Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

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

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick and holidays

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401-K matching

On-site cafe

Job summary

Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, CA seeks an Assistant Director of Corporate Communications to lead executive and internal communications, while playing a key role in external messaging and crisis response.

The role partners with senior leadership to shape messaging, engage employees, and advance organizational priorities, including media relations and agency partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications and related field.
• Significant experience in executive and internal communications.
• Experience advising executives on messaging, presentations, and media engagements.
• Experience managing external agencies and complex communications programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate communications strategy for executive and internal communications.
• Serve as strategic partner to senior leadership on messaging, media relations, and crisis communications.
• Develop communications plans across speeches, op-eds, social posts, and public appearances.
• Manage relationships with external PR agencies and coordinate timelines and messaging.
• Oversee internal leadership communications across channels and employee engagement.

Skills

Executive Communication & Influence

Strategic Thinking

Communications Expertise

Leadership & Accountability

Judgment & Decision Quality

Collaboration & Relationship Mgmt

Program & Project Management

Results Orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English

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.

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

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.

Working at GIA

With a reach that spans the globe - GIA is a nonprofit institute dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry through cutting edge gemological research and rigorous education programs. We have shaped the gem industry, protected millions of consumers and taught generations of jewelers and gemologists all over the world since 1931. Comprising over 3,000 employees in 13 countries, GIA is a place of diversity, innovation, creativity and engagement. Whether you are passionate about science, history, design, education, IT or a corporate career, GIA has a place for you. Join one of the world’s most colorful and brilliant industries with an organization that serves the public good by bringing knowledge and objectivity to gems and jewelry.

What GIA Does

• Research that deepens the world’s understanding of gems and jewelry manufacturing and shares these findings with academia, the industry, and the gem-buying public
• Education that builds careers and enhances the knowledge and integrity of the gem and jewelry industry
• Standard setting that protects those who buy gems by ensuring the qualities of gems and jewelry are objectively and consistently described
• Laboratory services that provide an unbiased and scientific assessment of gem quality

Employee Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick and holidays, tuition assistance, commuter benefits
• We offer competitive medical, dental, vision and matching 401-K plans
• 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

Crime Statistics (For U.S. Only)

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Act, GIA's current annual crime statistics are available at: Clery Report: Annual Disclosure of Campus Security Policies and Crime Statistics

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.