Manager, Social Strategy

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Published

05/12/2026

Who We Are

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency and we’re working in and around the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers, content creators, and we engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and to our people. We embrace creativity and collaboration, and we engage stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputations.

Manager, Social Strategy

Have you ever been accused of being Extremely Online? Do you obsessively read about social media trends, scroll through Instagram and TikTok nonstop and have a media diet that could best be described as eclectic, diverse, maybe even chaotic? Are you curious about all things media and meme culture? Do you use LinkedIn unironically and understand the value of social as a part of a comprehensive integrated media approach? Are you passionate about researching the latest digital innovations, learning new tools, and translating findings into that ‘a ha’ moment for clients? Do you get excited about sharing data-driven insights with clients to inform future social media strategy? Are you a resourceful and proactive digital communicator that ‘gets’ marketing but approaches client challenges with an earned first mindset?

If so, we’re glad you’re here and keep reading! Weber Shandwick is currently seeking a Manager, Social Strategy to join our team in Chicago. This motivated collaborator will bring their ✨passion✨ for all things social to our high-performance, collaborative team. As a Senior Manager you will work closely with both senior and junior staff members across several teams to provide sound digital counsel and manage day-to-day work. Prepare to manage up, manage down, and work alongside some of the smartest folks you could ever hope to call colleagues. And yes, we like to have fun while we do it. All ultimately in service of helping our clients—some of the world’s leading brands—drive their businesses forward.

This is a client-facing role so the ability to work with all types of people is really important.

Who Are We Looking For?

Hello? Is it you that we’re looking for? The ideal candidate should be a proactive team player who thrives in a fast-paced, always-changing environment. Yawn. Doesn’t that sound terrible? Really, we want someone who can dive in, enjoy the work, and wants to gets stuff done while helping to continually improve the processes while they do it. Successful candidates typically have a solid digital communications, marketing or integrated communications background and with a mix of experience across client campaigns. Read: you’ve worked with lots of different types of clients and you’re excited about a range of industries. You must have exceptional project management skills, have a TikTok worthy level of organization (did your friends envy your desk set up and note taking prowess in college?) and want to be involved in all aspects of the work we do, from helping to build social strategy to helping us execute it flawlessly.

POV: You’re our new Manager, Social Strategy

On any given day, you could be working on social content strategy, liaising with a client on a paid social campaign, researching the latest trending sounds on Instagram Reels or even helping to launch a podcast. In the morning you may be the one explaining the FYP to a client, in the afternoon compiling a report on Instagram content performance, and end the day learning about generative AI directly from some of our leading subject matter experts at Weber Shandwick. Each day may be a little bit different but every day you will work hard doing something you love with some really cool clients. You will get a chance to help us win some of our next biggest clients and you will have ample opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and teaching all of your colleagues a little something yourself.

TL;DR – you LOVE social, you speak internet, are a versatile up-and-coming social media leader and are eager to gain more experience working at one of the largest agencies in the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This is what you can regularly expect your work to look like.

Lead the development and implementation of social media campaigns integrating into larger paid, owned and earned programs
Educate clients and colleagues about emerging trends, platforms and best practices
Implement digital engagement campaigns for top-tier clients
Serve as a platform strategist lead for multiple clients and internal functions
Oversee client’s social media channels including editorial planning, content development, paid media, social listening, social media monitoring and content performance analytics and ongoing social strategy
Inform the development of effective digital and social media creative and editorial assets to resonate with priority audiences and ensure social channels are being used in high-value ways
Serve as a key client contact in the management of digital campaigns, providing both reliable project management and strategic counsel as needed. You know how to appropriately engage with clients and can confidently communicate with clients in both written communications, virtually via Microsoft Teams or IRL.
Collaborate with senior internal agency staff to develop strategy and ensure client deliverables are being met
Support new business development efforts in pitch development and presentations

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

We think you will be most successful with this background but if this isn’t quite you and the role speaks to you, we encourage you to apply.

