We are seeking a creative, data-driven, and highly organized Social Media Manager to lead organic content creation and paid social strategy for our iconic character IPs, including POPEYE, OLIVE OYL, FLASH GORDON, THE PHANTOM, among others. The ideal candidate will have a passion for storytelling, a deep understanding of online trends, and experience managing branded social media accounts. This role will oversee a global social media ecosystem of more than 10 MILLION FOLLOWERS and play a key role in growing our online presence, deepening audience engagement, and expanding the reach of our beloved brands across platforms.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Content Creation
- Develop engaging, creative content including images, videos, and copy that brings our iconic character brands to life across social media platforms.
- Manage content calendars from planning through publishing, ensuring content aligns with each brand's voice, business objectives, and key cultural moments.
Social Media Management
- Oversee the day-to-day management of a global social media ecosystem with more than 10 million followers.
- Manage publishing schedules, monitor channels, and ensure a consistent, high-quality presence across all platforms.
Brand Strategy & Growth
- Develop and execute social strategies that grow audiences, increase engagement, and support broader business goals.
- Conduct annual social media audits and present strategic recommendations based on audience insights, competitive analysis, and platform performance.
- Identify opportunities for creator collaborations, bartered partnerships, and new content formats that expand reach and visibility.
Community Engagement
- Engage with followers, respond to comments, and foster an active, passionate community around our iconic character brands.
Analytics & Optimization
- Track, analyze, and report on monthly social media performance, using insights to optimize content, campaigns, and overall strategy.
- Manage paid social campaigns, including boosting strategies, audience targeting, and performance reporting.
Innovation & Trends
- Stay current on platform updates, social trends, emerging technologies, and AI tools that can improve the content creation process and overall performance.
- Monitor the competitive landscape to identify new opportunities and keep our brands culturally relevant.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Licensing, Brand Marketing, and other internal teams to support integrated brand initiatives.
- Manage creative agencies, influencer opportunities, and other external partners as needed.
- Provide social media expertise for presentations, sales materials, and other Brand Marketing initiatives.
WHO YOU ARE:
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience managing social media for brands, preferably in entertainment, consumer products, licensing, or character IP.
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.
- Proven experience developing and executing successful organic social media strategies across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, and emerging channels.
- Experience creating compelling social content, with proficiency in design and video editing tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar platforms.
- Familiarity with paid social media campaigns, including Meta Ads Manager and boosting strategies.
- Strong understanding of social media analytics and the ability to translate performance data into actionable insights.
- Excellent writing, storytelling, and communication skills, with a strong understanding of brand voice and audience engagement.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Curious, creative, and eager to experiment with new content formats, emerging platforms, and AI-powered tools.
- Collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working across multiple teams while managing external partners when needed.
- Passion for pop culture, storytelling, and iconic entertainment brands.
Nice to Have
- Experience managing social media for licensed brands, entertainment properties, or consumer products.
- Experience with influencer or creator partnerships.
- Photography or videography experience.
- Experience with social listening or community management tools.
Compensation and Work Environment
The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $90,000 dependent on experience, transferable skills, and other factors permitted by law. This role is based in New York, NY and follows a hybrid in-office presence 3 days per week.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Our Benefits
At Hearst Newspapers we not only support our employees through personal and professional development, but we also believe in promoting each individual’s physical, financial and emotional wellbeing (and that of their family). Our industry-leading benefits include:
Physical Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with matching program in most markets.
Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
Paid Parental Leave: Support for growing families, with paid leave for new parents.
Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
Emotional Wellbeing: Be your best self with our mental wellness benefits.
LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for every individual’s unique needs.
Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Helping you along every step of your family journey.
Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: We care about your pets, too – helping you keep them happy and healthy.
About King Features
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products programs in the industry, King Features’ portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as Popeye®, Cuphead, Flash Gordon™, The Phantom™, Hägar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince Valiant® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced the Emmy-nominated series The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation, which debuted in 2022. As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey®, Mutts™, and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons, and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.
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Skills Required
- 3+ years of experience managing social media for brands, preferably in entertainment, consumer products, licensing, or character IP.
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.
- Proven experience developing and executing organic social media strategies across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, and emerging channels.
- Experience creating compelling social content with proficiency in design and video editing tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar platforms.
- Familiarity with paid social media campaigns, including Meta Ads Manager and boosting strategies.
- Strong understanding of social media analytics and ability to translate performance data into actionable insights.
- Excellent writing, storytelling, and communication skills with strong understanding of brand voice and audience engagement.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Curious, creative, and eager to experiment with new content formats, emerging platforms, and AI-powered tools.
- Collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working across multiple teams while managing external partners.
- Passion for pop culture, storytelling, and iconic entertainment brands.
- Experience managing social media for licensed brands, entertainment properties, or consumer products.
- Experience with influencer or creator partnerships.
- Photography or videography experience.
- Experience with social listening or community management tools.
Hearst Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hearst and has not been reviewed or approved by Hearst.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical plan choice, full in-network preventive coverage, dental and vision, telemedicine, prescription coverage, and fertility resources. Mental-health resources and other wellbeing services (e.g., therapy sessions, crisis support, virtual physical therapy, and chronic-condition programs) further strengthen the health offering.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as meaningful through a 401(k) plan with company matching and Hearst covering plan administration fees. Performance bonuses are also noted as available in some roles, adding an additional rewards component beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits include paid holidays, paid sick days, and vacation time with a commonly cited annual range, alongside paid parental leave and family medical leave. A remote work program and flexibility signals are also included as part of the overall rewards experience.
Hearst Insights
What We Do
Hearst is a leading global, diversified media, information and services company with more than 360 businesses. Its major interests include ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; transportation assets including CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; 33 television stations such as WCVB-TV in Boston and KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California, which reach a combined 19 percent of U.S. viewers; newspapers such as the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany, New York); more than 300 magazines around the world, including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Men's Health and Car and Driver, and digital services businesses such as iCrossing and KUBRA; and investments in emerging digital entertainment companies such as Complex Networks.
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