Social Media Manager Job Description
Social media managers lead the strategy and execution of a brand’s presence across social platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. This job description has been created with the input of Toptal marketing experts and includes the main responsibilities and skills you should advertise for when hiring a full-time or freelance social media manager.
Social media managers shape and execute a brand’s comprehensive social media strategy. Unlike social media marketers, who focus primarily on demand generation and short-term campaigns, social media managers oversee the brand’s broader online presence across multiple platforms. They handle tasks that range from content planning and online community engagement to managing social media advertising campaigns and aligning strategies with long-term business goals.
For smaller businesses or startups, a social media manager may take on a variety of tasks, including content creation, calendar management, and performance reporting. At larger companies, though, they might focus on specific accounts or brands with support from content creators and other specialists.
This sample job description for full-time or project-based freelance social media managers will help you advertise your job and find qualified candidates who match your criteria. If you need the social media manager to focus on specific platforms or content strategies (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, video content creation, or paid social media campaigns), adjust this job description template accordingly.
Social Media Manager – Job Description and Ad Template
Copy this template, and modify it as your own:
Company Introduction
{{Write a short and catchy paragraph about your company. Make sure to provide information about company culture, perks, and benefits. Mention office hours, remote-working possibilities, and everything else you think makes your company interesting. Social media managers often work remotely, allowing companies to access a wider talent pool.}}
Job Description
Our organization seeks qualified candidates for the role of social media manager to develop and execute strategies that enhance our brand’s social media presence across multiple social media platforms. The ideal candidate is a creative strategist with a deep understanding of social media trends, solid knowledge of digital marketing and analytics, and the ability to craft creative content that resonates with our target audience. This role demands expertise in managing organic and paid digital campaigns, utilizing monitoring tools to track performance, driving engagement, and ensuring that social media efforts align with broader business objectives. If you’re passionate about social media and have a proven track record of success, we want to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement comprehensive social media strategies that align with overall business goals, focusing on brand visibility, audience growth, and engagement across platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and others
- Create, curate, and manage published content that reflects the brand’s voice and resonates with the target audience
- Monitor, listen, and respond to our audience to cultivate meaningful interactions that build community and drive customer engagement and loyalty
- Ensure brand consistency across all social media profiles by following brand guidelines when choosing visual elements and creating content
- Assess social media performance using analytics tools; then use that data to adjust strategies to optimize content, increase engagement, and improve return on investment (ROI)
- Plan, execute, and optimize paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X, focusing on achieving the highest possible ROI
- Work closely with marketing, design, and content teams to ensure social media efforts are aligned with broader marketing initiatives and contribute to overall business objectives
- Monitor social media trends, platform updates, and industry best practices to keep the brand ahead of the curve and give it a competitive edge
- Create and maintain a detailed content calendar that outlines what content will be posted, when, and on which platforms, ensuring a consistent and timely presence across all channels
- Leverage strong analytical skills to produce regular reports on social media performance that provide data-driven insights and recommendations to stakeholders
- {{Add other relevant responsibilities here.}}
Skills and Qualifications
- Demonstrated success in managing social media accounts for brands, with a portfolio of work showcasing previous campaigns, content, and results
- Extensive knowledge of algorithms, features, and best practices of major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X
- Excellent communication skills and a talent for crafting compelling, brand-aligned content that engages and inspires audiences
- Ability to interpret social media analytics, identify trends, and use data to inform and refine strategies, driving measurable performance improvements
- Hands-on experience using tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, or similar platforms for scheduling, monitoring, and analyzing social media content
- Ability to create visually appealing and on-brand content, with a good eye for design and familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva
- Expertise in planning, executing, and optimizing paid social media campaigns, with a proven track record of delivering strong results and maximizing ROI
- Ability to work efficiently under pressure and manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities, while paying close attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills to foster collaboration with colleagues across departments to achieve shared goals and drive success
- {{Emphasize relevant industry experience, particularly for technical or specialized markets, such as engineering or healthcare.}}
Education and Training Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field and/or professional certifications in social media marketing or related areas from HubSpot, Hootsuite, or Google (in some cases, an excellent portfolio may be considered sufficient, regardless of education or training) {{Modify to reflect desired qualifications.}}
Experience Requirements
- Minimum of three years of professional experience managing social media accounts for brands, with a proven track record of increasing engagement, growing audiences, and driving measurable business results {{Adjust this section based on the level of experience required to meet your project’s goals, with more years expected for senior roles.}}
Salary Range
{{Include the salary range for your position. The cost associated with hiring an social media manager depends on various factors, including location. In the US, the average total annual pay for social media managers is approximately $60,000 as of September 2024.}}
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