4-5 years in digital communications and marketing positions in roles focused on social media
Experience supporting large clients or organizations driving innovative social media programs
Deep expertise in social media, including content formats, available ad targeting and analytics capabilities
Experience working closely with several types of teams such as creative, strategy, media planning and PR
Familiarity and comfort working with senior-level stakeholders and clients
A keen passion for tracking social media and influencer trends and leveraging them to solve client challenges across a range of industries
Knowledge of and interest in social media listening programs and the ability to transform findings into actionable insights for clients
Ability to manage multiple projects at various stages simultaneously
Ability to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary team
Resilient mindset, deep curiosity and a healthy sense of humor (heavy on the humor)

SKILLS

This is what you need to know and be able to do with confidence in this role.

Familiarity with a wide range of social media platforms including but not limited to: LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, etc. and the available content formats for each and an understanding of social platforms’ native analytics offerings.
Familiarity with Google Analytics and a wide range of community management, social listening and social media management tools such as Talkwalker, Brandwatch, Sprout Social, Sprinklr, Khoros, Hootsuite or similar tools and an appetite to learn more.
Superb research skills with the ability to conduct desk research independently and quickly learn new research tools to inform client and internal briefs (read: you can effectively search something on Google and discern reputable sources and learn new tools that can help you supplement your research)
Top notch written skills, able to write engaging short form social content with a bonus if you have experience writing longer form content
A strong comfort level with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint; You don’t have to be an expert, but you need to be comfortable creating client-ready deliverables in both
A clear communicator and persuasive presenter both virtually and IRL
Ability to think strategically about the development of social media programs and how to use social platforms effectively
Demonstrated success translating client needs into workable plans/projects
Strong organizational, time management and project management skills
Ability and desire to quickly learn new systems and tools
Self-motivated, entrepreneurial and endlessly curious

Salary Range: $81,000 USD – $98,000 USD

Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position; market considerations; budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (applicable to current employees); as well as the employee’s/applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.

Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-GH

We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.

Similar positions

View all

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Associate, Influencer

Who We Are

Associate, Influence 

We’re currently seeking an Associate, Influence to join our team in Chicago. We’re looking for an integrated-minded person who has skills in social media, influencer relations, content creation, strategic planning, and integrated marketing campaigns. This individual’s pulse is on digital conversation and how that moves across channels. You have a keen eye for the intersection of conversation and creator. We are looking for someone who elevates our team’s thought process, attention to detail, and currency in the zeitgeist.  

If you can spot a trend before it happens, meet/exceed deadlines and want to take the group assignment out the chat & apply it to real brands, we want to talk to you. This person will assist in campaign & talent management and nourish client relationships. 

What You’ll Be Doing: 

Craft storytelling in various mediums. A strong writing background across mediums is critical (social copy, client comms, outreach notes, etc.). 
Develop and share influencer recommendations sourcing talent ranging from micro followings to celebrity. 
Serve as the day-to-day team support during program execution. 
Provide input on influencer marketing campaigns and tactics. Manage authentication and campaign set up utilizing influencer management tools.
Maintain strong talent agency and one-on-one influencer relationships. Draft compelling influencer pitches tailored to the account and brief. 
Develop and manage timelines and weekly action plans to ensure all deadlines on client programs are met. 
Monitor social media and influencer space for unique brand opportunities while keeping an eye on competitor and cultural conversations. 
Work cross-functionally with Platform Strategy and Paid Media teams to ensure strategic thinking. 
Collaborate with Analytics team to ensure all data and metrics are collected appropriately to effectively measure results and develop campaign recaps. 
Interact with senior management and provide recommendations on tactics and strategies. 
Partner with Corporate Communications team to assess risks and reputation.

Qualifications: 

Four-year degree or equivalent work experience in communications, journalism, marketing, or a similar field required 
0-1 years of related professional experience 
Excellent communication/presentation skills; verbal and written 
Strong attention to detail and project management skills 
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Bonus: Experience with social listening, influencer management tools or creative editing software (Talkwalker, Tagger, Captiv8, CreatorIQ or AdobeSuite).

Salary range: $50,000 USD – $55,000 USD

The Weber Shandwick Collective is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The Weber Shandwick Collective recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status.

