📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Paid Social Media Strategist
🔹 Company: Hearst Newspapers
🔹 Location: Norwalk, CT (with flexibility for Houston, San Antonio, or Austin)
🔹 Job Type: Full time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising
🔹 Date Posted: June 24, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (with flexibility for remote work)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Executing ad campaigns across social media platforms, with a primary focus on Facebook and Instagram
- Optimizing campaigns to drive customer acquisition, engagement, and retention
- Collaborating cross-functionally with product, UX, and other marketing teams
- Providing thought leadership and identifying new advertising opportunities
- Working directly with clients to optimize campaigns and provide reporting
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of paid social media strategies and a proven track record in executing successful campaigns. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a fast-paced agency setting and be comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Plan, build, and execute direct response and brand ad buys across social platforms, with a primary focus on Facebook and Instagram
✅ Understand key tracking components and set up for attribution on campaigns
✅ Develop and execute A/B testing programs to improve campaign performance
✅ Develop paid acquisition plans and provide regular reporting on progress towards key milestones and risks
✅ Work cross-functionally with product, UX, and the rest of the marketing organization
✅ Use measurement, tracking, and management platforms to produce analytical insights and manage day-to-day Paid Social operations
✅ Provide thought leadership to help identify new opportunities and other emerging advertising platforms
✅ Work with Business Intelligence/Analytics teams on Paid Social dashboard development and KPIs monitoring
✅ Provide support for additional marketing channels as needed for promotional and seasonal campaigns
✅ Strategize with sales teams for effective launches to customer campaigns
✅ Work directly with clients on reporting, troubleshooting, and optimizing campaigns across multiple networks
✅ Present to stakeholders around new innovations and campaign statuses
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to work across multiple teams. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and have a proven track record in optimizing campaigns to drive results.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Marketing or Communications
Experience: 2-3 years in social media marketing with a focus on paid social campaigns
Required Skills:
- Proficient in Facebook Ad Manager and Instagram Ads
- Strong analytical skills and competency in speaking to metrics across multiple reporting systems
- Creativity and willingness to think outside the box
- Ability to receive constructive criticism and learn from feedback
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work across multiple teams and clients with ease
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with other paid social platforms (Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, YouTube, etc.)
- Familiarity with 3rd party management solutions
- Experience working in a fast-paced agency setting
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in paid social media marketing and a proven track record in driving results. They will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and have strong analytical skills.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $60,000 - $80,000 per year (based on industry standards for a role of this level and location)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee discounts on Hearst products and services
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for remote work)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a role of this level and location. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Newspaper Publishing
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 1887
Company Description:
- Hearst Newspapers is the operating group responsible for Hearst’s newspapers, local digital marketing services businesses, and directories
- With more than 3,000 employees across the nation, Hearst Newspapers publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies
- The company is committed to being the most trusted, most respected, and most accurate source of news and information in the communities it serves
Company Specialties:
- Newspaper Publishing
- Digital Media
- News
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Journalism
- Content Marketing
- Entertainment
- Photography
- Product Design
- Social Media
- Branding
- Analytics
- SEO
- Web Development
- Consumer Marketing
- Audience
Company Website: JoinHNP.com
ASSUMPTION: Hearst Newspapers is a well-established company with a strong reputation in the newspaper publishing industry. The company is committed to providing accurate and reliable news and information to the communities it serves.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Director of Paid Social Media
Work Arrangement: On-site, with flexibility for remote work
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a senior-level role within the Paid Social Media team
- Expansion into other areas of marketing or advertising within the company
- Opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and projects
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for growth and development within the company. The ideal candidate will be proactive and eager to take on new challenges and responsibilities.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office
Office Location(s): Norwalk, CT (with flexibility for Houston, San Antonio, or Austin)
Geographic Context:
- Norwalk, CT: A suburban city located in Fairfield County, with a population of approximately 88,000
- Houston, TX: The fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of approximately 2.3 million
- San Antonio, TX: The second-most populous city in Texas and the seventh-most populous city in the United States, with a population of approximately 1.5 million
- Austin, TX: The capital of Texas, with a population of approximately 1 million
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for remote work)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a corporate office environment and be able to commute to the office as needed. The company offers flexibility for remote work, but the role may require on-site presence from time to time.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and team members
- Final interview with the director or another senior team member
Key Assessment Areas:
- Understanding of paid social media strategies and best practices
- Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions
- Communication and presentation skills
- Creativity and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume and cover letter
- Demonstrate your understanding of paid social media strategies and best practices in your application materials
- Showcase your analytical skills and ability to make data-driven decisions
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that assess your problem-solving and communication skills
ATS Keywords: Paid Social Media, Facebook Ad Manager, Instagram Ads, A/B Testing, Analytics, Marketing, Advertising, Campaign Optimization, User Acquisition, Engagement, Retention
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is typical for a corporate environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of paid social media strategies and be able to demonstrate their skills and experience through their application materials and interviews.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Facebook Ad Manager
- Instagram Ads
- Google Docs
- Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Presentation tools (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with the tools and technologies listed above and be comfortable learning new tools as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Quality
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Accountability
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and analytical
- Creative and innovative
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
- Are you comfortable working collaboratively with cross-functional teams?
- Do you have strong analytical skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions?
- Are you creative and innovative, with a willingness to think outside the box?
- Are you comfortable receiving constructive criticism and learning from feedback?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be a strong cultural fit for the company, with a fast-paced, dynamic work style and a strong commitment to collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role may require working on multiple campaigns simultaneously, which can be challenging and time-consuming
- The role may require on-site presence from time to time, which can be inconvenient for remote workers
- The role may require working with difficult clients or stakeholders, which can be challenging and stressful
- The role may require working with tight deadlines and competing priorities, which can be challenging and stressful
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, work well under pressure, and handle difficult clients or stakeholders with professionalism and grace.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Paid Social Media Manager, but with a greater focus on campaign execution and optimization
- This role is similar to a Digital Marketing Specialist, but with a greater focus on paid social media strategies and best practices
- This role is similar to a Marketing Campaign Manager, but with a greater focus on paid social media channels
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role and be able to demonstrate their skills and experience in their application materials and interviews.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a paid social media campaign to drive user acquisition for a new product launch
- Optimizing an existing paid social media campaign to improve engagement and retention rates
- Conducting A/B testing to improve the performance of ad creative and targeting
- Developing a paid social media strategy to support a seasonal marketing campaign
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience working on similar projects and be able to demonstrate their skills and experience in their application materials and interviews.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical workload for this role and how it is managed?
- How does this role collaborate with other teams within the company?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the Paid Social Media team currently, and how does this role help address them?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within this role and the company?
- How does the company support work-life balance for employees in this role?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be proactive and curious, asking thoughtful questions to demonstrate their interest in the role and the company.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that assess your problem-solving and communication skills
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
