Associate Director of Social Media

At Manifest, we create rich content experiences that drive brand transformation. We are a proudly independent, full-service agency with a 40-year history of innovation in the content discipline. Our team has been honored numerous times as Content Agency of the year, we’ve won an Effie for Sustained Success and Digiday’s Content Agency Partner of the Year -- to name just a few accolades. We create beautifully crafted content informed by data, inspired by strategy, distributed with purpose, and analyzed for performance. We pride ourselves on collaboration without restraint and don’t just hire people who fit, we hire disruptors who add to our culture. We embrace different backgrounds and experiences, differing opinions, discussion, productive debate and earned trust. And our commitment to inclusion across race, gender, gender identity or expression, age, religion, identity, disability status, sexual orientation, national origin, and experience drives us forward. Let’s chat.We are hiring an Associate Director of Social Media. If you’re ready to be part of a team that is continuously evolving and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in content marketing and social media, we invite you to apply. In this role, you will not only lead our clients' day-to-day social media strategy but also play a crucial role in ensuring their brands resonate and engage effectively with their target audiences. This leadership role demands a seasoned strategist with 8-10 years of experience driving brand growth within the social space, including extensive experience with organic and paid social media strategies. You will be a vital member of our integrated team, driving strategic and creative excellence across various projects. This role reports directly to the VP of Social Media and can be based (hybrid) in any of our four metro areas: Chicago, D.C., NYC, or Phoenix.Responsibilities•Strategy Development: Develop and execute comprehensive social media strategies for our clients, leveraging advanced insights, channel performance data, and industry trends to drive impactful social storytelling. Lead the strategic vision and execution for multiple high-profile accounts.•Content & Engagement: Shape and implement client-specific channel strategies, ensuring high-quality, social-first creative work that resonates with audiences and drives results. Oversee the development of innovative content that engages and grows communities.•Planning & Production: Lead the creation and management of social media content calendars that align with clients' dynamic business goals, product launches, campaigns, and events. Ensure seamless integration from concept to content hand in hand with creative teams.•Measurement & Reporting: Drive robust measurement and reporting processes to showcase the impact of social media initiatives. Use data to inform strategy and continually optimize performance for our clients, providing insightful analysis and actionable recommendations.•Collaboration & Integration: Work seamlessly across teams, including Creative, Strategy, Performance Marketing, Data Intelligence, and Account Operations, to maximize the impact of social media assets and resources for our clients.•Influencer Marketing: Integrate influencer content strategically, aligning it with clients' overarching brand narratives and campaign opportunities. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key influencers and partners.•Paid Social Media Management: Develop and execute paid social media initiatives, providing potential budgets, targeting strategies, and performance analysis to ensure maximum ROI. Collaborate with the performance marketing team to align organic and paid efforts for comprehensive campaign success.•Issues Management: Proactively and reactively manage social media issues, ensuring consistent and engaging brand voices across all client platforms. Provide strategic counsel on crisis communications and reputation management.•Resource & Talent Management: Lead, recruit, and nurture a high-performing social media team. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence to deliver outstanding results for our clients. Mentor junior team members and develop their skills and expertise.Requirements•8-10 years of experience in social media strategy and management within an agency environment, with a proven track record of creating impactful content and engaging communities.•Deep expertise in social media platform best practices, specs, and functionality.•Strong writing and communication skills.•Excellent analytical skills with experience in using data to drive strategic decisions and measure performance across multiple client accounts.•Demonstrated thought leadership in the social space beyond day-to-day account work.•Experience managing cross-disciplinary teams, leading with empathy, and focusing on team success.•Proficiency in project management tools such as Asana, Google Analytics, Tableau, and Excel.•Extensive experience with paid social media, including campaign strategy, budget management, and performance analysis.•A high degree of comfort in creating presentations and delivering them to executives at all levels.•A high level of curiosity.•Results-oriented with a relentless drive for continuous improvement and achieving measurable outcomes for clients.•Highly organized, adaptable, and proactive, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.•Creative thinker with a strategic mindset and a passion for innovative content creation.•Enthusiastic team player with a hands-on approach and a willingness to explore new strategies and tactics.•Strong deck creation and presentation skills to effectively communicate social media insights and strategies to senior leadership and clients.