Associate Social Media Specialist

Pew Research Center • Washington, DC

4h • $75,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The associate social media specialist is a digital strategist working as a member of a small team managing Pew Research Center’s direct audience outreach via social media, email and emerging digital platforms. The ideal candidate will be passionate about experimenting with new forms of digital engagement, have excellent news and editorial judgment, and be eager to help the Center develop new relationships with diverse digital audiences. This position reports to the associate director, digital outreach. The associate social media specialist is a creative and hands-on collaborator who gets the details right, and who is committed to enhancing and protecting the organization’s “gold-standard” brand reputation on a variety of digital platforms. This is a term-limited position expected to extend 3 years.

Requirements

• Demonstrated interest in current events and familiarity with Pew Research Center’s diverse body of work
• Strong news judgment and writing skills, with a focus on concision and clarity
• Sound editorial judgment and discretion when engaging with audiences and navigating sensitive or complex conversations about the Center’s research
• Enthusiasm for exploring innovative ways of promoting data and research via social media, including on new and emerging platforms
• Demonstrated understanding of how to use social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, reddit, YouTube and TikTok to support research dissemination and audience engagement goals
• Ability to pay strict attention to tone and accuracy while juggling content from multiple research areas
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail, meeting deadlines while exercising initiative and collaborating effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Experience using social analytics tools and campaign metrics to assess performance and inform future outreach decisions
• Basic familiarity with Photoshop and other visual-design tools
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or related field
• 2-5 years digital media experience including managing branded social media accounts, ideally at a think tank, research or news organization

Responsibilities

• Craft and share social messaging to make complex research findings engaging and understandable while adhering to institutional voice and brand values of accuracy, humility and rigor
• Manage and execute social media promotion for new and existing content exercising judgment about timing, framing and platform-specific approaches to maximize reach and engagement
• Monitor and engage with audience responses across social media platforms using sound judgment to strengthen Pew Research Center’s brand reputation
• Proactively pitch ideas for social-first storytelling and outreach experiments to enhance the impact and reach of the Center’s work
• Collaborate with communications strategists, researchers, designers and producers to create social-friendly visual content (e.g., social media cards, gifs, social video)
• Support the planning, day-to-day management and measurement of paid marketing campaigns
• Advise Center researchers on how to enhance their audience engagement efforts
• Keep abreast of the latest trends in audience engagement via social media, email and emerging platforms

Benefits

• Affordable, comprehensive health care that includes medical, dental (including adult orthodontia) and vision benefits.
• Generous paid annual leave plan, including a winter break between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
• Employer-paid disability, life insurance and paid family leave plans
• Up to a 12% employer 401(k) contribution, with vesting at the end of the first year.
• A 37.5-hour workweek.
• Health savings or flexible spending account options with employer funding component.
• Flexibility to telework a portion of each week, with an additional four telework “flex weeks” each year for most staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level