Senior Social Media Manager

The role

A full-time senior role leading organic social media at the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan, covering strategy, editorial direction and community engagement on current and emerging platforms. You would report to the Assistant Director, Digital Content, originate ideas and set the social content agenda, working with the in-house Creative team on planned video and photography and producing reactive and same-day content yourself. The role is mainly on site, with hybrid working a possibility.

What you'll do

• Set the museum's organic social strategy, with goals, editorial approach, audience priorities and success measures for each platform
• Decide where effort should grow, shrink or stop, guided by audience behaviour and the museum's aims
• Come up with recurring formats, social-first series, live and event coverage and creator collaborations
• Run the editorial calendar and decide what takes priority
• Turn curatorial, artistic and educational material into posts that suit each platform while staying accurate and true to the artist's intent
• Brief the Creative team on planned video and photography
• Create a process across departments for finding, shaping and prioritising content, and seek out stories and contributors yourself
• Make real-time calls on publishing and responses, including at busy or sensitive moments
• Lead community management and moderation, and take an active part in conversation with the audience
• Build relationships with artists, creators, community partners, cultural voices and colleagues with expertise
• Find, brief and manage outside creators, freelancers and production help, with the Assistant Director, Digital Content
• Work with Marketing on integrated campaigns so organic insight informs paid activity
• Use performance data to guide editorial choices and test new approaches
• Track metrics, audience behaviour and cultural trends, and produce regular social and social listening reports
• Stay current with new platforms, trends, industry developments and research
• Report regularly to Digital Content and Communications leadership on opportunities, risks and patterns

About you

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Five to eight years in social media, digital marketing or content development
• A portfolio showing editorial judgement, platform-native storytelling, audience growth and effective short-form video
• Excellent writing and editing, with command of voice, tone and structure
• Creative and strategic, and a collaborative colleague across the museum
• Experience with publishing, scheduling, reporting, analytics and listening tools such as Sprout Social and Meltwater
• Experience briefing creative teams, producers, creators or freelancers for specific channels
• Well organised, good with time and able to grow in a fast-paced environment
• An understanding of the social media ecosystem and of how brand identities adapt across platforms
• Experience supervising staff
• Trusted with sensitive and confidential information
• Proven editorial judgement in a public-facing institution
• Interest in and knowledge of the arts, especially modern and contemporary American art
• Nice to have: photography, photo editing, video editing and Adobe Photoshop

What's on offer

• Medical, dental and vision cover
• 403(b) retirement plan elections
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter benefits for parking and public transport
• Admission to museums across New York and nationally
• Pet insurance
• Discounted Citi Bike membership

The process

• Apply with a CV and a cover letter describing your interest in arts and culture and what you hope to bring to the role
• The form asks about U.S. work authorisation, whether you can work on site, whether you have worked in the arts, any current or past employment at the Whitney, and your salary requirements

The details

• Salary: $95,000 – $100,000 a year
• Contract: full-time
• Location: New York; primarily on-site at the museum's Manhattan locations, with hybrid possible
• Level: 5–8 years' experience

How to apply

Apply through the online form on the Whitney's careers site with a CV and cover letter.