DEPARTMENT: Social Media

REPORTS TO: President

TRAVEL: 30-40%

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes

LOCATION: Austin

At GSD&M we're on a mission to build First & Only brands, meaning the first to do it and the only ones who can. We're able to do this because we set a high bar for ourselves and our work. We care about what we put out in the world. We're humans who like other humans. Our ideas make a difference. Shift culture. Create a smile. Inspire change. Initiate belly laughs. Deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves. We grow. We learn. We get better. We do it all over again. Because that's what it takes to build and be First & Only.

SVP Director, Social

Position Overview

The SVP Director, Social is responsible for crafting and delivering the vision for our agency's social media practice. This is a unique opportunity to lead the department in creating First & Only brands through social media at an agency that has a track record of culture defining social moments. This role requires a blend of creative vision, analytical prowess, and leadership skills to drive our clients' brands forward in the social landscape. You will spearhead our agency's social strategy, ensuring our clients achieve maximum engagement and impact across platforms. You will uphold our agency values in all that you do, instilling them in your team and being an active participant in the future of the agency.

The SVP Director, Social is a collaboration champion, working closely and productively with disciplines and key stakeholders across media, brand strategy, comms strategy, creative, account leadership - in the pursuit of First & Only solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic creative vision and direction of our agency's social media practice
• Guide the development of the social team, ensuring the team is poised for success in an ever-changing media landscape
• Manage a large team of social media directors, social media managers and social content creators, collaborating with and stewarding them on key social best practices
• Ensure excellence in social strategy, execution, optimization and engagement for our clients
• Work closely with the media practice to determine how to execute best in class paid social media
• Provide regular performance feedback and goal setting for the social team
• Establish the foundation of the social practice as an integrated part of the overall agency offering
• Ensure the agency stays competitive and ahead of competition by staying informed of industry developments, trends and technology advances in the social space
• Keep the social practice in top performance by continually assessing the tools and resources used by the social team
• Create a social practice that attracts and retains top social talent
• Serve as the client liaison for our largest and highest priority social clients
• Represent social in new business pitches and as an active participant of the leadership team
• Provide strategic guidance on a variety of client initiatives to nurture and grow business
• Work with discipline leads to generate growth opportunities via expansion of existing client scope and new business
• Support strategic direction related to client and project challenges; serve as the point of escalation for social-related issues on client business

• Proven track record and thought leader in the social space
• Strong leadership experience and ability to resolve conflict with productive outcomes
• Ability to collaboratively work across departments with tact and a firm understanding of other's roles and perspectives
• Passionate commitment to continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to operate under fast deadlines with complex business solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent presentation development and delivery skills
• Ability to provide proactive and assertive leadership in problem solving
• Effective management of multiple high-level engagements
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Ability to inspire, mentor, and motivate a diverse team
• Extensive department management experience for department of 20+ individuals
• Preferred 10+ years of agency social media experience, ideally at an integrated (creative + media) agency.
• Preferred 5+ years leading social strategy for national clients