Lead Social Media Strategist (Remote)

Placements24; Bellville; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level compensation

Fully remote work

Private health insurance

Generous paid time off

Executive leadership training

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Social Media Strategist to spearhead online community engagement and brand advocacy in a fully remote role across South Africa. You will lead a team of social media professionals, craft cutting-edge strategies, and drive measurable business outcomes through data‑driven execution.

The role emphasizes leadership, strategic thinking, and expertise in paid social campaigns, analytics, and crisis communications.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in social media strategy and management, with leadership experience.
• Proven ability to develop multi‑platform social media strategies that drive business growth.
• Strong knowledge of social media analytics tools and native platform analytics.
• Expertise in paid social media advertising and budget management.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and remote team management skills.
• Experience in crisis communication and reputation management on social media.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive social media strategies aligned with business objectives and brand identity.
• Lead and mentor a team of social media managers and content creators.
• Oversee content creation and curation across all relevant social platforms.
• Define KPIs, track performance, and generate insightful reports with recommendations.
• Manage social media advertising budgets, optimizing campaigns for reach, engagement, and conversion.
• Monitor trends, industry news, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats.
• Develop and maintain robust community management guidelines and engagement protocols.
• Collaborate with marketing, PR, and product teams for integrated campaigns and brand messaging.
• Act as the primary contact for escalated social media issues and crisis communications.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Crisis communication

Remote team management

Education

Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media

Tools

Sprout Social

Hootsuite

Brandwatch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the digital commerce sector, is seeking an exceptional Lead Social Media Strategist to spearhead their online community engagement and brand advocacy efforts. This is a fully remote position, offering unparalleled flexibility and the chance to influence strategy from anywhere in the nation. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader, adept at crafting and implementing cutting-edge social media strategies that drive brand awareness, customer loyalty, and measurable business outcomes. You will lead a team of talented social media professionals, foster a culture of creativity and data-driven execution, and ensure our client remains at the forefront of digital communication. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who is passionate about building engaged online communities and transforming social media presence into a powerful growth engine for a dynamic e-commerce business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive social media strategies aligned with overall business objectives and brand identity.


• Lead and mentor a team of social media managers and content creators, providing guidance and fostering professional development.


• Oversee the creation and curation of high-quality, engaging content across all relevant social media platforms.


• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for social media, track performance, and generate insightful reports with actionable recommendations.


• Manage social media advertising budgets, optimizing campaigns for maximum reach, engagement, and conversion.


• Monitor social media trends, industry news, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and potential threats.


• Develop and maintain robust community management guidelines and engagement protocols.


• Collaborate with marketing, PR, and product teams to ensure integrated campaign execution and consistent brand messaging.


• Act as the primary point of contact for escalated social media issues and crisis communications.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.


• Minimum of 8+ years of experience in social media strategy and management, with a significant portion in a leadership capacity.


• Demonstrated success in developing and executing multi-platform social media strategies that have driven significant business growth.


• Deep understanding of social media analytics tools (e.g., Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Brandwatch) and native platform analytics.


• Expertise in paid social media advertising and budget management.


• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and manage a remote team.


• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.


• Proven experience in crisis communication and reputation management on social media.


• Experience in the e-commerce sector is a significant advantage.

Benefits

As the Lead Social Media Strategist , you will be rewarded with a highly competitive executive-level salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Our client provides a fully remote work environment, promoting a healthy work-life balance and the freedom to work from any location.

You will have significant autonomy to shape the social media direction of the company, access to leading-edge tools and resources, and opportunities for executive leadership training and development.

We offer generous paid time off, private health insurance, and a supportive culture that champions innovation and collaboration.

This role offers a unique chance to lead impactful strategies in a fast-paced e-commerce setting, driving significant brand growth and achieving professional fulfillment.