Communications/Social Media Manager

Air & Space Forces Assoc•Arlington, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Social Media Manager is a dynamic, self-starter who thrives at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and marketing. This role is ideal for someone who thinks big, executes with precision, and constantly keeps a pulse on what’s trending across platforms. The Social Media Manager will tell Air & Space Forces Association stories on multiple social media platforms, leveraging our different brand identities, including AFA itself, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Air & Space Forces Magazine, CyberPatriot, StellarXplorers, the Doolittle Leadership Center, and United Forces and Families. Our goal is to expand our reach and visibility, and you will play a primary role in doing that. The Air & Space Forces Association is on a mission to reach 1 million members. Our new Social Media Manager will build and execute campaigns to showcase AFA's diverse programs in a way that engages new audiences, turning them into members. From our premier professional development opportunities to our world-class think tank and professional magazine to our education programs that shape and inspire the next generation of Airmen and Guardians, there is no shortage of stories to tell. It's the Social Media Manager’s responsibility to come up with new and creative ways to market AFA. S/he will be part of a dynamic and multi-faceted team of writers, editors, visual storytellers, marketers, and creators. The Social Media Manager will develop and execute social strategies that grow our audience, amplify our voice, drive meaningful engagement, and align with AFA’s key advocacy objectives. S/he also will monitor trends to stay ahead of the algorithm and understand that what worked last year might not work tomorrow.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.
3+ years of professional experience managing social media platforms for a brand or organization.
A strong portfolio of high-performing content that demonstrates a refined blend of copywriting and visual design
Must be a creative, flexible thinker and self-starter who can tackle both complex, technical, and human/emotional story telling.
Proficiency with social media tools and platforms (e.g., Sprout Social, Publer, Later, Meta Business Suite).
Experience with analytics tools (Google Analytics, native platform insights).
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work independently.
Proficient in graphic design, video and audio editing (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut).
Ability and commitment to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Ability to deploy sound judgment, sort through information, and curate effectively.

Nice To Haves

Experience and/or interest in the Air Force, Space Force, or U.S. military, strongly encouraged.
Experience with marketing, paid social campaigns, including audience targeting, ad creation, budget allocation, and performance tracking highly valuable.
Preferred experience working with paid social advertising and sponsored content.
Familiarity with SEO and content marketing.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage tailored social media strategies for multiple brands and multiple platforms while ensuring alignment with each brand’s voice, goals, and audience
Plan, create, and schedule engaging, platform-specific content across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and emerging platforms as required.
Identify opportunities for content synergy and cross-promotion between brands to maximize reach and impact
Maintain content calendar, including current social campaigns as well as historical and/or repurposed content
Write and edit compelling copy that reflects each brand’s tone and messaging
Create and edit videos that connect AFA subject matter experts and content with the most pressing airpower, spacepower, and national security issues facing our nation
Collaborate with AFA program leads, creative talent, and stakeholders to ensure unified storytelling and brand visibility across all content
Engage with followers, respond to comments/messages, and cultivate community across all AFA social channels
Manage influencer partnerships and user-generated content across brand channels as appropriate
Identify audience interests and behaviors. Tailor tone, visuals, and messaging to suit each platform’s user base
Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for campaign performance across platforms, aligned with business and brand goals
Analyze performance metrics and translate insights into actionable improvements and strategy refinements.
Establish reporting frameworks to monitor engagement, reach, impressions, follower growth, conversions, and content performance
Develop weekly, monthly, and quarterly social media performance reports with clear insights and actionable recommendations
Use analytics tools (e.g., Publer, native platform insights, Google Analytics) to evaluate content effectiveness and campaign ROI
Translate data into visual dashboards and executive-friendly summaries for internal stakeholders
Monitor competitor performance and benchmark against industry standards to identify areas for growth
Stay current on social media trends, tools, and best practices to inform strategy and ensure innovation.
Work with staff and volunteers to identify and report stories of interest to various audience sectors; distribute content appropriate to that audience, choosing platform and messaging carefully in collaboration with others.
Draft and publish emails, video scripts, press releases, etc., and other duties as assigned.