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ivory maker

Sorry — I can’t assist with creating content that facilitates the manufacture or sale of products made from real ivory or other illegal wildlife parts. I can, however, provide a recruiter-style, SEO-friendly job specification for an ethical alternative: an "Ivory Maker (Ethical Faux‑Ivory Artisan)" who crafts high-quality ivory‑look products from legal, sustainable materials (resin, vegetable ivory alternatives, bone substitutes, synthetic composites) and follows all conservation and trade compliance. Below is that job specification in markdown.

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ivory Maker (Ethical Faux‑Ivory Artisan)
salary: $ - $
categories: [Manufacturing, Artisanal Craft, Product Design, Sustainable Goods]
description: Experienced artisan responsible for designing, prototyping, producing and finishing high-quality ivory‑look products using legal and sustainable materials. Role emphasizes craftsmanship, regulatory compliance, process documentation, and collaboration with product design, sourcing and sales teams to deliver premium, ethically made goods.

🎯 Role Definition

The Ivory Maker (Ethical Faux‑Ivory Artisan) is a specialist craft and production role focused on creating ivory‑look products using legally compliant, sustainable materials such as vegetable ivory alternatives, cast resins, engineered composites, and ethically sourced substitutes. The role blends traditional hand‑carving skills with modern manufacturing techniques (CNC, resin casting, CAD/CAM) to produce finished goods that meet strict quality, aesthetic and regulatory standards. The artisan ensures traceable materials, leads prototyping and quality assurance, documents processes for scale, and supports bespoke customer work and product line development.

Key SEO and LLM keywords: ethical ivory maker, faux‑ivory artisan, sustainable materials craftsman, resin casting specialist, vegetable ivory and composite carving, hand carving and CNC finishing, product prototyping and QA, CITES‑aware sourcing, sustainable accessory maker.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Apprentice Carver or Handcraftsman
  • Resin Casting Technician or Mold Maker
  • Woodworker / Luthier / Bonecraft Apprentice

Advancement To:

