Social Media and Community Lead

THIS IS A HYBRID POSITION REQUIRING 2 DAYS PER WEEK (TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY) EACH WEEK IN-PERSON AT OUR OFFICE LOCATED IN THE STREETERVILLE/MAG MILE AREA OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO, IL.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Social Media & Community Lead serves as the American Osteopathic Association’s primary social media expert responsible for executing and evolving the organization’s social brand presence across platforms. This role activates social channels as a dynamic platform for brand storytelling, community engagement, and influence.

This person blends creative storytelling with real-time community management to build a vibrant and trusted social presence for the AOA. The Social Media & Community Lead collaborates closely with specialists across integrated marketing, creative multimedia, and corporate communications as a content delivery team for high-impact social campaigns that deepen engagement, expand reach, and drive growth.

The role also serves as the organization’s frontline listener across digital channels, translating social conversations and community insights into opportunities for engagement and reputation stewardship. The position plays a central role in cultivating online communities, managing influencer and creator partnerships, and identifying emerging platforms and social trends that advance the AOA mission and voice within the osteopathic ecosystem.

Impact of the Role

This role strengthens the AOA’s social presence as a dynamic engagement engine that expands brand reach, deepens community relationships, and amplifies the voice of osteopathic medicine across digital platforms.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Social Strategy & Platform Leadership

• Execute platform-specific social media strategies aligned with brand, reputation, and audience engagement goals.
• Translate marketing and communications priorities into compelling social campaigns and conversations.
• Monitor and evaluate emerging social platforms and recommend opportunities for AOA participation and growth.
• Ensure brand consistency, voice, and messaging across all social channels.

Community Engagement & Conversation Management

• Lead day-to-day community management across social platforms, fostering meaningful engagement and dialogue with physicians, students, partners, and the public.
• Monitor conversations and respond to audiences in real time while escalating issues when appropriate, including forum-based communities.
• Cultivate online communities that reinforce trust, relevance, and advocacy for the AOA brand.
• Partner with corporate communications to monitor reputational issues and support response strategies when needed.

Content Activation

• Execute social content aligned with the AOA brand content strategy, including video, graphics, short-form storytelling, and interactive formats.
• Manage editorial calendars and scheduling across social channels.
• Collaborate with creative, multimedia, and integrated marketing teams to produce engaging campaign content.

Influencer & Creator Partnerships

• In partnership with the corporate communications specialist, identify, cultivate, and co-manage relationships with physician influencers and creators.
• Activate influencers across social campaigns, events, and key moments.

Social Listening & Audience Intelligence

• Monitor social conversations, sentiment, and emerging issues across platforms to provide real-time insights.
• Identify trends, concerns, and opportunities that inform marketing, communications, and organizational strategy.
• Surface insights from social listening to internal stakeholders to help shape messaging, campaigns, and reputation management.

Platform Innovation

• Evaluate emerging social platforms, formats, and technologies to identify opportunities for audience growth and engagement.
• Lead experimentation with new formats such as short-form video, live streaming, community forums, and social storytelling.
• Pilot new channels and engagement models that support the AOA’s evolving digital presence.

Analytics & Performance Optimization

• Monitor and analyze social media performance metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and audience engagement.
• Identify insights that inform future content and platform strategy.
• Track key KPIs including reach, engagement, community growth, share of voice, and campaign performance.
• Partner with marketing analytics teams to optimize both organic and paid social performance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Special Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of social media marketing and platforms.
• Proficiency in social media management tools and analytics including AI-powered content creation and scheduling.
• Exceptional creative skills (writing, design, editing, and communication skills).
• Knowledge of web design and development, SEO, and CRO best practices.
• Proficiency in utilizing analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hootsuite)
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint
• Proven influencer discovery and relationship management
• Strong project management skills

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, advertising or another related field preferred

Licensure or Certification:

• N/A

Experience:

Mandatory

• 6+ years of social media management and digital marketing experience
• 3+ years influencer marketing experience

Preferred Experience

• Experience working in healthcare, professional associations, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience setting up social platform storefronts.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Physical:

• This is a hybrid position requiring an in-office presence on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week.
• This role involves prolonged sitting, repetitive computer use, and screen time.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

Mental

• Work is performed in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to quickly adapt to stressful situations requiring the ability to exercise good judgement and oral and written communication.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

American Osteopathic Association is unable to sponsor work visas at this time.