Social Media Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Social Media Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Marketing: Digital Media
REPORTS TO: Director, Digital Marketing
POSITION LOCATION: Indianapolis, IN
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
WORKER CATEGORY: Full-Time

COMPANY SUMMARY:

INDYCAR offers its lineup of drivers the most diverse challenges in motorsports; featuring racing at a combination of superspeedways, short ovals, road courses and street circuits. However, we are also about people. A talented staff with diverse skills that are used to the fullest in order to stage the world's great motor racing events. Employees at INDYCAR are challenged daily to excel in an environment featuring a pace that matches the high speed of the machines that race in our famous series. Working for us is a demanding, yet rewarding, endeavor for dedicated professionals who want to reach their ultimate potential amid the excitement of our premier open-wheel racing series.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Social Media Specialist for INDYCAR is tasked with creating engaging content that promotes the nature of the series and its epic events across the INDYCAR social channels. Additionally, the Specialist will manage daily engagement of our fan base thru INDYCAR social channels, as well as those of our teams, drivers and promoter partners. The role also helps provide value to the sanctioning bodies and corporate sponsors associated with INDYCAR. As a member of the broader Marketing team, the Social Media Specialist will work closely with the following groups: Public Relations, IMSP, Photo, Partner Strategy and IMS Marketing Communications.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Strategic Planning

  • Develop content strategy to drive engagement and growth of INDYCAR’s official social channels, leveraging both organic and paid media approaches
  • Leverage drivers, teams, series partners and promoters in development of the strategy; while partnering with them to help them meet their goals in the social space
  • Ensure the INDYCAR brand voice and creative approach is infused in all content developed, planned and executed
  • Partner with Research & Analytics Manager to appropriately track, monitor and assess key metrics aligned to Marketing objectives; report weekly, monthly, annually and as needed/requested
  • Develop relationships with key contacts at social platforms; leverage relationships to be on the cusp of new technology and features, swiftly execute technical and other needs (e.g. verifying accounts)
  • Continue to evaluate and develop understanding of the advances in social technologies and opportunities to inform strategy and assigned work

Content Creation and Management

  • Develop content vision and editorial plan, partnering with Digital Media Producer, to extend and deliver key brand messages to meet Marketing objectives
  • Partner with promoter contacts to incorporate their key messages, promotions, events, etc. into the editorial plan
  • Engage and collaborate with internal services (creative, IMSP, Digital Media Producer) to produce on-brand content
  • Support Partner Strategy and Sales team in ideation of content series and pieces for series partners and potential partners
  • Partner with NBC Sports team to build integrated content plans to deliver to the success of the partnership and growth of our sport, with special focus on race weekend content
  • Monitor and aptly respond to follower questions submitted via social channels; share feedback, insights, etc. with broader MarComms team to help
  • Monitor all NTT Series IndyCar driver, team, promoter and partner social channels; strategically partner with them to build their brand thru social as a means to promote the growth of the sport
  • Work with outside vendors in conjunction with internal departments to develop unique campaigns, promotions, sweepstakes, contests, games and other engagement tactics across INDYCAR digital channels

Customer/Fan Service

  • Monitor and aptly respond to user-generated content and questions submitted via social channels; share feedback, insights, etc. with broader MarComms team to help inform plans
  • Identify threats and opportunities in user-generated content surrounding the company. Report notable threats to appropriate management
  • Work closely with INDYCAR operations staff before an event to post information that helps fans have a positive experience while attending INDYCAR events
  • Work closely with INDYCAR operations staff during an event to provide real time feedback from customers on logistical issues; such as parking, concessions, facility maintenance and health care

QUALIFICATIONS:
Supervisory Responsibilities

  • This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Public Relations, or Communications from an accredited university/college is preferred

Skills/Experience

  • A minimum of two years of professional experience in the social media industry, preferably within the sports/entertainment vertical
  • Must maintain high levels of integrity and confidentiality. They must be enthusiastic and committed to the company, the Vision, Mission and Values.
  • The person who is selected for this position should be proactive, efficient, flexible, resilient, organized and a team player.
  • Must possess excellent writing, communication and proofreading skills
  • Demonstrates creativity and documented immersion in social media. (Give links to profiles as examples)
  • Proficient in content marketing theory and application
  • Maintains an extensive working knowledge of current industry standards and best practices as they pertain to social and digital media; including measurement and analytical tools
  • Ability to switch between the creative side to the analytical side, demonstrating why ideas are analytically sound
  • Displays in-depth knowledge and understanding of social media platforms, their respective participants (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, SnapChat, etc) and how each platform can be utilized
  • Skilled with the Adobe Creative Suite software, specifically Photoshop, Premier Pro and Illustrator
  • Demonstrates winning Social Customer Services techniques such as empathy, patience, advocacy and conflict resolution.
  • Good understanding of SEO principles

Travel/Work Hours

  • Must be available to travel to all INDYCAR events throughout the racing season
  • Must be available to work event weekends and overtime, including evenings and some holidays

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

  • Physical demands consist primarily of sitting, standing and walking; sometimes for long hours
  • Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
  • Must be able to see and hear in the normal range with or without correction and communicate verbally and in written form with great facility and must be able to be understood.
  • Must have the stamina to work long hours and must be willing to work an irregular schedule, which may include weekends or evenings.
  • Occasional work outdoors requires physical strength and stamina to endure extreme heat, cold, rain and other conditions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Work is performed in both an office environment and outdoors, and in close proximity to other workers.
  • Employee will be exposed to those conditions normally encountered in a business office environment.
  • Employee is faced with frequent interruptions and must meet with others on a regular basis.
  • The noise level in the work environment can be loud, due to professional racing events.

COMPANY BENEFITS:

Full-time employees enjoy a very competitive benefit package. Benefits include: Medical (including tax-advantaged Health Savings Account), Dental, Vision, 401K with company match up to 5%, Paid Vacation, Personal & Sick Days, 10 Paid Holidays, Company Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, Paid Maternity / Paternity Leave, On-site Workout Facility, and more.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

INDYCAR provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities and/or events.

Unternehmen / Organisation: 
IndyCar