diff --git a/checkpoint/CHANGELOG.md b/checkpoint/CHANGELOG.md
index b848f7ce..c90d0d6d 100644
--- a/checkpoint/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/checkpoint/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ properties not included in any tree mapping operations.
 
 ### Added
 - The ability to specify a custom `snapshot_dir` in `checkpoints_iterator`.
+- `HandlerAwaitableSignal` for signalling between Checkpointing layers to enable
+async directory creation.
 
 ### Fixed
 - Fix a bug where snapshots are not released by `wait_for_new_checkpoint`
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4647c0d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# Copyright 2024 The Orbax Authors.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Synchronization utilities for futures."""
+
+import enum
+import itertools
+from orbax.checkpoint._src.multihost import multihost
+
+
+class HandlerAwaitableSignal(enum.Enum):
+  """Defines signals that may be awaited by a `CheckpointHandler`.
+
+  Signals may be passed from `CheckpointManager` or `Checkpointer` layers to
+  `CheckpointHandler or below.`
+
+  Attributes:
+    STEP_DIRECTORY_CREATION: When recieved, indicates that the step directory
+      has been created. The handler should not attempt to write files before the
+      directory is created.
+    ITEM_DIRECTORY_CREATION: When recieved, indicates that the item directory
+      has been created. The handler should not attempt to write files before the
+      directory is created.
+  """
+
+  STEP_DIRECTORY_CREATION = 'step_directory_creation'
+  ITEM_DIRECTORY_CREATION = 'item_directory_creation'
+
+
+class HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator:
+  """A unique barrier key generator for a `HandlerAwaitableSignal`."""
+
+  _operation_id_counter = itertools.count()
+  _operation_id = None
+
+  @classmethod
+  def next_operation_id(cls) -> int:
+    cls._operation_id = next(cls._operation_id_counter)
+    return cls._operation_id
+
+  @classmethod
+  def get_unique_barrier_key(cls, signal: HandlerAwaitableSignal) -> str:
+    """Returns a unique barrier key for the signal.
+
+    Args:
+      signal: The signal to generate a barrier key for.
+
+    Raises:
+      ValueError: If `_operation_id` is not initialized.
+    """
+    if cls._operation_id is None:
+      raise ValueError(
+          '_operation_id is not initialized. Please call `next_operation_id()`'
+          ' first.'
+      )
+    return multihost.unique_barrier_key(
+        signal.value, suffix=str(cls._operation_id)
+    )
diff --git a/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization_test.py b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f9b0e9bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/checkpoint/orbax/checkpoint/_src/futures/synchronization_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Copyright 2024 The Orbax Authors.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from absl.testing import absltest
+from orbax.checkpoint._src.futures import synchronization
+from orbax.checkpoint._src.multihost import multihost
+
+
+HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator = (
+    synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator
+)
+
+
+class HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGeneratorTest(absltest.TestCase):
+
+  def test_get_unique_barrier_key(self):
+    step_directory_creation_signal = (
+        synchronization.HandlerAwaitableSignal.STEP_DIRECTORY_CREATION
+    )
+    expected_barrier_key_0 = multihost.unique_barrier_key(
+        step_directory_creation_signal.value, suffix="0"
+    )
+    expected_barrier_key_1 = multihost.unique_barrier_key(
+        step_directory_creation_signal.value, suffix="1"
+    )
+
+    HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator.next_operation_id()
+    barrier_key_0 = (
+        HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator.get_unique_barrier_key(
+            step_directory_creation_signal
+        )
+    )
+    HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator.next_operation_id()
+    barrier_key_1 = (
+        HandlerAwaitableSignalBarrierKeyGenerator.get_unique_barrier_key(
+            step_directory_creation_signal
+        )
+    )
+
+    self.assertEqual(barrier_key_0, expected_barrier_key_0)
+    self.assertEqual(barrier_key_1, expected_barrier_key_1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  absltest.main()