Associate Director of Social & Influencer

About Understood

Understood is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference. We raise awareness of the challenges and strengths of people who learn and think differently. Our resources help people navigate challenges, gain confidence, and find support and community so they can thrive. 

Having a shared commitment to our values is a key factor in any hire we make. We have five core values: 

1. Continuously learn.
2. Act with intention.
3. Champion difference.
4. Inspire change.
5. Grow together. 

Come be part of an organization with an entrepreneurial spirit that’s helping to shape the world for difference. Together, we can build a world where everyone can reach their full potential. 

To learn more about Understood, please visit: www.understood.org.

Who you are 

To advance Understood’s mission and further our impact, we are hiring an Associate Director of Social & Influencer, reporting to the Director of Integrated Marketing.

This person will manage a team and set and execute an ongoing strategy for organic social media. This includes defining the approach for Understood’s influencer program and overseeing social listening & insights, community engagement and analytics. This role requires both a strategic thinker and an operator. We are looking for a candidate with experience managing larger creative brand campaigns on social media and someone who is proactive around opportunities to drive engagement.

You are someone who not only has expertise in social media but genuinely loves and is excited by the social landscape and the power it has to build brand and community. You find excitement in the opportunity to bring new strategic approaches to social and influencer at an organization. You can quickly name your favorite creator and favorite brand on social media and explain why. You are currently in a leadership role in social but have experience managing channels and some content creation. You also have experience putting a comprehensive social and influencer strategy together, cascading it throughout an organization with key stakeholders and then executing it across different channels. You’ve managed and negotiated key influencer and creator relationships. And finally, you have strong people management experience.

This is a hybrid role that requires a minimum of three (3) days a week in our NYC office.

What you’ll do

• Own all day-to-day organic social media and influencer workstreams under the guidance of the Director of Integrated Marketing.
• Create and drive an organic social media channel and content strategy across key audiences that builds issue awareness around learning & thinking differences by providing information, validation and eliciting action, that ultimately ladders up to Understood’s organizational goals.
• Own the social media editorial calendar and craft creative briefs for organic social, working closely with the Understood Content Team, which comprises our Creative, Editorial and Production teams 
• Create an influencer strategy in support of organizational goals tied to key initiatives and approach to working with influencers and creators that ladders up to the social media strategy.
• Oversee a process for social listening and insights and set reporting benchmarks, goals and KPIs, in partnership with our analytics team 
• Develop a community management and growth strategy that is grounded in understanding our key audiences’ identity, behavior and how to influence them.
• Lead a Social Media Team that is responsible for posting, monitoring and engaging across numerous social platforms.
• Collaborate across the organization, effectively being able to engage cross-functional stakeholders, teams and senior executives to help drive strategies and campaigns that increase issue awareness and accelerate our brand narrative.

Must-haves 

• Minimum 7 years of experience with deep social expertise and a strong understanding of social platform best practices and features.
• Experience developing and executing successful initiatives and campaigns through social channels and influencer partnerships to drive long-term business goals.
• Experience working across different departments and collaborating with other teams such as creative, production, comms, analytics, etc., to ensure plans are complementary and aligned to clear goals
• Experience with people management and being able to skillfully coach direct reports on their career progression and performance.
• Ability to take initiative, handle multiple projects at once and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Committed to embodying and being a steward of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, digital media, social media, communications or related field.
• Agency experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of analytics and measurement with the ability to foster a culture of learning and optimization, with the ability to draw and communicate actionable insights.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to convey complex ideas.
• Strong proficiency and expertise with all major social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit and LinkedIn. 
• Proficiency with digital marketing/social media/influencer management tools, such as Sprout Social (or equivalent), Tagger (or equivalent), ManyChat, etc.
• Budget management experience.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

The base salary range for this role is minimum $160,000 - $175,000 maximum, depending on years of experience and qualifications. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports wellness for our team members and their families. You can learn more about our benefits and offerings.

Understood.org does not sponsor applicants for work visas or legal permanent residence, including providing assistance with STEM OPT extensions.

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles and ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

Understood is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, stalking, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or that of persons with whom that individual associates, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For additional information on learning and thinking differences, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive function challenges, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues, and more, please visit www.understood.org.

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