Career guide
Social Media Strategist Job Description: Agency, In-House and Senior Templates
A social media strategist decides where and how a brand shows up on social, writes the plan, briefs the teams who make the content and checks whether it's working. Agency strategists do this across several clients and present to them, while in-house strategists go deep on one brand. The templates below cover agency, in-house and senior versions.
Key takeaways
- A social media strategist decides where and how a brand shows up on social, writes the plan, briefs the content teams and checks whether it's working.
- Agency social media strategists work across several clients and present to them, while in-house strategists go deep on one brand and its internal teams.
- A social media strategist job description should name the decisions the role owns, the deliverables it produces and the metrics it answers for.
- Social media strategist postings that are mostly publishing and community replies describe a specialist or coordinator role, whatever the title.
- Social media strategists are usually measured on whether the strategy launched on time and moved the priority metrics it set.
Download all 3 templates (Word) Opens in Google Docs too.
What does a social media strategist job description include?
A social media strategist job description covers the research, planning and measurement the role owns, rather than day-to-day posting. Good postings name the decisions the strategist makes, the documents they write and the teams that act on them.
| Part of the job | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Research | Audiences, platforms, competitors, category conversation, social listening |
| Strategy | Goals, audiences, platforms, content pillars, tone, creator and paid roles |
| Briefs | Turning the plan into briefs for content, creator, paid and community teams |
| Measurement | KPIs, reporting rhythm, test plans, what to change |
| Presenting | Getting the plan approved by leaders or clients |
Our social media strategist guide covers what the job is and how to move into it, with one general template. The templates here are split by where the role sits, because agency and in-house strategy jobs feel quite different.
Agency social media strategist job description template
Use this for a strategist at a social, creative or media agency working across several clients.
Job title: Social Media Strategist About [Agency] [Two sentences: what kind of agency you are, the clients you work with and what you're known for.] About the role We're hiring a Social Media Strategist to shape how our clients show up on social. You'll work across [number] accounts in [categories], reporting to [Strategy Director / Head of Social], alongside account, creative, creator and paid media teams. What you'll do - Research each client's audience, category and competitors, including social listening in [tool]. - Write social strategies and channel plans: goals, platforms, content pillars, tone, creator and paid roles. - Turn strategy into clear briefs for creative, creator and paid teams. - Set KPIs with account and analytics teams, and lead monthly or quarterly reviews. - Present strategies and results to clients, and handle their questions and pushback. - Contribute to new business pitches with research and strategic ideas. What you'll bring - [3–5] years in social, with at least [1–2] years writing strategy that was carried out. - Examples of strategies you wrote and the results they led to. - Clear writing and confident presenting to clients. - Knowledge of [platforms] and how creators and paid support organic work. - Comfort with analytics, listening tools and spreadsheets. How we'll measure success - Strategies delivered on time and approved by clients. - Movement on each client's priority metrics. - Client satisfaction and retention on your accounts. - Contribution to pitches won. Pay and benefits [Salary range], [benefits], [location / hybrid / remote].
Agency strategists usually log time against client work. Our guide to billable hours explains how that works and what to ask in the interview.
In-house social media strategist job description template
Use this for a strategist on a brand’s own marketing team.
Job title: Social Media Strategist About [Company] [Two sentences: what you sell, to whom, and what social needs to do for the business this year.] About the role We're hiring a Social Media Strategist to set the direction for [brand]'s social channels. You'll report to [Head of Social / Brand Director] and work with brand, product marketing, PR, customer care and our [agency / creator partners]. In your first 90 days you'll [one concrete goal, e.g. deliver an audience study and a 12-month social strategy]. What you'll do - Own the social strategy for [brand / product lines]: goals, audiences, platforms, content pillars and tone. - Plan social for launches and campaigns with brand and product marketing teams. - Brief and guide our [content team / agency / creators], and review work against the strategy. - Run listening and competitor reviews, and share what the brand should act on. - Set the measurement plan and lead quarterly reviews with leadership. - Write the social playbook: voice, response guidelines and escalation paths. What you'll bring - [4–6] years in social, including strategy work you can walk us through. - Experience aligning social with brand, product and business goals. - Strong writing and presenting to senior stakeholders. - Comfort with analytics, listening and testing. How we'll measure success - [Metric: e.g. growth in engaged audience on priority platforms] - [Metric: e.g. share of conversation in the category] - [Metric: e.g. traffic or sign-ups from social] - A strategy and playbook the wider team uses.
