Social Media Director

WPP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Food Group, backed by WPP, is seeking a Director of Social Media to lead strategic, end-to-end social programs for iconic food and beverage brands. You’ll shape the team, craft data-driven strategies, and drive meaningful growth across platforms.

You’ll own profitability, guide creative discussions with clients, and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact campaigns, while mentoring talent and pushing for innovative, viral ideas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in social media marketing.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience.
• Deep fluency with native platforms and management tools.
• Strong experience planning, implementing, and reporting paid campaigns.
• Familiarity translating creative feedback for designers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and empower a team of social media managers and creators.
• Own social practice profitability via scoping and resource allocation.
• Present to clients with data, insights, and ROI justifications.
• Bridge Client Services, Creative, and Media to streamline execution.
• Occasionally execute tactical work like content calendars and community management.
• Develop and implement social media strategies across multiple clients.

Skills

Executive Presentation

Client Management

Delegation

Budgeting

Analytics

Excel Proficiency

Time Management

Communication Skills

Collaboration

Google Workspace

Education

Bachelor's in Marketing/Communications

Tools

Sprout Social

Emplifi

Sprinklr

Later

Infegy Atlas

Asana

Advantage

Google Workspace

Job description

We are The Food Group-the F&B industry's premier marketing agency, backed by WPP. We love food. We love our clients. And we love turning crave-worthy brands into household names.

As our Director of Social Media, you will hold a pivotal leadership role—strategically developing and executing end-to-end social media strategies that elevate brand awareness, spark community engagement, and drive real business growth for iconic food and beverage clients.

What we're looking for: An agency-seasoned leader who builds the tracks, not just runs the trains. Someone who lives at the intersection of creative brilliance, sharp analytics, and culinary obsession. You'll combine a deep mastery of evolving platforms and emerging trends with outstanding leadership skills to guide a dynamite team, launch culturally viral concepts, and put our clients on the tip of everyone's tongue.

So what do you think? Interested? Are you ready to bring your deep understanding of the ever-evolving digital and social media landscapes, think strategically about where the space is moving long term, and push us to be more innovative? If so, let's talk.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead, empower, and aggressively delegate to a team of social media managers and creators, shifting out of the day-to-day weeds to focus on high-level strategy and team development.
• Demonstrate radical ownership of social practice profitability, including accurate scoping, resource allocation, and managing team utilization to reduce non-billable hours.
• Command the room in client presentations and gracefully navigate client pushback by defending recommendations with data, audience insights, and ROI, rather than logistical or scope constraints.
• Act as a strategic bridge between Client Services, Creative, and Media teams, dismantling silos and streamlining review processes to ensure agile, high-quality execution.
• When necessary, operates as a "player-coach," willing and able to jump in and execute tactical work (like building content calendars, community management, or boosting posts) as needs dictate to ensure client deliverables.
• Develop and implement comprehensive social media strategies across key platforms for multiple clients in food and beverage categories.
• Collaborate with internal teams to plan and produce original photo, video, and graphic content, nimbly leveraging a mix of in-house studio and external freelance resources.
• Monitor, track, and analyze the performance of organic content and paid campaigns, providing reports on key metrics to internal teams.
• Plan and implement paid social media strategies across multiple platforms from awareness through to conversion.
• Lead the development of impactful community management strategies, maintaining highly engaged community responsiveness.
• Provide regular insights and recommendations on emerging platforms, tools, and technologies (including AI integration for operational efficiency).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Executive Presentation & Client Management
• Delegation & Team Empowerment
• Agency Scoping, Budgeting & Resource Management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel knowledge
• Perform under strong demands in a fast-paced environment
• Effective time management and organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Work independently as well as in a team environment
• Experience working in Google Workspace, Business Apps & Collaboration Tools

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in social media marketing is required. Additional experience in the food and beverage industry is preferred.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience, with a proven track record of growing and mentoring direct reports.
• Deep platform fluency and hands-on experience with native social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Pinterest, YouTube, etc.) and management tools (Sprout Social, Emplifi, Sprinklr, or Later), ensuring you can seamlessly shift into execution mode when needed.
• Strong experience planning, implementing, optimizing, and reporting on paid campaigns. (Note: The paid media team manages all paid campaigns.)
• Proficiency with social media listening tools such as Infegy Atlas or with the listening tools within suites such as Sprout Social.
• Familiarity with design and art direction principles with the ability to speak fluently in collaborating and providing feedback to creatives.
• Experience in coordinating projects and deadlines and proficiency in agency project management and financial routing software (e.g., Asana, Advantage).

How We Hire

We believe the interview process is an opportunity to learn about each other and if there is a cultural and personality fit. To that end, you can expect approximately three conversational-style interview rounds with cross-functional team members. Additionally, we'll conduct a portfolio review and a skills assignment, where we get to learn more about you.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and difference power creativity, and our people's creativity is our greatest advantage. Our mission is to build and foster an inclusive culture of belonging at The Food Group and across WPP—a culture where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected and is given an equal opportunity to thrive.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.