Director, Brand and Creative Strategy

JOB OVERVIEW

GIA is seeking a visionary Director of Brand Creative and Strategy to drive powerful storytelling and shape the future of our global brand. This role requires a highly skilled and experienced creative brand strategist to lead and oversee GIA's global brand image. This person will be responsible for developing ground-breaking content and messaging strategies across all brand touchpoints, directly supporting the achievement of GIA's annual, global business goals and long-term strategic plan. The ideal candidate must have experience leading the strategy for development of creative content and have brand-building experience as well as exceptional communication and leadership skills. Ideally the person in this role must be able to expertly toggle between B2B, B2C, and B2B2C content and messaging while maintaining a seamless and consistent brand image across all. This position will also be an agent of change for the brand creative team, evolving the group to become a highly responsive, professional, and strategic brand marketing partner to the global enterprise.

Location:

Carlsbad, California. Join us onsite Tuesday through Thursday to collaborate, connect, and soak up GIA's energetic campus vibe—then enjoy the freedom of remote work on Mondays and Fridays. It's a hybrid schedule designed for productivity, flexibility, and a little extra joy in your week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

Brand Strategy:

Collaborate with brand marketing teams to understand business goals, product support needs and GTM plans to define and create key content types and assets that will result in delivering creative, engaging and measurable marketing campaigns. Work with global stakeholders to understand their strategic and creative needs to inform the Marketing department's annual budgets and plans. Support GIA's strategic goal to build brand equity with the consumer and our B2B audiences by developing research-informed, ground-breaking creative direction, content creation, and brand messaging that will help create consumer demand for GIA's services. Create project plans (timelines and deliverables) for annual initiatives or long-term projects, and work with the Marketing teams to have an annual brand and creative development calendar. Build positive and collaborative relationships across the GIA organization and with external agencies, vendors, etc. Actively support trade and consumer research, and leverage data to inform brand, creative, and content decisions. Content Development As brand guardian for GIA, develop creative assets, content and campaigns that directly support GIA's global business units and achievement of GIA's strategic plan while maintaining a singular brand voice and experience. Build and maintain a strategic content development plan that includes all content types, brand touchpoints, and global markets Manage a team of designers, copywriters, and other brand creatives to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality projects that directly meet the needs of GIA global business units and support the achievement of the GIA strategic plan. Provide guidance and mentorship to creative team members in support of developing their skills, careers, and pride in their work. Oversee content development for Lab + Instruments and Education. Define how to organize and structure for enterprise use on a global scale to create streamlined brand content. Implement best practices using a project management platform (i.e. JIRA, etc.) that will provide optimal ease of use, clarity, and efficiency for a hybrid brand creative team, ensuring timely delivery of brand creative projects, materials, and content. Other duties as assigned.

JOB COMPETENCIES

Leadership & Accountability:

Demonstrates personal initiative, focus and drive for continuous improvement; holds self and team accountable to meet commitments and deadlines. Sees the "big picture." Leads change, fosters innovation and models GIA values

Technical/Functional Knowledge:

In-depth knowledge of principles and practices within multiple disciplines and broad knowledge across many related disciplines. Keeps up with current technology and trends in the global marketplace

Service Mindset:

Focuses on the needs of customers; builds strong customer relationships and delivers holistic, customer-centric solutions that adequately balance risks with business needs

Optimize Talent:

Plans and supports the development of staff skills & abilities to build capacity and drive organizational effectiveness (in both short-term and long-term). Builds strong team structure through valuing, leveraging & maximizing diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals. Links business strategy to current talent capabilities and proposes a plan to address gaps

Drives Engagement:

Creates a culture where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives; skilled in relationship building, persuasion, high-level negotiation and collaboration; engages with approachable demeanor Drive for

Results:

Sets high goals for personal and team accomplishment and uses measurement methods to monitor progress against operational or strategic goals of the functional area. Consistently meet or exceed goals within timeline and budget; maintains a focus on continuous improvement. Creates an environment that embraces and rewards innovation and change Decision Quality/Problem Solving skills: Incorporates a holistic approach to making good, timely, ethical decisions that keep the organization moving forward; ability to identify root causes of problems and provides sound resolutions taking into consideration multiple perspectives and long-term future implications. Can derive solutions based on limited information using strong reasoning and conceptual thinking abilities

Analytical Skills:

Ability to interpret and analyze data comprehensively and make excellent conclusions; thinks strategically while considering long-term impact of actions/decisions

Communication Skills:

Develops and delivers multi-mode communication that conveys a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences; uses clear and effective verbal and written communications delivered with confidence and the style of the receiver in mind. Uses persuasion, reason and negotiation to influence decisions and get results Collaboration skills: Uses excellent collaboration skills with all levels (up/down and lateral); develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of short and long-term work goals. Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, transparency and authenticity. Maneuvers organizational dynamics to achieve objectives. Ability to handle high conflict situations effectively to minimize impact and maximize outcomes; ability to express opposing views in a non-confrontational manner

Time Management:

Approaches work in an organized and systematic manner; plans work and time effectively to manage conflicting or shifting priorities and achieve goals aligned with functional area and organization Strong computer skills utilizing software such as Microsoft Office Suite, e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and e-mail

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor's degree in marketing or communications, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. 15+ years' experience in brand management, strategic planning for content development, and creative strategy, preferably in an agency setting. 10+ years of experience managing staff. Experience with jewelry, luxury, fashion, or lifestyle brands is preferred. Understanding of marketing to both B2B (trade) and B2C (consumer) audiences preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Up to 10% of travel (domestic and international)

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed in a designated professional office workstation and environment. Extensive use of office equipment including computer, calculator, copier, fax, and other business-related machines and software.

Pay Range:

$150-170K 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 GIA offers competitive salaries and exceptional benefits as well as training opportunities to employees all over the globe. 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. 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