Sr Social Media Manager - Youth Audience Expansion

Working in social media at ESPN is unlike anything else. Each day you’ll be challenged to blend creativity, sports knowledge, and journalistic instincts to produce industry-leading content seen by millions of sports fans. Collaboration, innovation, effort, and fun are at the core of this team and every day is game day.  

As the Senior Social Manager, Youth Audience Expansion, you will lead a content strategy that seeks to drive engagement with young fans on social. This role involves developing and executing dynamic social media strategies for SportsCenter NEXT, ESPN’s home for high school sports and youth culture on TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. If you're a seasoned social media professional with a proven record of expanding audience reach, we invite you to be a driving force in shaping the future of sports entertainment. This position will report to a Senior Director, Social Media.

This role is highly anticipated to be based at our Headquarters in Bristol, CT. However, may be open to our Los Angeles, California office.

Responsibilities:

• Formulate and execute a comprehensive social media strategy to expand ESPN's audience reach and engagement with young fans, high school and below. While concentrated on the SportsCenter NEXT brand, this role will lead efforts to foster connection with this demographic across all ESPN social accounts

• Grow SportsCenter NEXT social accounts, utilizing data to analyze content, audience demographics, behavior and cultural trends to inform engagement strategies

• Oversee and manage a team of three and an agency that creates content for SportsCenter NEXT. This includes discovering user-generated content, reacting to key events and storylines (all sports) and creating content plans for relevant programming on ESPN

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams at ESPN (corporate strategy, marketing, synergy, corporate citizenship, business development and innovation) on broader efforts that drive youth audience expansion. For example, this Senior Manager could help assess and/or support opportunities to engage Gen Z & Alpha audiences on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite

• With our marketing team, ideate and collaborate on efforts that increase awareness of SportsCenter NEXT, ranging from on-site activations at tournaments, merchandise and apparel, and partnerships with influencers and rising athletes

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years' experience in Socia Media or related industry

• 3+ years of experience managing direct reports and/or agencies

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and mentor a team

• Proven experience in sports social media management

• Adept in topics that intersect with sports like gaming, technology, fashion and pop culture

• Demonstrated success in driving audience growth and engagement through strategic social media initiatives

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that drive positive collaboration with internal teams and external partners

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7+ years’ experience managing large-scale social media accounts

• 5+ years’ experience managing direct reports and/or agencies

Required Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent 

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor's Degree 

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