Melody Smith

🌟Employer Brand & Culture 🌟 | Drives Alignment, Nurtures Engagement, and Supportive Excellence for EAs 🚀

San Diego Metropolitan Area

About

Passionate about people and work that leaves a lasting impact. I lead with empathy and curiosity, building strong, trusted relationships while helping leaders stay focused, prepared, and effective. Whether I’m supporting executives or shaping how a company shows up to its people, I bring a steady, thoughtful approach that keeps everything moving forward. Results-driven Employer Brand and Executive Support leader with a track record of elevating global reputation, strengthening employee engagement, and enabling senior leaders to operate with focus and efficiency. Known for translating business priorities into clear action, whether through strategic storytelling, cross-functional alignment, or day-to-day executive support. Brings a unique combination of executive partnership and brand strategy, supporting leadership through complex calendars, high-level communications, and global coordination while also driving initiatives that improve candidate quality and organizational culture. Experienced in managing competing priorities, anticipating needs, and ensuring that critical work moves forward with precision and discretion. Recognized for delivering measurable impact across global markets through integrated internal and external communications. Channel management expertise includes LinkedIn, Comparably, Glassdoor, and Indeed, with a strong focus on data-driven insights and performance. Led high-impact global campaigns across employer brand, corporate reputation, and internal communications, contributing to significant external recognition for Elsevier. Achievements include four EMBA awards and three Internal Communications awards from Communicate Magazine (2023–2024), supported by in-house designed submissions. In 2025, Elsevier ranked #1 across Diversity, Women, Best Leadership Teams, Work-Life Balance, Career Growth, and Company Outlook, and #2 for Product & Design and Engineering Teams by Comparably. Additional recognition includes Great Place to Work® Certification in India.

Experience

  • Elsevier (Full-time · 10 yrs 10 mos)
    • Employer Brand Manager | Psychological Safety Consultant
      Apr 2022 - Nov 2025 · 3 yrs 8 mos

      • Social Media platform marketing of Elsevier’s work culture and employee stories • Support rollout of Employer Value Proposition • Develop materials to support Talent Acquisition and magnetism • Align cross-functionally with partnerships across Talent Acquisition, Human Resources, Social Responsibility, Corporate Brand, and Marketing to create and execute a seamless brand content strategy • Utilize Glassdoor, Indeed, Comparably, myGwork, and EveryoneSocial • Efficient, organized, and detail-oriented professional • Analytical thinker with expertise in using data to measure partner performance, identify trends, and make strategic directional decisions • Expert in communicating and collaborating with multiple levels of leadership Key Achievements and Impact • Increased Employer Brand Rating: Achieved top #1 award rankings in Diversity, Women, Leadership, Work-Life Balance, and Career Growth (2023–2024), with measurable improvements in global employee perception scores though storytelling initiatives that highlighted real employee experiences, strengthening emotional connection to the brand and reinforcing culture externally. • Enhanced Candidate Attraction: Campaigns and data-informed storytelling contributed to a 25% rise in quality applications, reducing hiring cycle times. • Recognition And Awards: Contributed to Elsevier’s four EMBA awards and three Internal Communications awards (2023–2024); led award entries resulting in multiple #1 global rankings and 23 awards overall in 2025. • Inclusion: Led the #WEAREELSEVIER campaign, increasing inclusiveness survey scores from 72% to 80%. • Psychological Safety: Coached teams to raise Psychological Safety scores by 30% over 12 months, fostering innovation and collaboration.

    • Communications and Brand Executive Assistant, Psychological Safety coach
      Feb 2015 - May 2022 · 7 yrs 4 mos

      • Managed wide-ranging responsibilities for Corporate Brand, Employer Brand, and Global Communications • Handled sensitive and confidential business and personnel information with strict compliance and discretion • Extensive experience in managing complex high-volume, VP calendars across global time zones, ensuring seamless scheduling and rapid adaptation to shifting priorities (using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace) • Orchestrated executive meetings, workshops, and leadership events end-to-end, from logistics and agenda creation to follow-up and accountability • Served as a primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, representing leadership with professionalism and sound judgment • Drafted executive communications, presentations, and reports • Monitored project timelines and deliverables, ensuring initiatives adhered to strict timelines • Improved operational efficiency by introducing documentation, process improvements, and streamlined workflows •Partnered with the Senior Director of Corporate Branding to publish and maintain company-wide corporate brand guidelines •Point of contact for all Corporate Brand queries and resource requests • Passionate Employer Brand Ambassador, Employer Brand content creator

  • Formulations Production Chemist at Alere Inc.
    Oct 2014 - Jan 2015 · 4 mos

    • Responsible for manufacturing and assembly of clinical and commercial products. Operates production equipment. Weighs, measures and checks raw materials to ensure batches manufacture products contain proper ingredients and quantities. • Maintained records and clean room environment (S5 standards) to comply with regulatory requirements, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and standard operating procedures (SOP). • Implemented production and large-scale manufacturing procedures to optimize processes and regulatory requirements.

  • Journal Manager at Graphic World, Inc.
    Aug 2013 - Mar 2014 · 8 mos

    • Ensured and facilitated communications for editorial and production coordination of peer-reviewed scientific articles for a leading global scientific publishing entity. • Managed and coordinated communication between editors, authors and reviewers. • Ensured editorial and production calendar timelines are met, coordinated production activities as required, and provided comprehensive documentation of activities. • Performed editorial support, including the trafficking of documents to all concerned entities.

  • Journal Manager, Operations at Elsevier
    Aug 2009 - Mar 2013 · 3 yrs 8 mos

    Same Accomplishments as described for Graphic World, with additional duties: • Provided peer support by facilitating professional development including teaching Excel classes, and mentoring other employees as required. • Tasked to facilitate peer meetings to improve processes, augment training activities, and project-specific communications. • Involved, assisted and coordinated various programs including National Bring Your Child to Work event. • Identified web access problem and developed in tandem with engineers a customer App designed to improve user web experience.

  • High School Science Teacher at Calvary Christian Academy
    Mar 2007 - Jun 2009 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    • Teacher and mentor to diverse student population at private high school. • Taught Physical Science, Physical Science Honors, Biology, Biology Honors, Anatomy & Physiology.