Social Media Manager

Sightline Media Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in Washington D.C. is seeking a Social Media Manager to drive engagement across major platforms. The role involves developing a cohesive strategy, managing various social accounts, and producing engaging content within the defense and technology sectors. The ideal candidate will possess a degree in a relevant field and several years of management experience, showcasing a proven ability to grow online communities. The salary range for this position is between $80,000 and $100,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of professional social media management experience, preferably within a news organization.
• Demonstrated success in creating high engagement rates across multiple platforms.
• Strong understanding of business, technology, and defense topics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive social media strategy.
• Manage and grow all official social media accounts.
• Track and analyze social media performance metrics.

Skills

Social media strategy development

Community engagement

Content production

Analytics tracking

Writing and editing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field

Tools

Sprout Social

Hootsuite

Adobe Premiere

Canva

Job description

Sightline Media Group (a leading publisher in defense, government, and technology news) and Sunset Publishing (a preeminent voice in Western lifestyle) are seeking a creative, strategic, and data‑driven Social Media Manager to lead and elevate their combined social presence across all major platforms.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of the digital media landscape, a proven track record of building and engaging diverse online communities, and expertise in business and technology news. This role is crucial for executing a cohesive, multi‑platform content strategy that drives brand awareness, audience growth, engagement, and loyalty for both distinct media brands.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive, cohesive social media strategy aligned with both Sightline Media Group’s and Sunset Publishing’s distinct editorial and business objectives.
• Manage and grow all official social media accounts across major platforms, including X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and emerging channels.
• Develop and maintain a robust content calendar to ensure consistent, timely, and strategic posting across all accounts.
• Manage paid social media campaigns, including audience targeting, execution, optimization, and budget stewardship, as needed.

Content Production & Distribution

• Source, produce, edit, and distribute compelling, platform‑specific content—including text, images, short‑form video, audiograms, and infographics—that translates complex topics (defense, technology, business) into accessible and engaging formats.
• Collaborate closely with editorial, video, marketing, and product teams to amplify priority stories, investigative projects, and company initiatives.
• Partner with Sightline’s sister media brands to co‑create, coordinate, and cross‑distribute content, maximizing reach and impact across multiple publisher networks.

Analytics & Community

• Track and analyze social media performance metrics to identify key trends, measure ROI, optimize content, and inform future strategic planning.
• Monitor social channels for breaking news, trending conversations, competitive activity, and audience feedback. Respond promptly and professionally to foster a healthy online community.
• Stay current on emerging social media trends, formats, tools, and best practices to ensure both brands remain at the forefront of digital innovation.
• Identify and engage with key opinion leaders, influencers, and industry analysts in the relevant business, defense, and technology sectors to expand credibility and audience reach.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of professional social media management experience, preferably within a news organization or complex business/tech‑focused media environment.
• Demonstrated success in implementing strategies that result in measurable growth and high engagement rates across multiple social platforms.

Technical & Creative Proficiency

• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with a strong command of grammar, tone, and the ability to adapt voice for platform‑specific audiences.
• Proficiency with social media management and analytics tools (e.g., Sprout Social, Hootsuite, CrowdTangle, native platform analytics).
• Experience with video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro) and graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Photoshop) is strongly preferred.

Organizational & Sector Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the business, technology, and/or defense sectors, with the ability to translate complex topics into engaging, social‑friendly formats.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven newsroom environment and efficiently manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.

In compliance with Washington, D.C. pay transparency law, the salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000 annually. This range reflects the minimum and maximum base compensation the company reasonably expects to pay at the time of posting and may vary based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity: As set forth in Sightline Media Group’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.