Director of Communications

ASSOULINE; New York (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Assouline is seeking a Communications Director to lead global communications strategy across press, talent, cultural visibility, product launches, events and Maison moments. The role shapes how the Maison is perceived and expands its influence in luxury culture worldwide.

The ideal candidate will build a proactive function, drive storytelling, and ensure all plans align with the Master Brand Calendar. On-site role with leadership of a growing team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading communications, PR or cultural visibility strategy in luxury or lifestyle environments.
• Strong network of press, editors, tastemakers and cultural figures.
• Proven experience launching campaigns, partnerships and events with strategic messaging.
• Excellent writing and editorial judgment for multiple audiences.
• Experience managing teams, agencies, budgets and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Define the global communications strategy with the VP Brand and align with Maison priorities.
• Translate brand ambition into clear communications plans and visibility strategies.
• Lead press and influence across initiatives and cultural moments.
• Build and nurture a selective network of editors, journalists and tastemakers.
• Shape messaging, spokesperson opportunities and channels for each initiative.
• Develop plans for launches, collaborations, campaigns and events.
• Own external messaging frameworks, boilerplates and executive copy.
• Manage reputation-sensitive communications with judgment and discretion.
• Lead the Communications team and manage budgets and agency relationships.
• Track coverage and impact, turning learnings into stronger future work.

Skills

Communications leadership

Editorial judgment

Writing ability

Budget management

Team leadership

Strategic storytelling

Relationship building

Job description

Founded in Paris in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline, Assouline is a luxury lifestyle brand dedicated to the curation of culture and the art of living. Through its books, library objects and home fragrances, the Maison invites the curious to explore a world of beauty, travel, design, art and culture. Over thirty years, Assouline has built a library of more than 2,000 titles, a network of boutiques around the world, and a circle of collaborators that includes some of the world’s most respected brands, artists, photographers, writers and designers.

THE ROLE

The Communications Director leads Assouline’s global communications strategy across press, talent, cultural visibility, corporate messaging, product launches, events and Maison moments. This is the person who shapes how Assouline appears in the world: what the Maison says, where it is seen, who carries its message, and how its cultural authority grows across markets, media, tastemakers, partners and clients.

As the Maison expands across books, objects, collaborations, retail, events, digital platforms and international markets, its communications must become more deliberate and more selective. The Communications Director will build a strategic, proactive function, moving beyond reactive press support toward stronger storytelling, sharper visibility planning and more intentional influence within Assouline’s cultural universe.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications Strategy and Visibility Planning

• Define the global communications strategy with the VP Brand, in line with Maison priorities.
• Translate brand ambition, product priorities and cultural initiatives into clear communications plans.
• Identify which launches, collaborations, events and institutional moments call for strong press, influence or reputation support.
• Build visibility plans that serve both immediate launch needs and the Maison’s long-term positioning.

Press, Influence and Cultural Authority

• Lead press and influence strategy across priority initiatives, cultural moments and Maison storytelling.
• Build and nurture a selective network of editors, journalists, VIPs, collectors, tastemakers, cultural figures and creators who extend Assouline’s presence in the right circles.
• Define press angles, spokesperson opportunities, talent and celebrity targets, and visibility channels for each initiative.
• Strengthen Assouline’s place in the conversations that matter to the Maison: culture, design, luxury, travel, interiors, art and lifestyle.

Launches, Campaigns and Maison Moments

• Develop communications plans for priority books, objects, collections, collaborations, campaigns and events.
• Partner with Marketing on narratives, audiences and timing, and with Image & Creative Studio to anticipate press and influence assets early.
• Shape the communications dimension of events with Events & Experiences, from media moments and guest considerations to photography and post-event amplification.
• Ensure every plan is clearly timed and integrated into the Master Brand Calendar.

Messaging, Narrative and Reputation

• Own external messaging frameworks, including press materials, talking points, statements, biographies, boilerplates and executive messaging.
• Keep Maison narratives clear and consistent, adapted thoughtfully to each audience, market and context.
• Manage reputation-sensitive communications with judgment, discretion and senior alignment.
• Support the amplification of editorial platforms such as podcasts, cultural content and recurring storytelling initiatives.

Markets, Partners and Client Books

• Support market and partner needs where press, influence or external visibility is required.
• Provide communications input for client book projects, clarifying press angles, visibility commitments and external messaging.
• Ensure every communications commitment is realistic, clearly documented and aligned with Maison standards.

Team, Budget and Reporting

• Lead and develop the Communications team, setting clear priorities, workload visibility and delivery standards.
• Manage communications budget planning and tracking with the VP Brand, and recommend investment across press, influence, agencies and external partners.
• Anticipate capability or regional coverage needs as the Maison grows, and recommend how best to support them.
• Track performance across coverage, influence, message pull-through and brand impact, and turn each recap into stronger future work.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Significant experience leading communications, PR, influence or cultural visibility strategy in a luxury, design, publishing, fashion, hospitality or lifestyle environment.
• A strong network of press, media, tastemakers and cultural figures relevant to Assouline’s world.
• Proven experience leading communications around launches, collaborations, events, partnerships and reputation-sensitive topics.
• Excellent writing and editorial judgment, with the ability to craft clear, elegant messaging for every audience.
• Experience managing teams, agencies, budgets and external partners.
• A clear understanding of how communications connects with marketing, image, events, digital, retail, wholesale, e-commerce and partnerships.
• The ability to make thoughtful trade-offs between visibility, selectivity, budget, timing and brand standards.
• A deep sensitivity to Maison codes, cultural relevance, client perception and the standards of luxury execution.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a communications leader with cultural judgment, a writer’s instinct and a clear sense of how visibility builds authority. They know how to turn Assouline’s world into stories that feel selective, credible and culturally relevant, and they understand that communications is not only about coverage but about shaping how the Maison is perceived by the people who matter.

They bring structure, discretion and calm precision to a fast-moving environment, handling press, talent, messaging and reputation with clarity and taste. They are as comfortable with a senior stakeholder or a celebrity as they are refining a single line of copy.

This role is on-site 5 days a week.

Compensation:

$130,000-$150,000 (salaries may vary based on experience)

Assouline is an equal opportunity employer.