Digital Content Strategist

Summary of Position:

SURJ is seeking a Digital Content Strategist to sharpen our digital strategies to bring millions of white people into alignment with movements for justice and polarize them away from the far Right. This position will drive our social media strategy across SURJ’s various audiences and organizing projects – from local projects in the rural South to our national electoral work – to work towards our organizational goals. Our ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about stopping an authoritarian takeover of the federal government in 2024, and building a base to win real change beyond. We are looking for someone who tracks both the news cycle and internet trends with an excitement to take risks and experiment with creative tactics for engagement and narrative change.

This position will be supervised by the Communications Director. This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to negotiations for a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES — Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

Priority 1: Drive social media strategy (40%)

• Assess SURJ’s social media presence across our platforms and work with the Communications Director to develop strategies to achieve our organizational goals
• Work with organizers to develop campaign and program-specific social media plans, with emphasis on our Southern organizing projects, to drive recruitment into programs and shift priority narratives
• Work with the communications department and organizing teams to identify polarizing moments in public discourse and implement a rapid response social media strategy to recruit new members and mobilize our messages.
• Refine the brand identity of SURJ through our social media channels so that our priority work in Southern working-class communities and the spirit of organizing work is reflected in our external brand
• Track, evaluate, and pivot the plan: create annual social media reports with relevant data and recommendations

Priority 2: Manage content creation (25%)

• Manage SURJ National’s existing social media platforms and grow our presence on new ones
• Ensure social media presence utilizes SURJ’s branding, tone, and visual identity
• Work with the Communications Associate to create compelling content
• Manage contracted support for social media (video editors, graphic designers, etc.)
• Manage special narrative projects on our digital channels

Priority 3: Reach new audiences (25%)

• Working with the Communications Director and organizing teams, build strategies to reach people beyond the choir using digital channels to win campaigns and grow our list and drive organizational narratives in a broader digital landscape

Priority 4: Participate in SURJ team (10%)

• Ensure an active and timely response on all communications (email, phone, texts, messaging apps)
• Attend weekly virtual meetings with staff, members, and allies
• Participate in and support preparation for in-person staff meetings, Leadership Team meetings, and other events as necessary
• Compliance with SURJ remote working policies and procedures (calendaring, availability online, response time to communications, receipts, etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 years experience managing online grassroots digital campaigns and/or social media programs for political or social justice campaigns or nonprofits. Strong preference for experience in a national organization.
• Experience with using data and analytics from social media, email, website, and other communications platforms to help set strategy
• Experience working with grassroots leaders and building community in a social justice environment, and sensitivity to a broad range of races, class backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and identities
• Experience working with celebrities and online influencers in a social justice setting preferred
• Alignment with the core values and strategy of SURJ and a heart for organizing in white communities

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS:

• Strong visual design intuition and familiarity with Canva (Photoshop/Illustrator a plus)
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to consult and coordinate among multiple teams to produce content that is engaging and powerful
• Experience navigating competing interests, multiple stakeholders, conflicting rules, a range of possible solutions, and other complex elements
• Excellent written and verbal communication with the skill and desire to write compelling digital content. Experience writing for a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
• Willingness to adjust hours to occasionally work on weekends or after hours based on rapid response moments.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for campaigns and group meetings, up to six times per year.

BENEFITS:

• Annual Salary: $70,000
• Health, dental and vision insurance including available employer contribution toward spouse, children and family coverage.
• 401K retirement plan with up to 6% employer match after 1 year of service
• Twenty (20) days paid time off per year (prorated).
• Twelve (12) days of sick leave per year (prorated).
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays per year.
• Three additional paid weeks off for organization-wide shutdown summer & winter breaks
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Employer paid life insurance.
• All staff work remote from home.
• Monthly technology support reimbursement (internet, phone).
• Professional development resources each year.

TO APPLY: To apply, fill out this form and upload your resume and cover letter. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by August 25. Applicants that previously applied for the Social Media Strategist position do not need to reapply.

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