Social Media Content & Community Specialist

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own West Marine's multi-platform social media strategy aligned to brand and business goals.
• Define KPIs for engagement, reach, traffic, and conversion; monitor progress and optimize.
• Conduct trend, audience, and competitive research to inform creative and community strategy.
• Make independent decisions on content priorities, creative direction, and brand voice.
• Manage social media budgets, allocating funds for paid boosts, tools, and vendors.
• Film, edit, and post engaging short-form videos (Reels, TikToks, Stories) using mobile devices or lightweight gear.
• Create still imagery, carousels, memes, and platform-optimized copy.
• Approve and schedule all social content, ensuring brand alignment and campaign consistency.
• Support larger campaign moments with original content from retail stores, events, or on-water shoots.
• Maintain a proactive content calendar tied to business priorities and seasonal trends.
• Establish engagement standards and maintain West Marine's social media voice guidelines.
• Monitor and respond to comments, DMs, and tags across platforms.
• Build relationships with influencers, creators, and community members to expand reach.
• Escalate customer service issues as needed and partner with internal teams on resolutions.
• Visit local West Marine stores and events to capture authentic, real-time content.
• Represent the brand professionally at activations, media opportunities, and industry events.
• Own social media performance reporting, delivering insights and actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Use analytics to adjust strategy, creative, and posting cadence for maximum impact.
• Evaluate and implement tools or processes to increase efficiency and improve results.
• Work closely with marketing, merchandising, eCommerce, and retail teams to align social media efforts with business objectives.
• Collaborate with PR, influencer marketing, and creative teams to amplify campaigns.
• Share social insights that inform broader marketing and merchandising strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field; equivalent professional experience considered.
• 3-5 years of hands-on social media experience (agency or brand-side).
• Strong creative judgment and understanding of brand storytelling.
• Proven experience managing budgets, KPIs, and/or vendor relationships.
• Proficiency with mobile-first content tools (e.g., CapCut, Canva, Adobe Express, InShot).
• Strong copywriting skills, adapting tone for different audiences and platforms.
• Familiarity with analytics and social media management tools (e.g., Sprout Social, Meta Business Suite, Later).
• Ability to stay ahead of platform trends and emerging formats.
• Based in or near Fort Lauderdale / Miami with availability for local travel.
• Passion for boating, fishing, watersports, or the outdoors is a plus.

Nice to Have

• Passion for boating, fishing, watersports, or the outdoors.