📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Associate
🔹 Company: The Poetry Foundation
🔹 Location: Chicago, IL
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid (3 days on-site, 2 days remote)
🔹 Category: Marketing & Communications
🔹 Date Posted: July 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with remote flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing social media strategy to increase engagement and grow audiences
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to promote Poetry magazine and Foundation initiatives
- Creating and curating daily content across multiple platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging platforms
- Monitoring and analyzing performance metrics to inform strategy and improve results
- Building and maintaining relationships with external content creators and partners
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong mix of creative content development, cultural fluency, and analytics savvy, with a focus on growing digital audiences and engagement.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop, curate, and post daily content across multiple social media platforms
✅ Plan and execute social media campaigns to promote Poetry magazine and digital content
✅ Monitor and respond to social media interactions, building a vibrant and inclusive community
✅ Track performance analytics and prepare monthly insights reports to inform strategy
✅ Manage relationships and workstreams with external content creators and partners
✅ Create content calendars and maintain a consistent brand voice and visual identity
✅ Stay current with social media trends, tools, and best practices, especially within arts and culture spaces
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of creativity, organization, and adaptability, with a strong focus on data-informed decision making.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, English, or a related field
Experience: 3+ years of experience managing professional social media accounts (internships included)
Required Skills:
- Proven success in growing digital audiences and engagement
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills—especially short-form content
- Creative skills to utilize existing branded templates and create collateral in design tools
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Experience with social media management tools and analytics tools
- Committed to promoting equity, access, and underrepresented voices in the literary field
Preferred Skills:
- Familiarity with poetry, literary culture, or nonprofit arts marketing
ASSUMPTION: A well-matched candidate will bring a strong portfolio of social media content and demonstrate a deep understanding of digital marketing strategies.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $70,000 - $78,000 per year
Benefits:
- Health Insurance: Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug insurance, with 100% of employee premiums paid by the Foundation
- Retirement Plan: The Foundation contributes 10% of the employee’s regular salary, with the employee contributing 5% after six months of service
- Paid Time Off: 15 vacation days, 10 sick days, two floating holidays, and three personal days, plus 11 paid holidays per calendar year
- FSA Benefits: Opportunity to set aside pre-tax dollars for healthcare, dependent care, transit expense, and parking expenses
- Technology: All employees are provided with the hardware needed to perform their duties
- Perks: Complimentary subscription to Poetry magazine, special borrowing privileges from the non-circulating library collection, and access to Poetry Foundation events
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible remote work options
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the Foundation's internal pay structure and may vary depending on the candidate's skills and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Poetry Foundation operates in the literary and cultural sector, focusing on promoting poetry and poets through various initiatives and platforms.
Company Size: The Poetry Foundation has 11-50 employees, providing a collaborative and close-knit work environment.
Founded: The Poetry Foundation was established in 1941, with a rich history in supporting and celebrating poetry and its creators.
Company Description:
- The Poetry Foundation is the publisher of Poetry magazine, one of the world's most respected literary journals.
- The Foundation works to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.
- The Poetry Foundation recognizes the power of words to transform lives and believes in the importance of promoting poetry as a vital art form.
Company Specialties:
- Publication of Poetry magazine
- Grantmaking to support poets and poetry organizations
- Education and outreach programs to promote poetry and literacy
Company Website: poetryfoundation.org
ASSUMPTION: The Poetry Foundation's mission and values are deeply rooted in its commitment to promoting poetry and fostering a vibrant literary community.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is an entry- to mid-level position within the marketing and communications field, offering opportunities for growth and development.
Reporting Structure: The Social Media Associate will report directly to the Manager of Social Media and Marketing.
Work Arrangement: This role is a hybrid position, with employees working on-site at the Chicago offices three days per week and remotely two days per week.
Growth Opportunities:
- Expanding skills and knowledge in digital marketing and social media strategies
- Gaining experience working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Potential for career advancement within the marketing and communications department
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to grow professionally while contributing to the promotion of poetry and the arts.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: The Poetry Foundation's offices are located in a historic building in downtown Chicago, offering a collaborative and creative work environment.
Office Location(s): 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654, US
Geographic Context:
- Chicago is a vibrant and culturally diverse city, with a thriving arts and literary scene
- The Loop neighborhood, where the Poetry Foundation is located, is home to numerous museums, theaters, and other cultural institutions
- Chicago offers a variety of housing options and neighborhoods to suit different preferences and budgets
Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is Monday through Friday, with flexible hours to accommodate remote work.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing employees to optimize their productivity and work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with the HR department
- First-round interview with the Manager of Social Media and Marketing
- Second-round interview with a panel of stakeholders from various departments
- Final interview with the Director of Marketing and Communications
Key Assessment Areas:
- Candidates' understanding of social media trends and best practices
- Candidates' ability to create engaging and on-brand content
- Candidates' analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Candidates' cultural fluency and commitment to promoting equity and access
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant social media campaigns and initiatives from your portfolio
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills and experiences related to this role
- Prepare questions that demonstrate your interest in the Poetry Foundation's mission and values
ATS Keywords: Social Media Management, Content Development, Analytics, Digital Marketing, Community Engagement, Audience Growth, Trend Awareness, Collaboration, Equity Promotion
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing candidates' creative, analytical, and collaborative skills, as well as their alignment with the Poetry Foundation's mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
- Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Meta Insights)
- Design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard within the digital marketing and social media fields, with a focus on analytics and content creation.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Commitment to promoting poetry and the arts
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Encourage creativity, innovation, and continuous learning
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic and attention to detail
Work Style:
- Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities and deadlines
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects
- Comfortable with a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with the Poetry Foundation's mission to amplify poetry and celebrate poets?
- How do you approach creating engaging and on-brand content for social media platforms?
- How do you stay current with social media trends and best practices within the arts and culture spaces?
ASSUMPTION: The Poetry Foundation values candidates who are passionate about poetry and the arts, as well as those who demonstrate strong creative, analytical, and collaborative skills.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple social media platforms and content creation deadlines
- Adapting to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
- Balancing on-site and remote work responsibilities
- Staying current with social media trends and best practices
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome through strong time management, organizational skills, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role focuses more on content creation and community engagement than other social media positions, which may prioritize paid advertising or influencer marketing
- Within the literary and cultural sector, this role is unique in its focus on promoting poetry and poets through social media
- Career paths for this role may include advancement to social media manager or marketing and communications director positions
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to grow professionally while contributing to the promotion of poetry and the arts within a specific literary and cultural context.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a social media campaign to promote a special issue of Poetry magazine
- Creating a series of short-form videos featuring poets and their work, to be shared across multiple social media platforms
- Analyzing social media performance metrics to inform strategy and improve engagement
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and skills required for this role, from content creation and curation to analytics and strategy.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role contribute to the Poetry Foundation's overall mission and goals?
- What are the primary challenges and opportunities facing the social media and marketing department?
- How does the Poetry Foundation support the professional growth and development of its employees?
- What is the typical career path for someone in this role, and what opportunities exist for advancement within the organization?
- How does the hybrid work arrangement support a healthy work-life balance?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate candidates' interest in the Poetry Foundation's mission and values, as well as their commitment to professional growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare questions that demonstrate your interest in the Poetry Foundation's mission and values
- Follow up with the HR department one week after submitting your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