#LI-GH

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Senior Manager, Influencer

Who We Are

Senior Manager, Influencer Strategy

Weber Shandwick is looking for a Senior Manager, Influencer Strategy to join our team in Chicago. We are looking for a star candidate (5+ years of experience).

Candidate must have a deep understanding of the influencer landscape, but also have unique experience developing and executing both integrated and influencer-led campaigns. The following is a general outline of primary responsibilities.

The Essentials

Thinking: Intellectual curiosity and creativity is a must.
Storytelling: Understand the elements that make a story exciting, what brands are doing in the press and on social platforms, and what they should do next.
Communication: Speak, write and edit succinctly and compellingly.
Management: Meet deadlines, put out fires and multi-task. Work fast, and work well.
Interpersonal: Play nice, whether it’s in a team, with a team or independently.
Technical: Know Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. Influencer databases/management systems/vendor networks and social listening/tracking tools is a plus.
Detail-Oriented: Whether it’s an influencer recommendation or a recap report, attention to detail and a commitment to delivering clear and precise work is essential.
Proactive Mindset: looks beyond current assignments and direct requests to drive work forward.
Spark: Understand what sets you apart.
Fluency in Spanish (written and verbal) is a plus, specifically to support campaigns and to manage relationships with bilingual creators.

Responsibilities

Brand Strategy & Execution

Own responsibilities for executional leadership of multiple client programs, budgets, plans
Maintain daily client contact, serving as a trusted resource and advisor
Facilitate cross-functional team integration (strategy, creative, integrated media specialists, influencer)
Translate strategies into tactical plans; ensure team deliverables align with strategies
Develop messaging for clients and oversee the creation of influencer strategies that take an integrated approach to driving awareness with target audiences
Proactively support and suggest improvements and new ideas to exceed client expectations by leveraging industry knowledge and experience
Anticipate executional issues specific to assigned programs and proactively offer solutions to senior team leadership
Partner with CX and Project Managers to help manage program and project budgets
Demonstrate financial acumen in the areas of budgeting, billing and staffing

Influencer Strategy & Execution

Play a lead role in the agency’s Influencer center of excellence, which develops and manages key relationships with talent agencies and content creators, and institutionalizes a set of best-in-class tools and processes for identification, contract negotiation, content planning, measurement and ROI analysis
Demonstrated passion for influencer marketing both personally and professionally; balanced interest in both healthcare and consumer brands
Craft influencer strategies for yearlong plans and product launches
Research, vet, contract and manage relationships with influencer talent
Develop influencer briefing materials
Oversee influencer briefings and content creation, monitor influencer content performance, track against KPIs and prepare detailed recaps
Take responsibility to execute influencer strategies
Manage and build relationships with influencers and third-party agents
Mine current news cycle for ad-hoc influencer opportunities
Demonstrated expertise in social platforms, user behaviors and emerging trends

Client & Team Engagement

Communicate with clients on daily basis
Provide basic client counsel
Serve as a key participant in client meetings and presentations
Proof and edit client related documents as needed
Manage client and team resources and deliverables around major campaigns and product launches
Lead a high-performing team; coach and develop junior team members

Salary Range: $81,000 USD – $98,000 USD

#LI-GH

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Account Director, Influencer Strategy

Who We Are

Account Director, Influence

Job Summary 

The Account Director, Influencer Strategy is responsible for providing strategic, integrated direction for influencer & creator marketing initiatives. This role engages in high-level discussions with clients, ensuring that influencer efforts align with brand goals and drive measurable business outcomes. The ideal candidate will lead cross-functional collaboration, contribute to industry thought leadership, and advocate for innovation in influencer marketing. 

