-doing role is suited to someone with manual aptitude, spatial and geometric reasoning, patience, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn and follow established techniques.

Requirements

• No prior lapidary experience is required.
• Strong manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor control.
• Ability to think three-dimensionally and geometrically, visualize shapes and angles, and demonstrate strong spatial awareness.
• Genuine desire to learn a traditional craft and ability to acquire skills through demonstration and practice.
• Dependable, punctual, honest, and committed to doing the job well.
• Patience and perseverance with learning, repetitive tasks, and reworking pieces.
• Willingness to follow instructions and established methods, and openness to correction and feedback.
• Exceptional attention to detail and care in handling high-value materials.
• Ability to reliably commute to the Santa Fe, NM location.
• Physical ability to sit or stand at a workbench for extended periods, perform repetitive hand motions, lift moderate loads, and work in a shop environment with water, dust, and machine noise.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a hands-on craft or trade such as jewelry, woodworking, ceramics, metalwork, model-making, or sculpture.

Responsibilities

• Learn lapidary techniques under the guidance of the Director of Lapidary and senior artisans, including cutting, shaping, grinding, sanding, and polishing stones and natural materials.
• Follow instructions, established methods, specifications, and sequences of work; consult the Director of Lapidary before changing a process.
• Use drawings, templates, and samples to visualize finished pieces in three dimensions and shape materials to precise dimensions, angles, and geometric forms.
• Inspect, sort, and handle raw and finished stones carefully to minimize waste and protect high-value materials.
• Check work against company standards and reference samples, accept feedback, and rework pieces as directed until they meet specifications.
• Set up, clean, and maintain lapidary tools and equipment, including saws, grinding wheels, laps, and polishing machines, and keep the workspace organized.
• Follow workshop safety procedures, including proper use of protective equipment, dust and water controls, and machine guards.
• Practice consistently to improve speed and accuracy, and take on more complex pieces as skills develop and as assigned by the Director of Lapidary.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with up to 100% employer contribution and FSA options.
• 401(k) with 4% company match after 90 days.
• Company-paid life insurance and optional long-term disability coverage.
• Exclusive seasonal product allowances and discounts.
• 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Program support services.
• Pet, auto, and home insurance; commuter benefits; and identity theft protection.
• Major holidays, birthday off, vacation, sick time, and winter break.
• Volunteer opportunities through the JMM Stewardship Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed