Social Media Manager

Our client, a global leader in the consumer goods industry, is seeking a freelance Social Media Manager to elevate the presence of several innovation brands across social platforms, with an emphasis on pet care and filtration. This role blends hands‑on content creation with rigorous operational and channel management, ideal for a creator who can both ideate and execute with consistency and precision.

Title:

Social Media Manager (5531-1)

Location:

Greater Chicago Metro Area (Remote/Hybrid)

Schedule:

Full-time hours (40 hours/week)

Employment Type:

Freelance
Travel:
Up to 10% (typically once per quarter or less)

The Social Media Manager will oversee the day‑to‑day execution of the organic social media footprint, from planning through publishing and performance tracking. You will concept, capture, and edit social‑first content; manage calendars and workflows; and coordinate with internal partners and external creators. This is a collaborative, hands‑on role requiring strong creative instincts, comfort in front of the camera, and disciplined operational follow‑through.

• Develop and produce original, platform‑native content for Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook, including short‑form video, imagery, and simple motion/graphic assets.
• Capture content using mobile devices, including pet care and filtration product demonstrations; appear on camera as needed for how‑tos, tips, and product usage content.
• Edit and refine content using tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Cap Cut, or comparable software.
• Write engaging, on‑brand copy for captions, overlays, and post descriptions aligned with brand voice and campaign objectives.
• Manage the end‑to‑end content workflow, from intake and asset requests through approvals, final delivery, and posting.
• Publish and schedule content across channels; manage day‑to‑day posting cadence to ensure consistency and timeliness.
• Support ongoing sourcing, organization, and deployment of UGC, employee‑generated content, and partner assets while maintaining quality and brand compliance.
• Identify and vet creators and influencers that align with brand and campaign priorities.
• Coordinate with external creators in partnership with the influencer team, including managing briefs, deliverable timelines, feedback, and quality assurance.
• Monitor social and cultural trends, emerging formats, and platform tools (including AI‑assisted production) and propose new content ideas and test concepts.

• Build and maintain cross‑channel social content calendars that integrate brand priorities, product launches, and campaign moments.
• Support the planning and execution of organic social campaigns from brief through final reporting.
• Partner closely with social strategy, analytics, and influencer teams to ensure content reflects strategic direction and KPIs.
• Monitor performance metrics and audience behavior; surface insights and recommend optimizations for content formats, cadence, timing, and engagement tactics.
• Stay informed on platform updates, policies, and algorithm changes and translate them into practical recommendations for the team.
• Assist in compiling regular reports, dashboards, and recaps summarizing performance, learnings, and test‑and‑learn opportunities.
• Manage community engagement in partnership with internal teams: respond to comments and DMs within guidelines, and elevate issues as needed.
• Ensure clear, proactive communication with internal stakeholders and senior leaders, providing rationale behind plans and summarizing results.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, design, or a related discipline preferred.
• 2–3+ years of professional experience managing social media for brands, agencies, or publishers.
• Proven experience producing social‑first content (video, photo, and basic graphics) for Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook.
• Strong writing skills with the ability to adapt tone and style across brands and platforms.
• Hands‑on proficiency with creative and editing tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Cap Cut, or similar).
• Portfolio required, showcasing social content that illustrates…