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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Social Media Assistant

💰 $38,000 - $55,000

MarketingCommunicationsSocial MediaDigital Marketing

🎯 Role Definition

At its core, the Social Media Assistant is the engine room of a brand's social presence. This role is pivotal in the day-to-day execution of the social media strategy, acting as the primary handler for content scheduling, community interaction, and performance monitoring. You are the voice of the brand in the trenches, engaging directly with the audience, fostering a positive community, and ensuring a consistent and compelling narrative across all platforms. This position requires a blend of creative flair, meticulous organization, and a genuine passion for the ever-evolving world of digital communication. A successful Social Media Assistant provides the essential support that allows the broader marketing team to focus on high-level strategy, confident that the foundational elements are being managed with precision and care.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Marketing Intern or Communications Intern
  • Junior Content Creator or Copywriter
  • Customer Service Representative (with a strong social media aptitude)

Advancement To:

  • Social Media Coordinator or Social Media Specialist
  • Community Manager
  • Content Strategist or Content Creator

Lateral Moves:

  • Digital Marketing Assistant
  • Content Marketing Assistant
  • Public Relations (PR) Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Draft, schedule, and publish engaging and on-brand content across multiple social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.
  • Actively monitor all social media channels for brand mentions, direct messages, comments, and inquiries, responding in a timely and professional manner that reflects the brand's voice.
  • Engage proactively with our online community by liking, commenting on, and sharing relevant user-generated content and follower posts to foster a sense of community and loyalty.
  • Assist in the development and maintenance of a detailed social media content calendar, ensuring alignment with marketing campaigns, product launches, and key brand moments.
  • Create simple, visually appealing graphics, short-form videos, and other assets for social media use, utilizing tools like Canva, CapCut, or Adobe Express.
  • Compile and analyze weekly or monthly reports on key social media metrics (e.g., reach, engagement rate, follower growth, website clicks) to track performance against goals.
  • Conduct ongoing research to stay ahead of the latest social media trends, platform algorithm changes, and emerging best practices to propose fresh and innovative ideas.
  • Monitor competitor social media activities to identify their content strategies, campaign tactics, and community engagement approaches for competitive analysis.
  • Support the planning and execution of social media campaigns, contests, and promotions from conception to reporting.
  • Collaborate closely with the Social Media Manager and wider marketing team to ensure all social media activity is cohesive and integrated with other marketing efforts.
  • Curate and manage a library of user-generated content (UGC), obtaining necessary permissions for repurposing across brand channels.
  • Perform social listening to monitor brand sentiment, track relevant conversations, and identify potential customer service issues or PR opportunities.
  • Write clear, compelling, and error-free copy for social media captions, headlines, and calls-to-action that is tailored for each specific platform and audience.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the coordination and execution of influencer and creator collaborations, including outreach and product seeding.
  • Provide on-the-ground social media support for live events, webinars, or brand activations, capturing real-time content.
  • Maintain and organize the digital asset management (DAM) system for all social media creative files.
  • Assist in brainstorming sessions for new content pillars, campaign themes, and creative concepts.
  • Proofread and edit all social media content to ensure it is free of typos, grammatical errors, and aligns with brand guidelines before publication.
  • Help manage and moderate online communities, such as Facebook Groups or Discord servers, to encourage positive interaction.
  • Track and document social media spending for boosted posts and small-scale ad campaigns under the guidance of the Social Media Manager.
  • Prepare and distribute internal summaries of social media performance and key community insights to relevant stakeholders.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Platform Proficiency: Deep, hands-on knowledge of major social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube).
  • Scheduling Tools: Experience with social media management and scheduling software such as Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Later, or Buffer.
  • Content Creation Tools: Proficiency in using user-friendly design and video editing tools like Canva, CapCut, and Adobe Express.
  • Social Media Analytics: Ability to understand and interpret native analytics from social platforms (e.g., Meta Business Suite, TikTok Analytics) to gather performance insights.
  • Copywriting: Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills with an ability to adapt tone and style for different platforms and audiences.
  • Community Management: Skill in engaging with an online audience, responding to comments, and fostering a positive digital environment.
  • Basic Project Management: Familiarity with using tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com to track tasks and manage content calendars.

Soft Skills

  • Creativity: A natural ability to generate fresh ideas for content and engagement that capture attention.
  • Exceptional Organization: Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple tasks and platforms simultaneously without missing deadlines.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to proofreading copy, checking links, and ensuring all content is flawless before it goes live.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with the community and collaborating with internal teams.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and quickly adapt to changing social media trends and platform updates.
  • Proactive & Resourceful: A self-starter attitude with the ability to identify opportunities and solve problems independently.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or Associate's Degree.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Marketing
  • Communications
  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
  • Digital Media

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0 - 2 years of relevant experience.

Preferred: Demonstrable experience through professional internships, managing social media for a student organization or club, or maintaining a significant and well-curated personal brand/project that showcases relevant skills.