Paid Social Media Intern

* Open to local candidates who will work out of our West Des Moines, IA office, as well as remote candidates
* About SA - Our People
Think of the world’s most talented creative thinkers. Problem-solvers. Strategists. At Strategic America, we don’t bring on anything less. The way we see it, if you’re going to make the best work of your life, you may as well do it with people you like.

At SA, we’ve always been passionate about our employees. Since 2021, we’re also employee owned with participation in an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership ensures SA remains independent and allows our talented team members to share in the company’s success. With each year of employment, SAers build equity in the company, becoming fully vested after six years.

Our employee-led, leadership-supported ERGs celebrate the diversity of our team, foster inclusivity and belonging, and create a space to connect to each other. Through connections and understanding, we build a stronger and more dynamic team and help every person reach their personal peak.

About SA – The Company
When you join SA, you join a strategic team (yes, it’s in our name!) who is also wired for action. Authenticity is our focus, and every day we help our clients propel their potential. If you’re ready for a fast-paced environment that challenges you, supports you, and rewards you, then look no further. Our clients rely on us and we rely on each other to go the extra mile, to hold ourselves accountable because we’re better together and we know we can always find the better way.

We strive to create meaning in work and provide more than just a job; a place to belong and grow. As we leap toward our goals that will shape our future, our employee experience is unique. Flexibility, connection, inclusiveness, and collaboration support our well-being and help us be our best. Because when you feel like you belong, work is no longer work – it's personal.

We believe better employees lead to better results.

Join us as we transform your career!

About the Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical SEM & Programmatic Vendor Intern to support our Paid Media team in executing and optimizing digital advertising campaigns across search and programmatic platforms.

This role is ideal for someone interested in performance marketing, data analysis, and emerging ad technologies (AI, automation, audience targeting). You’ll gain hands-on experience working with enterprise-level campaigns and industry tools while learning how paid media drives measurable business outcomes.

As a Paid Social Media Intern, you will be a part of...

Campaign Setup & Execution

• Assist in building and launching campaigns across:
  • Meta Ads Manager (Facebook & Instagram)
  • Pinterest Ads
  • Snapchat Ads
• Support campaign structure development (objectives, audiences, placements)
• Help implement tracking (pixels, conversion events, UTMs)

Creative & Messaging Support

• Assist in organizing and trafficking creative assets (video, static, carousel)
• Partner with internal teams to ensure ads align with campaign goals
• Learn how creative impacts performance across platforms
• Help QA ads for accuracy before launch

Data & Reporting

• Pull performance data from platforms and tools
• Assist in reporting on key metrics such as:
  • Cost-per-lead (CPL)
  • Click-through rate (CTR)
  • Conversion rate (CVR)
  • Engagement rate
• Help identify trends and performance insights

Optimization & Testing

• Support campaign optimizations, including:
  • Budget reallocations
  • Audience refinement (lookalikes, interest targeting)
  • Creative testing (A/B testing formats and messaging)
• Assist in analyzing which creatives and audiences drive the best results

Platform & Vendor Coordination

• Work with internal teams to:
  • Secure access to ad accounts
  • Ensure proper pixel and event tracking
  • Troubleshoot campaign delivery issues
• Learn best practices for scaling campaigns efficiently across platforms

Emerging Trends & AI Exposure

• Gain exposure to platform automation tools:
  • Meta Advantage+ campaigns
  • Algorithmic audience expansion
• Assist in testing new features and identifying opportunities to improve performance
• Stay up to date on social platform trends and ad innovations

What You'll Learn...

• How paid…