Surf Gems

MARKETING INTERN 

Internship Dates

Dates: September 2026 - February 2027

Location: Los Osos, CA (Hybrid/In-Person) 

Commitment: Part-time | 10-15 Hours Per Week 

ABOUT US 

Surf Gems is a contemporary jewelry brand that transforms reclaimed surfboard production material into one-of-a-kind jewelry. The Marketing Intern works directly with the founder to bring the Surf Gems brand to life through compelling storytelling, visual design, and creative marketing.

As a small, mission-driven business, this role offers hands-on exposure to marketing, design, events, and day-to-day operations — providing a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build and grow a creative brand. This internship is ideal for a creative, detail-oriented individual with an interest in sustainability, storytelling, and emerging California brands.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP 

We’re seeking a creative, motivated Marketing Intern to help grow Surf Gems through strategic marketing initiatives and dynamic in-person representation. You’ll work directly with the founder and brand strategist, contributing to brand storytelling with social media content, graphic design, event sales, email marketing, and more. You’ll be part of our team here at Surf Gems- rocking your own gems, engaging with customers, and promoting our mission of women’s empowerment and environmentally conscious design.  The responsibilities of this role are flexible and can be tailored to the intern’s strengths and interests, with opportunities to focus more deeply on graphic design, content creation, or marketing strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Social Media & Content Creation 

• Support brand growth and visual consistency across Instagram and other platforms
• Plan, organize, and schedule content (Instagram, TikTok, Email, etc.) using our content calendar
• Curate inspiration and assist in planning the Instagram grid to maintain a cohesive visual aesthetic
• Engage with the Surf Gems community through comments, DMs, and story replies
• Stay current on social media trends, best practices, and platform algorithms to support brand awareness
• Assist with content audits and performance analysis to inform future strategy
• Organize and maintain digital assets within shared Google folders, docs, and sheets
• Assist with email marketing content and asset creation

Campaigns & Content Production

• Assist with marketing campaign development and execution, including:
• Quarterly campaign planning
• Photoshoot planning and on-set assistance
• Support the production of 2-4 social media posts per week by:
• Brainstorming creative, on-brand content ideas with strong engagement potential
• Capturing behind-the-scenes footage
• Editing video content
• Scheduling and publishing posts with clear hooks, captions, calls to action, and audio

Graphic Design 

• Create compelling visual assets for events, promotions, and campaigns
• Design print and digital materials including:
• Flyers, postcards, signage, and retail displays
• Social media graphics, story templates, and campaign visuals
• Email graphics and layout support
• Assist in maintaining brand consistency across all touchpoints (color, typography, layout, tone)
• Help organize and evolve Surf Gems’ visual systems (templates, asset libraries, brand files)
• Collaborate on creative direction for photoshoots, campaigns, and seasonal launches
• Gain real-world experience designing for production, including print specs, sizing, and layout considerations

Other: 

• Provide assistance with general tasks as needed in a small, fast-moving business
• Help coordinate and support community events, markets, and pop-ups
• Learn behind-the-scenes aspects of Surf Gems operations, from creative planning to execution
• Occasionally assist in the studio with product production and assembly to gain hands-on understanding of the craft and materials

ABOUT YOU 

Creative & Design Skills

• Comfortable creating engaging content for social platforms, especially Instagram
• Skilled in Canva, Edits, and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Interest in visual communication, layout, typography, and brand systems
• Experience with graphic and digital communications (design, photo editing, video editing, etc.)
• Understanding of how design translates across print, digital, and physical environments

Brand, Marketing & Strategy

• Ability to interpret media platform analytics to support growth and brand goals
• Familiarity with content planning, asset organization, and maintaining visual consistency

Communication & Organization

• Strong people skills and confidence representing a brand in person
• Experience with event coordination and customer-facing roles
• Familiarity with Google Suite and organized file management

Mindset & Professional Growth

• Desire to build a professional design portfolio with real, client-facing work

You’re a great fit if you: 

• Are passionate about sustainability, entrepreneurship, and the outdoors 
• Have a knack for storytelling and brand building 
• Are excited to learn the inner workings of a small, mission-driven business 
• Are interested in getting your hands dirty and potentially learning a new craft  
• You’re creative, detail-oriented, and care about making quality content 
• Willing to assist with tasks around the studio as needed
• Organized
• Open-minded and adaptable 
• Use and understand social media platforms (Instagram & TikTok) 
• Enjoy collaboration  
• Good at problem-solving and critical thinking 

*Scope of work can be customized based on individual interests (graphic design, social media marketing, sales, content creation, Video Editing, Previous Experience in Social Media, product production, Etc.)

We’re most excited to work with an intern who is curious, motivated, and excited to grow alongside us — and we’re committed to supporting your learning and creative development throughout the internship.