Social Media Strategist

Washington D.C. | New York City

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Washington D.C. | New York City
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Communication and Public Information
- Sales and Marketing
- Marketing (Digital, Advertisement, Brand, Promotion)
Closing Date:

Background

Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) is an international team that is tasked with building the IRC’s profile and brand, supporting the growth of private revenue from deeper donor engagement and partnerships, and influencing our target audiences. The team owns brand, communications, creative and content and digital engagement efforts.

Digital Engagement (part of Marketing & Mobilization) leads efforts to increase IRC’s access to priority online audiences, attracting new supporters, and sharing an integrated digital supporter experience. These elements are designed with the strategy of inspiring audiences to give more, do more, and stay longer with the IRC. Digital professionals include communications specialists, content creators, digital campaigners, and analysts. This department will direct a team of social media and web strategists and work across all functions in the Marketing and Mobilization team. They deliver to the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, Brussels, South Korea, and other global markets.

Job Overview:

The Social Media Strategist will report into a US Digital Communications market lead (under Senior Director of Digital Engagement). A key leader on the team, they will lead two social media officers and co-manage a Video & Multimedia Content Creator while owning social media management and strategy. This innovative problem solver works closely with the Website Strategist to develop integrated, multi-channel strategies that build brand, grow our influence, and contribute to substantial revenue growth.

This role consistently champions creative strategies and high-impact brand story-telling. They will work collaboratively to define sharp creative directions for reactive comms, partner pushes, seasonal moments and emergencies, and drive end-to-end creative implementation. For campaigns, the Social Media Strategist will work with Brand and Creative to ensure concepts are anchored by clear objectives and powerful, supporter and channel insights - and partner with creative specialists (video, design, copy) and channel managers to support flawless creative execution. They will have their finger on the pulse when it comes to trends and platform changes and seek out opportunities to reach new audiences through influencer and celebrity engagement and building partnerships.

This individual will define the organization's social strategy for our main social accounts, including the IRC president & CEO’s accounts, with a particular focus on engaging and growing our audience in the US. They will work with Comms colleagues and navigate seamlessly in high-risk situations sparked by humanitarian emergencies and will play a critical role in global social media governance, setting social standards and promoting global best-practices.

This position will be a highly collaborative, cross-cutting role working across multiple External Relations teams. It requires a strong relationship builder and a connector of dots - someone who is adept at maintaining a strong creative vision and understanding of the latest social trends, while helping to align and integrate cross-channel strategies to deliver on objectives.

Major Responsibilities:

● Sets vision and direction of social media presence for global @RESCUEorg channels and CEO channels. Defines strategy and establishes social performance metrics.

● Guides the Social Media Officers in running main accounts, and delivering on reach, growth and engagement goals. Ensures they are supported, highly motivated and performing to their best ability.

● Develops innovative social media strategies for IRC campaigns, major partnerships and initiatives – building on successful processes and our brand framework. Ensures social team is cognizant of online trends and is set up to tap into reactive opportunities where brand-appropriate.

● Helps IRC to diversify its social media channel strategy and ensure the channel presence is integrated and supports ER strategic objectives.

● Works with Analysts to monitor social media performance; identify practical social insights and promote continuous performance optimization. Leads on monthly reporting against social media critical metrics, ensures digital leadership is abreast of performance, and feeds into internal reports as needed.

● Supports in-market social programs (i.e. UK, Sweden, Germany, Brussels, Korea). With support of line manager, consult with social media partners and regional teams on social strategies.

● Keeps the IRC ahead of the social curve; ensures organization is up to speed on the latest channel dynamics and opportunities; evaluates new social opportunities and emerging channels.

● Champions the development of compelling, multi-channel creative and content strategies for a range of situations - including breaking emergencies, reactive comms/trends, thematic campaigns, etc.

● Contribute to a sharp and memorable IRC brand and experience.

● Lead on growing and stewarding our portfolio of digital influencers/creators to secure opportunities to engage new audiences. Partner with the US Mass Markets fundraising team to ensure the programme supports income and reach goals.

● Run the management of paid advertising campaigns to grow our digital channels, using the Digital Engagement budget or external grants ie. from LinkedIn/TikTok

● Partner with Advocacy to identify both reactive and planned opportunities to use our social channels to advance influence goals and engage audiences.

● Works collaboratively with creative specialists (designers, video producers, social media managers, copywriters, marketers) to ensure creative strategy is effectively brought to life and seamlessly integrated. Works with Creative Studio to commission external illustrators, animators and other content creators to contribute to IRC channels.

● Partners with the Entertainment Relations and Corporate partnership leads to increase our online reach. Cultivate external partners, high profiles, celebrities, influencers, and estates – and inspire them to amplify our creative work.

● Ensure our channels are inclusive and offer a diversity of voices with a focus on centering IRC client voices and stories

● Support peers to understand changes in social media, what’s working and what isn’t, in particular those who gather content gathering/ creation and messaging. Works with creative specialists to train staff to build up capacity for user-generated content focused on our programs.

● Use own initiative to respond to reputational issues on social media, identifying any queries to raise to Digital/ Comms leadership when required

Job Requirements:

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in communications, journalism, international affairs, marketing or related field

● At least 7 years of experience, preferably in digital and/or social media roles at an agency or for a global consumer brand.

● Outstanding creative and content instincts and skills – as demonstrated by a strong portfolio of campaign and creative work.

● Validated knowledge and expertise of social media channels and management tools, especially Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

● Demonstrated history of amplifying online reach through partners and influencers

● Strong digital analytical skills

● In-depth understanding of channel and audience dynamics and implications for creative requirements (social, in addition to web sites, email, TV, mobile, paid, organic, etc.).

● Strong understanding of brand development and integrated marketing campaigns

● A natural storyteller. Produce big ideas that move the IRC forward. Understand and appreciate pop culture – finding meaningful, authentic ways of applying this knowledge to the humanitarian sector.

● A leader and relationship builder who is proactive, collaborative, inspiring and inclusive. Able to build relationships at all levels internally and externally

● Ability to respond and adapt to the needs of a highly matrixed organization and ensure work is delivered timely and with high quality.

● Highly skilled in balancing multiple, complex, concurrent projects. Multitask, with a high degree of flexibility and fluidity and have a positive approach.

Working Environment:

This role will be based in New York or Washington DC, but will need to accommodate multiple time zones given our Global IRC community and will be in a hybrid environment with the option of remote work a few days a week. This position will also require ad hoc travel for events such as retreats, workshops etc.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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