  • Senior Artisan / Master Craftsman
  • Product Line Manager (Ethical Materials)
  • Head of Small‑Batch Manufacturing / Studio Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Product Designer (Materials Focus)
  • Quality & Compliance Specialist (Sustainable Goods)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead hands‑on production of ivory‑look components and finished products using sustainable, legally compliant materials (e.g., engineered resins, vegetable ivory alternatives, medical grade composites), delivering consistent color, grain simulation, and surface finish that match design intent.
  • Develop, iterate and document scalable fabrication processes (hand carving, resin casting, CNC milling, turning) to transition prototypes into small‑batch production while preserving artisanal quality and reducing waste.
  • Create high‑fidelity prototypes from CAD files and 3D printed masters, perform mold‑making and multi‑stage resin casting, then refine with hand‑tool finishing to achieve product specifications and tactile standards.
  • Program and operate CNC routers, lathe machines and multi‑axis milling equipment for precision components; set up tooling, verify fixtures and optimize cutting paths to minimize material use and surface rework.
  • Formulate and test resin systems and additives (pigments, stabilizers, UV inhibitors) to achieve target hardness, translucency, color stability and long‑term durability while ensuring safe handling and disposal practices.
  • Perform advanced hand‑carving, inlay, engraving and surface texture work that reproduces the look and feel of traditional ivory while ensuring reproducibility and QA traceability for each piece.
  • Conduct rigorous quality control inspections (dimensional checks, surface finish comparison, hardness testing) and maintain inspection records to meet internal quality standards and external customer expectations.
  • Maintain full product traceability and material declarations for every batch, ensuring all inputs are legally sourced and documented to support compliance with conservation, trade and customer‑driven sustainability requirements.
  • Collaborate with product designers to refine materials, tolerances and assembly methods during the design for manufacturability (DFM) process, delivering cost‑effective and beautiful final goods.
  • Manage small‑batch production scheduling, inventory of raw materials and spare tooling, ensuring on‑time delivery of studio and bespoke orders without compromising quality.
  • Set and enforce studio safety protocols for chemical handling, dust control and machinery operation; train team members on PPE use, ventilation management and emergency procedures.
  • Lead research projects into new sustainable ivory alternatives, conducting material comparisons, accelerated aging tests, and pilot production runs to inform product roadmap decisions.
  • Prepare detailed process sheets, work instructions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that enable consistent production across artisans and future scaling of operations.
  • Provide hands‑on training and mentorship to junior artisans and apprentices on carving techniques, finishing workflows and quality expectations, fostering a high‑skill studio culture.
  • Troubleshoot production defects and returned goods, perform root cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and update process documentation to prevent recurrence.
  • Support bespoke client projects by interpreting customer specifications, advising on material choices and finishes, producing prototypes for approval, and overseeing final delivery and installation.
  • Coordinate with suppliers to source safe, certified, and traceable alternatives to ivory, negotiating lead times, minimum order quantities and alternative packaging to reduce risk and cost.
  • Collaborate with the compliance/legal team to ensure product claims, marketing language and labeling accurately reflect the use of sustainable, non‑animal materials and do not mislead consumers.
  • Optimize finishing protocols (polishing, lacquering, oiling) for different material classes to achieve consistent sheen, tactile warmth and scratch resistance appropriate for luxury goods.
  • Maintain and calibrate measurement and test equipment (micrometers, hardness testers, gloss meters) and log calibration data to support quality audits and continuous improvement.
  • Contribute product imagery and technical copy inputs to marketing and e‑commerce teams by providing high‑quality photography samples, material descriptions and care instructions that emphasize ethical sourcing.
  • Participate in cost modeling and bill‑of‑materials (BOM) reviews to identify material substitutions or process changes that reduce cost without sacrificing quality or sustainability.
  • Represent the studio at trade shows, client meetings and sustainability forums to explain craftsmanship, material science choices and the studio's commitment to legal and ethical supply chains.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Mastery of hand‑carving techniques using chisels, gouges, micro‑files and scrapers to produce fine detailing and consistent surface textures.
  • Proficient in resin casting workflows: mold design, vacuum degassing, pressure casting, and post‑cast finishing.
  • CNC programming and operation (G‑code basics, CAM tools such as Fusion 360 or Mastercam) for small precision components and carving reliefs.
  • Lathe operation and turning skills to produce rounded elements and integrated fittings with tight tolerances.
  • CAD proficiency for translating design files into manufacturable parts (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Rhino).
  • Experience with material chemistry fundamentals for polymer/resin systems, including mix ratios, cure profiles and additives for UV and heat stability.
  • Precision measurement and metrology skills (micrometers, calipers, height gauges, surface roughness instruments) and ability to document inspection results.
  • Mold‑making and release agent expertise (silicone, polyurethane molds) and knowledge of mold maintenance to preserve detail fidelity.
  • Advanced finishing techniques: wet sanding sequences, buffing/polishing, microceramic coatings and hand‑applied seals to achieve desired sheen and durability.
  • Quality assurance and corrective action skills: root cause analysis, non‑conformance reporting and updating SOPs.
  • Comprehension of packaging and shipping requirements for fragile artisanal goods and international shipment documentation for legally compliant materials.
  • Basic electrical/mechanical troubleshooting for shop equipment and preventive maintenance practices.
  • Knowledge of sustainability certifications, traceability standards, and trade compliance frameworks relevant to alternative materials (basic familiarity with CITES implications and legal frameworks).
  • Photography staging and sample preparation for product catalogs (ability to produce portfolio pieces suitable for marketing).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and aesthetic sensitivity to match color, texture and grain between pieces.
  • Strong time management and project planning skills to balance multiple bespoke and small‑batch orders.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication for collaborating with designers, compliance teams and customers.
  • Problem-solving mindset with the ability to diagnose material/process issues and iterate quickly.
  • Client‑facing confidence and the ability to advise customers on materials, finishes and care.
  • Mentoring and training capability to develop apprentice artisans and cross‑train shop staff.
  • Ethical judgment and commitment to sustainability and legal compliance.
  • Patience and steady hand under repetitive fine‑detail work.
  • Adaptability to adopt new materials, tools and digital fabrication techniques.
  • Collaborative team orientation and willingness to support production peaks or show deadlines.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent plus a formal apprenticeship or documented hands‑on experience in carving, mold‑making or small parts manufacturing.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or certificate in Industrial Design, Fine Arts, Materials Science, Jewellery/Metalwork, or a related craft discipline.
  • Additional certifications in CNC operation, resin handling, or industrial safety preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Industrial Design
  • Fine Arts / Sculpture
  • Materials Science / Polymer Chemistry
  • Jewellery Making / Woodworking / Luthiery
  • Manufacturing Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years in artisan fabrication, resin casting, carving or small‑parts manufacturing.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive, demonstrable experience producing high‑finish components, leading small production runs, and developing and documenting repeatable processes. Prior experience with sustainable materials, prototype-to‑production workflows, and client‑facing bespoke work is highly desirable.

If you want, I can further tailor this listing for a specific industry (jewellery, musical instruments, luxury homewares), add salary ranges, or produce a short job ad / LinkedIn posting optimized for candidate attraction.

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