Community for Ethical Jewelry Seeks New Executive Director to Lead Growth and Influence

The Community for Ethical Jewelry (CEJ), formerly known as Ethical Metalsmiths, is actively searching for a new Executive Director. This strategic hire aims to guide the nonprofit organization into its next phase of growth and enhance its industry influence in promoting responsible jewelry practices.

Leadership Transition and Role Requirements

Barbara Wheat, the previous Executive Director, played a key role in the organization's rebranding from Ethical Metalsmiths to the Community for Ethical Jewelry. Since December 2025, Alix Hart has been serving as the interim Executive Director. The newly sought position is a part-time, remote role requiring approximately 20 hours per week. CEJ is looking for a nonprofit executive with proven experience in 501(c)3 governance, strong operational leadership, and a demonstrated ability to grow and engage a mission-driven membership base. A deep familiarity with responsible jewelry practices and the confidence to represent the organization within the trade are essential qualifications. The application review process is ongoing, with a target to fill the position by March 15.

Key Responsibilities and Organizational Mission

The Executive Director will work closely with the board of directors and president, focusing on translating CEJ’s mission into operational execution and achieving measurable progress. This role serves as the organization's operational anchor, ensuring rigorous governance, committee alignment, and strategic continuity. Key duties include overseeing internal communications, supporting board and committee leadership, coordinating nonprofit compliance and financial reporting with the treasurer, and strengthening administrative systems for long-term sustainability. CEJ is dedicated to serving designers, retailers, manufacturers, and industry professionals committed to advancing human rights, environmental stewardship, and transparency across the jewelry supply chain.

Membership Engagement and Industry Representation

Membership development is central to CEJ’s impact, and the Executive Director will collaborate closely with the Membership Committee to expand recruitment efforts, deepen engagement, support renewals and onboarding, and cultivate a connected community aligned with the organization’s standards and values. Furthermore, the Executive Director will act as a senior representative of CEJ within the jewelry sector, managing industry inquiries, contributing to communications, shaping strategic collaborations, and reinforcing CEJ’s voice on responsible business practices. Participation at select trade events may also be part of the role, contingent on available funding.

Commitment to Diversity and Compensation

CEJ encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, recognizing that a broad range of perspectives strengthens both the organization and the industry it serves. The compensation for the Executive Director role starts at $32 per hour. This is structured as an employee position without benefits. Interested candidates can apply through the CEJ website or contact [email protected] for more information.

Broader Industry Context: RJC and Purvi Shah's Appointment

This leadership search at CEJ occurs amidst broader shifts in the ethical and responsible jewelry landscape. Notably, the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) recently appointed Purvi Shah as its new Executive Director, succeeding Melanie Grant. With over 15 years of experience in sustainability and responsible business practices within the jewelry industry, Shah is set to lead the RJC into its next chapter, aiming to enhance brand trust, foster innovation through collaboration, and support long-term business resilience for its more than 2,000 members across 74 countries.

Shah, a former executive at De Beers, brings extensive expertise in connecting commercial realities with sustainability ambitions. She emphasizes the importance of globally credible and practical standards, aiming for the RJC to be a driver of value creation. Her vision includes strengthening governance, ensuring standards are responsive to a rapidly changing environment, and encouraging member-led innovation. Shah also highlights the significance of diverse leadership and representation within the industry, drawing from her own experiences as a woman of color.

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainability

Shah acknowledges the current landscape of economic uncertainty and the politicization of sustainability, noting a global recalibration rather than a retreat from ESG commitments. She sees stronger governance, robust standards, and deeper integration of ESG into business strategies leading to more measurable actions. Collaboration, she believes, is key to maintaining momentum in an industry facing shared challenges and opportunities.

Drawing lessons from the diamond industry’s evolution in response to rising stakeholder expectations, Shah underscores the importance of listening and reacting early. She advocates for building solutions that are both credible and practical, emphasizing that details, context, nuance, and understanding are critical. Her philosophy is that sustainability is not an add-on but a fundamental mindset that needs to be embedded within businesses. This approach allows companies the space to adapt solutions to their own realities, fostering sustainability-related innovation.

As Shah prepares to lead the RJC, her priorities include assessing member and stakeholder needs globally, accelerating digital transformation, strengthening auditor capabilities, and ensuring a seamless member experience. She reflects on the power of collaboration across the diverse facets of the jewelry world—science, craft, history, and technology—to create tools and standards that build consumer confidence and elevate industry benchmarks. Shah believes the industry’s contrasts, from art and geology to tradition and digital innovation, make it extraordinary and offer a place for diverse passions.

Both CEJ’s search for an Executive Director and the RJC’s appointment of Purvi Shah signal a continued industry-wide commitment to advancing responsible practices, transparency, and sustainability throughout the jewelry supply chain.