Bennington College is seeking a Social Media Manager to join Beyond Plastics as the team enters an exciting phase with multiple new initiatives and events, a growing advocacy and organizing constituency, and the publishing of their first book, The Problem with Plastic. The Social Media Manager of Beyond Plastics will create and implement a social media plan to promote the work of Beyond Plastics, with the primary goals of raising awareness, increasing engagement, and supporting advocacy and fundraising. This position will be responsible for the creation, integration, and implementation of a broad range of social media activities and correlating content relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership.

The Social Media Manager will drive broader awareness, inspire grassroots advocacy, and increase financial support and volunteerism for the organization. This role will be instrumental to Beyond Plastics' comprehensive social media strategy, with a primary focus on increasing follower engagement and overall audience growth across all platforms.  

The ideal candidate will have strong storytelling and focused messaging skills with a flair for visual creativity, excellent written and visual communication skills, and the ability to communicate to varied audiences via digital content and social media. 

Responsibilities

Strategy & Content Management:

• Work with the Digital Director to develop a comprehensive social media strategy, create and manage a corresponding plan, and review the organization’s existing social media content calendar to determine how it can be improved/expanded/streamlined.
• Work with the Digital Director to align social media and email marketing calendars.
• Lead the creation and co-authoring of compelling, organization-wide social media content (including policy, advocacy, organizing, and promotional storytelling) for all platforms, including but not limited to LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, and X. 
• Source, manage, and produce a database of multimedia content, including social media videos.
• Support fundraising campaigns in consultation with the Development team.
• Support advocacy campaigns in consultation with the Digital Director and Policy team.

Audience Engagement & Optimization:

• Significantly increase the number of followers and, critically, improve follower engagement.
• Drive email and SMS lead generation across all platforms in consultation with the Digital Director.
• Apply social media marketing best practices to optimize communications and content.
• Actively manage community interaction by replying to social media messages, gauging new accounts to follow, and fostering collaborations.
• Identify key messages and target audiences through research of internal data and external trends/best practices.
• Optimize posts to increase visibility and capture data.
• Manage all social media ad spending, including proposing buys, monitoring results to revise content and shift resources, as needed, and providing thorough reporting on all ad dollars.

Performance & Analytics:

• Track, analyze, and communicate social media metrics and analytics to the Digital Director and leadership team monthly, expanding on and optimizing the existing reporting dashboard and providing clear, actionable advice regarding changes to social media investments, content, and priorities.
• Continuously analyze data to improve engagement and overall performance.
• Track annual ROI on all social media recruits to the organization’s email and SMS lists in collaboration with the Digital Director.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion and acceptable results of a background check. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in marketing, English, journalism, communications, or related area.
• Minimum of five (5) years of digital marketing or social media/branding, or general communications experience required, preferably within a non-profit setting, demonstrating success in building and sustaining an audience and a community across various social media channels.
• A solid understanding of social media, the significance of community, how to engage with people appropriately and effectively, and how to curate conversations and goodwill. 
• Demonstrated success in placing and managing digital ads and in social media targeting. 
• A strong interest in protecting the environment and public health from plastic pollution.
• Strong technology orientation and extensive knowledge of social media/digital publishing platforms, analytics, and emerging technologies. Proficiency in areas including but not limited to; Google Workspace, Canva, Squarespace, Buffer, and social media platforms. SEO knowledge and website management experience preferred. 
• Effective trouble-shooting skills and good judgment.
• Proficient in social media analysis, with the ability to deliver complex information to a general audience.
• Familiarity with or ability to learn Action Network, Beyond Plastics CRM for email, SMS, advocacy, and fundraising.
• A demonstrated commitment to social equity and racial justice, and an interest in understanding the connections between plastics, climate, economic, and racial justice.

Compensation: The annual salary for this position is $85,000.

ABOUT BEYOND PLASTICS

Founded in 2019 by Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics is a growing project housed at Bennington College with the mission to end plastic pollution everywhere. Currently, a team of 16 deeply committed individuals working remotely, Beyond Plastics focuses on policy and advocacy, building a grassroots movement, and educating the public to further its mission. You will be an employee of Bennington College, working only on issues related to Beyond Plastics.

The College

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. 

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities, as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values.  The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.