Key Responsibilities 

Provides strategic direction for influencer marketing, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and business KPIs for some of our top lifestyle and CPG clients.  
Partners with cross-functional leads—including Creative, Analytics, Paid Media, and CX teams—and the IAT to ensure full campaign integration and stay at the forefront of agency capabilities, social trends, and digital innovations. 
Drives communications in tactical planning, acting as a representative for influencer marketing capabilities. 
Champions innovative approaches, leveraging emerging platforms, AI-driven insights, and trend forecasting to future-proof strategies. 
Builds and maintains strong relationships with talent and management agencies to ensure reliability, quality partnerships, and the ability to execute quick-turn activations. 
Acts as a trusted advisor, guiding clients through social, digital, and influencer best practices while identifying opportunities for strategic growth. Drives client engagements to uncover incremental revenue opportunities and foster long-term partnerships. 
Reviews campaign briefs, align teams, and coordinate strategic staffing needs with Sr. Influencer Strategy Leads & Resource Management to optimize execution. 
Mentor internal team, sharing best practices and emerging trends to elevate influencer marketing expertise. 
Collaborate with the Sr. Influencer Strategy Leads to develop case studies that highlight successful influencer marketing initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience 

8+ years of experience in influencer marketing, digital strategy, or a related discipline. 
Proven experience in high-level client engagement, strategic consulting, and cross-functional collaboration. 
Strong understanding of influencer marketing trends, emerging platforms, and measurement frameworks. 
Ability to drive measurable results and demonstrate the business impact of influencer campaigns. 
Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. 
Experience mentoring and developing teams, fostering a culture of growth and innovation. 
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders. 
Strong analytical mindset with proficiency in data-driven decision-making. 
Familiarity with influencer marketing platforms, CRM tools (CIQ), and industry-standard analytics solutions. 
Nice to Have: Proven ability to navigate complex celebrity relations and talent negotiations, coupled with familiarity with SAG-AFTRA compliance and union procedures.

Why Join Us? 

Work with leading global brands on innovative and high-impact influencer marketing strategies. 
Be part of a forward-thinking agency that prioritizes integration, innovation, and measurable results. 
Collaborate with top-tier talent across multiple disciplines, including creative, analytics, and media. 
Enjoy opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and leadership development. 
Competitive salary, benefits, and career advancement opportunities.

Is this you?  

Be a driver of culture: Must have true passion and understanding of pop culture and are part of the community (be it music, gaming, fashion, food, internet culture, etc.) This job is the intersection of creative, strategy, marketing, technology, content creation and production; your energy must be driven by your lifestyle. You must influence creative ideations: from the ideas presented, to the influencers selected, to the content created, all the way down to the language used in post copy.  

Have high cultural competencies: Understand the role and importance of diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) You must be culturally vigilant with the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures.   

Have “Gravitas” in the influencer space and skin-in-the-game: Deep understanding of the influencer landscape is required. Proven ability to build, speak and grow relationships with change agents and cultural makers (celebrities, influencers, artists, thought leaders) directly or via their agents. You must be open to a public-facing role; willingness to speak publicly about influencer trends when opportunities present itself to the WS Influencer Team.  

Know how to identify and manage diverse vendors and partners: in an industry where technologies (SaaS platforms, AI, managed services, etc.) are popping on the daily, at high volume, no less, you must have experience working with RFPs and meeting with leading tech companies to understand their services and identify their uniqueness (and keep up with their ongoing changes in our WS influencer database)  

Be ready to lead at any moment: working with your leads, you will learn to “step up to the plate” and lead effectively in the client’s and agency’s best interests while also helping to cultivate, mentor and coach mid to junior staff members on the influencer team.  

Hustle: identify influencer opportunities (organic or new) to ensure influencer marketing continues to be a strong marketing discipline and revenue driver on your assigned account or at Weber Shandwick.  

Think like a lawyer: you understand how important it is to be in compliance with best practices (FTC updates, platform requirements), continuously build our excellence by partnering with DXTRA legal and finance to ensure risk and liabilities are reduced and tamed for every campaign you touch.  

Have experience building engaged audiences: on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and other digital & social platforms.  

Know how to build a story: you will build client presentations that tell smart, compelling stories, never “rinse and repeat” which requires you to be highly motivated, energetically charged and always inspired.  

Be curious, always: You are willing to learn a little bit of everything, and open to take on anything. 

Salary Range: $95,000 USD – $125,000 USD

#LI-GH