Associate Director Social Media Strategy

C.A. Fortune•Chicago, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Social Media Strategy is a strategic leader who translates cultural insights, platform expertise, and brand thinking into social-first strategies that move client business forward. They are the SRW | C.A. go-to expert on the ever-evolving world of social media and lead a team of social savvy individuals who ground recommendations in audience insight, platform behavior, social listening, and cultural trends. While social strategy is their primary craft, they also bring broader marketing strategy experience to the table, from digital and integrated campaign planning to consumer insights and competitive analysis. They lead multiple client accounts at once, mentor and guide their team, partner closely with cross-functional teams, and aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to support content creation when the moment calls for it.

Requirements

Strong communication and storytelling skills: Ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable recommendations.
Knack for writing short, catchy copy in a social-friendly tone of voice.
Proven experience developing and leading social media strategy, including deep knowledge of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, and emerging platforms.
A deep understanding of organic and paid social nuances, and how they work together to support integrated campaigns.
Broader digital marketing strategy experience (paid media and integrated campaign planning).
Ability to manage multiple accounts and competing priorities at once in a fast-paced environment.
A collaborative, proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
Curiosity about people, culture, and what drives consumer behavior, with a finger on the pulse of what’s trending.
Experience supporting light content creation (copywriting, content ideas, occasional shooting/editing) when the need arises.
Skilled in navigating senior-level client relationships with confidence.
Ability to utilize AI tools for time efficiencies, to enhance strategic output and to supplement content creation.
Experience understanding and synthesizing data into clear, actionable takeaways for clients and internal teams.

Nice To Haves

A track record of growing client accounts and identifying new strategic opportunities within existing scopes of work.
Experience running brainstorms or creative planning sessions.
Ability to interpret social listening, competitive insights, and performance dashboards into strategic recommendations (using tools like Sprout Social).
Familiarity with influencer and creator partnerships and how content performs across profiles.
Hands-on content creation experience (shooting, editing, using tools like Canva, CapCut, or similar).
Experience managing or mentoring junior strategists, social media managers and content creators.
Experience working with CPG brands is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the Social Media Team across a range of client accounts focused on paid and organic social.
Bolster strategic recommendations in audience insights, platform behaviors, cultural moments, and social listening/competitive data.
Lead the development of social strategies and briefs, translating strategic direction into content calendars and content development.
Partner with Paid Media, Influencer, PR, and Creative teams to ensure social strategies are fully integrated across every tactic in-market.
Lead key client meetings, brainstorms, and internal strategy reviews.
Contribute to content ideation and social content copy frequently.
Monitor social and campaign performance, translating data and insights into optimization recommendations for clients through monthly social reporting.
Serve as the agency’s social subject matter expert, staying ahead of platform updates, emerging channels, and industry trends, and translating them into timely recommendations for clients and internal teams.
Guide organic and paid social strategy in tandem, ensuring channel plans work together to support broader campaign and business goals.
Apply broader digital and marketing strategy expertise — client discovery, competitive analysis, and consumer insights — to help build comprehensive, integrated strategic plans beyond social alone.
Create and present strategic decks, points of view, and recommendations that generate excitement and position SRW | C.A. as a social media thought leader.
Partner with the Social Media Team to test, learn, and utilize social media and AI tools to create efficiencies and scale output.
Identify new strategic opportunities within existing accounts and bring a strong social point of view to new business pitches and proposals.
Roll up your sleeves to support social content creation when needed, from copywriting and content ideation to jumping in on light shooting/editing to keep great ideas moving.