Senior social media strategist job description template
Use this when the role leads strategy across a portfolio or mentors other strategists.
Job title: Senior Social Media Strategist About the role We're hiring a Senior Social Media Strategist to lead strategy for [our biggest clients / our brand portfolio]. You'll set the direction for social, mentor [number] strategists and work closely with [creative, media and leadership]. What you'll do - Lead social strategy for [accounts / brands], from research through measurement. - Shape how social fits with paid media, creators, PR and brand campaigns. - Review and raise the quality of strategies written by the team. - Present to [senior clients / executives] and handle the hard questions. - Build the team's methods: research, briefs, measurement and testing. - [Agency: lead the social thinking on new business pitches.] What you'll bring - [6+] years in social, with strategies you led from idea to results. - Experience mentoring or managing strategists. - Confident presenting and a clear point of view.
How is a social media strategist different from a manager or specialist?
A strategist decides the direction, a manager runs the program and the team, and a specialist makes and publishes the work. On smaller teams one person may do all three, so read the duties, not just the title.
| Social media strategist | Social media manager | Social media specialist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Research, plan, brief, measure | Run the program, budget and team | Make, publish and report on content |
| Typical output | Strategy decks, channel plans, briefs | Calendars, budgets, team priorities | Posts, videos, campaigns, reports |
| Works with | Leaders, clients, creative and media teams | Marketing leaders, agencies, the social team | The manager, designers, editors, creators |
| Measured on | Strategy launched and priority metrics moved | Channel results and team delivery | Content quality, consistency, engagement |
If a strategist posting is mostly scheduling and replying, it’s closer to our social media specialist job description. If it includes budget and direct reports, it’s closer to a social media manager.
What deliverables does a social media strategist produce?
Most strategist work lands in a handful of documents that other teams use to make decisions.
- Audience and category research. Who the brand is talking to, where they spend time and what they talk about.
- The social strategy. Goals, audiences, platforms, content pillars, tone and the role of creators and paid.
- Channel plans. What each platform is for and how often it posts.
- Briefs. For content, creator and paid teams, tied to the strategy. Our creative brief template shows the general shape.
- Measurement plans and reviews. The KPIs, the reporting rhythm and what changed as a result.
- Playbooks. Voice, response guidelines and escalation paths.
How do you read a social media strategist posting before you apply?
Look for the decisions and deliverables. They tell you how senior the role really is and what to put in front of the hiring manager.
- Find the decisions. “Decide which platforms we prioritize” is strategy; “schedule posts” isn’t.
- Check agency or in-house. Agency roles need client presenting; in-house roles need influence with internal teams. Our in-house vs agency marketing guide covers the differences.
- Look for the measure. It tells you which results from your past work to lead with.
- Prepare one strategy you can walk through. Many interviews ask you to explain a plan you wrote, why, and what happened.
When you walk through it, tell it as your own story, with the choices you made and the ones you’d change. Hiring managers want to hear how you think, and that comes through best when you’re not reciting a deck.
Our social media manager resume guide works well for strategists too, and Recon can tailor your resume to a specific posting using only facts you’ve already written.
FAQ
Is a social media strategist a senior role?
Usually mid-level or above. Many postings ask for three to five years in social, including strategy work that was carried out. Some agencies hire associate strategists earlier in their careers.
Do social media strategists create content?
Some do, especially on small teams, but the core of the job is research, planning, briefing and measurement. If the posting is mostly content creation, the role is closer to a specialist.
What tools appear in social media strategist job descriptions?
Social listening and analytics tools, the platforms’ native analytics, spreadsheets and presentation software. Postings often name a specific listening tool; experience with any of them transfers.
What’s the difference between a social media strategist and a creative strategist?
A social media strategist plans a brand’s whole social presence, while a creative strategist usually focuses on the ideas and formats behind ads and content, often for paid social. Our creative strategist guide covers that role.
Where can I see social media strategist pay?
Our social media manager salary page has US government pay figures by percentile and state, which are a useful reference for strategist roles at a similar level.