Social Media Specialist,

Social Media Specialist, IS-1001-09
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Department: Office of Public Affairs

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $70,623 - $80,041 / year

Description
OPEN DATE: August 26,2026

CLOSING DATE: August 31, 2026 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive /Low Risk

Who May Apply: SI Only

What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.

Complete a Probationary Period.

Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.

The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.

Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW
This position is located in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) within the Office of Communications and External Affairs at the Smithsonian Institution (SI).

The incumbent serves as a social media specialist and participates in various aspects of social media content production, coordination, and management to engage audiences and to expand knowledge of the Smithsonian Institution and gain support for its mission and programs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Researches, develops, and creates content for social media platforms managed by OPA to promote the Smithsonian and engage audiences with the Smithsonian, to include text, video, and visual assets, for both paid and organic social media posts. Transforms information from all Smithsonian units into content suitable for a social media format and audience.

Contributes to and updates digital archive of evergreen social content for future repurposing.

Drafts alt text, captions, visual descriptions and other accessibility components for social media posts and assets.

Monitors the central Smithsonian social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for brand reputation and key issues in coordination with the OPA social media team. Monitors Smithsonian social media landscape to surface quality content and identify inconsistencies.

Performs customer service and community management on social media platforms and team resource email account; responds to each reasonable question and comment from users to promote engagement with Smithsonian brand. Maintains and updates customer service language bank and internal contact list.

Assists in the development and maintenance of a social media editorial calendar to proactively promote Smithsonian content.

Works with the social media team and OPA colleagues to contribute to social media strategy, tactics, campaigns, and plans. Contributes to social media toolkits and outreach tactics to collaborators, influencers, and other individuals and organizations.

Works with social media strategist to monitor, record, and contribute to analysis of metric data to be used in reports on social media activity and campaigns.

Monitor and research trends and best practices in digital communications; makes recommendations on how to apply to Smithsonian digital communications. Contributes content to OPA's internal social media newsletter distributed to Smithsonian social media practitioners.

Coordinates logistics for Smithsonian social media meetings, recording notes, maintaining unit

Serves as a project coordinator to for projects with internal and external stakeholders.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Experience required for this position is as follows:

Knowledge of social media communication principles, techniques, methods, trends, and best practices.

Knowledge of, and skill in the use of, social media platforms, posts, reports, blog posts, articles, and other materials that convey information to audiences of varying interests, concerning a range of subjects related to Smithsonian units.

Knowledge of social media analytics and measurements in order to adjust content and promotions based on analytics.

Knowledge of the development of social media content, including tactics for reaching, engaging,and growing target audiences, using all features within Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Skill in conducting research to produce engaging social media content, consulting multiple sources, interviewing subject matter experts, fact checking, and editing to ensure precision and quality.

Skill in conducting ongoing social media monitoring and reporting, including crisis and rapidresponse activities, to respond to incidents requiring customer/visitor engagement.

Skill in speaking on behalf of an organization on social media using diplomacy and tact.

Skill in oral and written communication in order to communicate with individuals at all levels about upcoming content and opportunities. Skill in writing and editing content for websites, blogs, social media, and reports.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OCEA-Admin@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian's Accommodation Procedures.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo

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