Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

Gemological Institute of America; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Competitive benefits package

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, CA, seeks an Assistant Director of Corporate Communications to shape executive messaging and lead internal and external communications. You will partner with senior leaders to strengthen GIA’s reputation, engage employees, and manage media relations and agency partnerships.

The role emphasizes strategic communications, messaging development, and crisis preparedness, with a hybrid work schedule and domestic travel less than 20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in communications, PR, journalism, marketing, English, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive corporate communications experience.
• Experience advising executives on messaging, interviews, and media engagements.
• Experience managing external agencies and complex communications programs.
• Gem and jewelry industry experience or international comms preferred.
• Willingness to travel domestically (<20%).

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an executive communications strategy for the CEO and senior leaders.
• Create messaging across speeches, op-eds, social posts, and presentations.
• Identify high-value speaking, media, and thought-leadership opportunities.
• Prepare leadership for interviews, panels, and public-facing engagements.
• Oversee internal communications to inform and engage employees.
• Coordinate external media relations, crisis communications, and agency partnerships.

Skills

Executive comms

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Media relations

Crisis comms

Collaboration

Project management

Communications metrics

Travel ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Equivalent education/experience

Job description

Assistant Director, Corporate Communications – We offer a competitive benefits package!

The Company:

GIA is the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA is a global organization with headquarters located in Carlsbad, CA. GIA in Carlsbad boasts a 17-acre ocean view campus that accommodates approximately 800 of its 3,400 total employees worldwide. It offers many competitive health and commuter benefits that promote the well-being of its employees as well as that of the environment.

The Location:

This position is located in Carlsbad, California at our corporate headquarters.

• Hybrid work schedule. Required to work at least 3 days at Carlsbad, CA office.

What to expect:

• We offer competitive medical, dental, vision and matching 401-K plans

• Paid vacation, sick and holidays, tuition assistance, commuter benefits

The Environment:

• On-site cafe - affordable custom breakfast and lunch meals and Starbucks drinks!

• Economic friendly services - electric vehicle charging stations on-site

• Ergonomic assessments offered on-site and virtually

Job Overview:

This role leads key elements of GIA’s corporate communications strategy, with primary responsibility for executive and internal communications and a significant role in external communications. The position serves as a strategic communications partner to senior leadership, developing messaging and programs that strengthen GIA’s reputation, engage employees, and advance organizational priorities. The role also contributes to media relations, reputation and crisis communications, and the management of external agency partners.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Executive Communications

• Develop and lead an executive communications strategy that positions GIA’s CEO and senior leaders as trusted, authoritative voices within the gem and jewelry sector and advances GIA’s mission and organizational priorities.
• Develop executive communications across speeches, op-eds, social media, presentations, and other external platforms to strengthen executive visibility, credibility, and thought leadership.
• Identify and evaluate high-value speaking, media, and thought‑leadership opportunities that reach priority audiences across premier media, international forums, podcasts, newsletters, and digital channels.
• Advise and prepare senior leaders for interviews, panels, speaking engagements, and other public‑facing opportunities through strategic messaging, briefing materials, and communications coaching.
• Monitor industry, media, and stakeholder trends and advise senior leaders on strategic engagement opportunities that advance GIA’s mission, reputation, and organizational objectives.
• Strengthen executive readiness for media engagement through media training, preparation, coaching, and ongoing evaluation of communications effectiveness using monitoring, analysis, and feedback.

Internal Communications

• Under the leadership of GIA’s Communications Director, create and lead a communications plan that establishes GIA’s CEO and senior leaders as trusted, authoritative figures within the gem and jewelry sector.
• Extend leadership voice across speeches, op‑eds, social posts, and well‑timed public moments that carry weight.
• Identify venues and opportunities that reach influential audiences, including premier media and international forums as well as more focused channels such as podcasts, newsletters, and online engagements.
• Prepare leadership ahead of interviews, panels, and advocacy opportunities so each appearance strengthens GIA's authority.
• Ensure a high standard for executive content, balancing authenticity, thought leadership, and strategic focus.
• Monitor the field of influence; advise on GIA's leaders should engage to advance GIA’s mission and business objectives.
• Bolster the organization's preparedness for media engagement through executive media training, while driving ongoing refinement informed by monitoring, analysis, and feedback.
• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of enterprise internal communications across channels, ensuring communications inform and engage employees, strengthen understanding of organizational priorities, and support employee alignment.

• Oversees a robust editorial and communications program that elevates people, leadership, events, and business initiatives.
• Develop and manage internal leadership communications, including executive announcements, town halls, employee forums, and other engagements.

External Communications

• Partner with Corporate Communications leadership to shape and execute external communications strategies that strengthen GIA’s reputation, support organizational priorities, and ensure consistent messaging across external audiences.
• Manage relationships with external public relations agencies and ensure timely execution of communication initiatives.
• Manage and coordinate media relations activities, including responses to media inquiries, development of key messages and communications materials, and preparation of senior leaders for media engagements.
• Partner with Corporate Communications leadership on reputation management, issues management, and crisis communications, developing timely, accurate, and consistent messaging that protects GIA’s reputation and aligns with organizational priorities and brand standards.

Other duties

• Serve as a strategic communications partner to departments across GIA, providing communications counsel and ensuring alignment with enterprise messaging, brand standards, and organizational priorities. Perform other duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills & Abilities:

• Executive Communication & Influence – Communicates with clarity, confidence, and sound judgment across executive, employee, media, and external stakeholder audiences; adapts messaging to the audience and influences outcomes effectively.
• Strategic Thinking – Connects communications strategy to organizational priorities, anticipates stakeholder needs, and considers long‑term reputation and business implications.
• Communications Expertise – Demonstrates advanced knowledge of executive communications, internal communications, media relations, reputation management, crisis/issues communications, editorial strategy, and communications measurement.
• Leadership & Accountability – Demonstrates initiative and ownership, establishes clear priorities, drives execution, and holds self and others accountable for high‑quality results.
• Judgment & Decision Quality – Makes timely, thoughtful decisions in complex or sensitive situations and handles confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Collaboration & Relationship Management – Builds trusted relationships across functions and levels, including senior leadership, and navigates differing perspectives constructively.
• Program & Project Management – Manages multiple high‑visibility communications initiatives, stakeholders, agencies, timelines, and competing priorities effectively.
• Results Orientation – Establishes measures of communications effectiveness, uses insights and feedback to improve outcomes, and maintains high standards for quality and impact.
• Domestic travel may be required: less than 20%

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, or a related field, including significant experience in executive and/or internal communications.
• Demonstrated experience advising executives and senior leaders on messaging, presentations, media engagements, and sensitive communications.
• Experience developing and executing enterprise‑level communications strategies across multiple audiences and channels.
• Experience in media relations, reputation management, and crisis/issues communications.
• Experience managing external agencies, vendors, and complex communications programs.
• Experience working in a global or complex organization preferred.
• Gem and jewelry industry experience preferred; international communications experience a plus

Salary Range:

$126,000 to $178,000 annually

An Equal Opportunity Employer

All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

Disclaimer:

This job description indicates in general terms, the type and level of work performed as well as the typical responsibilities of employees in this classification and it may be changed by management at any time. Other duties may also apply. Nothing in this job description changes the at‑will employment relationship existing between the Company and its employees.