Digital Engagement Specialist

About the Opportunity
Reporting to the Sr. Manager of Digital Engagement, this role is responsible for significant content creation across Academy Brand channels and formats (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitch, Discord, virtual programming, and more) in support of the Academy’s mission, three Major Initiatives, and owned sub-brands (NightLife, BigPicture, bioGraphic). The DE Specialist is additionally responsible for directly contributing to and supporting all team priorities, including influencer events, special projects, digital research and strategy work, metrics collection, paid internal campaigns, and more.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least 2-3 times per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite. Candidates are required to have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals receiving a conditional offer of employment from the California Academy of Sciences will be provided the full text of the vaccination policy. The California Academy of Sciences is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, to protect its employees, volunteers and guests.

About the Digital Engagement Department:
The Academy’s Digital Engagement department leverages a wide range of digital channels (social media, virtual programming, apps, more) to connect with a core digital community of more than 3 million people around the world. Through audience-focused content strategy and execution, DE works to amplify the Academy’s mission and global initiatives; strengthen STEM pipelines; deepen audiences’ connection to science and nature; drive revenue and visitation; and guide the Academy’s digital future.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ideate and create highly engaging content to amplify Academy work across Brand social-media channels (including but not limited to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch), and monitor trends impacting them
• Identify and execute on compelling ways to highlight the Academy’s major initiatives for digital audiences, and contribute to broader DE work in support of same
• In partnership with other DE Specialists and the DE Sr. Manager, drive the planning, production, scheduling, hosting, and execution of livestream programs and other special virtual events, including the DE-owned virtual series NightSchool and select virtual Member and IBSS programs
• Execute social-care (e.g. direct messages, comments, etc.) across all DE channels as directed, working with supervisors and appropriate contacts to respond to questions and comments in a timely and appropriate manner
• With guidance from DE Supervisors, create additional paid campaigns to support a wide range of other internal Academy departments and priorities
• At the direction of DE Supervisors, conduct ongoing research into a range of assigned topics integral to team strategy and decision-making, proactively driving owned research and all related deliverables
• In partnership with other DE Specialists, create content that highlights NightLife across Brand channels, driving attendance for weekly in-person events
• With support from the DE Sr. Manager, support the bioGraphic and BigPicture teams via paid ads, metrics collection, and special projects/activations as needed
• Ensure that DE content serves all communities by following accessibility best-practices, and by presenting an accurate vision of the diversity of people driving science and conservation today
• At the direction of the DE Sr. Manager, maintain and publish metrics and other tracking docs in support of all departmental efforts

Qualifications:Experience and/or Education:

• 2+ years experience representing a brand, organization, publication, or public program/initiative on social media
• B.A. in Communications, English, Marketing, Creative Writing, Liberal Arts or related area of study AND experience in communications, writing, digital engagement, social media; OR comparable combination.

Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency in all primary social media platforms, e.g. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. Additional proficiency in expanded platforms (e.g. Twitch, Discord, etc.) is ideal
• Strong writer with excellent radar for appropriate voice and tone
• Well organized, able to drive work to deadline and execute on multiple projects/priorities simultaneously
• Experience with video-editing, livestreams, digital-asset creation, & related tools is strongly preferred
• Background in or passion for science communication is strongly preferred

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Ability to perform repetitive motions 60% of the time
• Ability to stay organized and focused in high-stimuli environments

This position is hybrid in California for the time being, however the candidate must be able to work physically at the Academy 3 days/week and in accordance with the latest health and safety guidelines.

Compensation and Benefits
Starting salary will vary based on experience and relevant skills/knowledge set. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked.
Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Review of applications will occur on a rolling basis, and will continue until the position is filled.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please upload your resume and complete the brief online application
The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, terminations, training, and social and recreational programs, will be on the basis of qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled. The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. Read our full Equal Opportunity Statement here.