Social Media Specialist, Education Initiatives

Most social media jobs hand you an established account, a legacy voice, and a decade of habits you cannot break. This one hands you a blank slate and a running start.
Cato is launching its first social channel dedicated to its educational programs, and we are looking for the person who will build it. Cato University, Cato Courses, the Internship Program, the Research Associate Program, and Student Briefings have never had a social home built to reach their audiences. You will create it, then own it. You will also help grow Sphere Education Initiatives' established channels for educators, working with the program's leaders to create content that supports their goals. Two audiences, two distinct voices, one person keeping both moving.
Building the new channel means deciding how an educational account can cut through a crowded feed and show people why Cato’s ideas and programs are valuable. You will work with program owners and the marketing team to define the program’s voice, tone, and overall look and feel, then set promotional priorities across Meta, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms.
This hybrid position reports to the Marketing Director and is based in Washington, DC, with in-office work required every Thursday and Friday.
The salary range is $70,000 to $85,000 per year, based on the successful candidate’s educational background, experience, and skills.
About Cato The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization, a think tank, dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
Founded in 1977 and named for Cato’s Letters, the 18th-century essays that inspired the architects of the American Revolution, Cato conducts independent, nonpartisan research across a wide range of policy issues.
Cato’s education programs carry that work to the next generation. Cato University, Cato Courses, the Internship Program, the Research Assistant Program, and Student Briefings introduce students and curious learners to the ideas behind a free society, meeting them where they already are. Sphere Education Initiatives gives educators viewpoint-diverse resources to bring civil discourse into their classrooms. Growing the reach of these programs is what this role exists to do.
Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Key Duties & Responsibilities A new social channel for Cato’s educational programs, from account setup to established presence
Driving registrations for Cato Courses, Cato’s online learning platform built around the policy questions shaping the world right now
Driving attendance and geographic reach for Cato University, the Institute’s premier in-person series for college and graduate students
Promotion and outreach that drives applications to the Internship Program and the Research Associate Program, which place students and early-career talent alongside working Cato scholars
Attendance at Student Briefings, which bring students face to face with the ideas behind the policy questions of the moment
Sphere Education Initiatives’ existing channels, including continued audience growth among educators
A documented voice, tone, and look and feel for the new channel, developed together with program owners and the marketing team, so the whole team is aligned
Promotional priorities across five student programs sharing one channel, plus a distinct editorial approach for each audience knowing exactly who is on the other side of each post is the job
Requirements Experience and Skill Sets A strong understanding of, and alignment with, libertarian or classical liberal principles is required
Minimum of 3 years managing social media accounts across multiple platforms, with demonstrated growth results
Direct experience owning social channels, in the nonprofit or for-profit space.
Proficiency with video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, and experience producing social-first video with captions and strong hooks
Skill in writing platform-appropriate copy for distinct audience segments
Strong command of social analytics and reporting, plus management platforms such as Buffer, Hootsuite, or Sprout Social
Ability to coach individuals toward a strong on-camera presence
Strong editorial judgement, comfort translating complex policy content into clear and compelling posts, and the ability to identify the moments, ideas, people, and conversations worth joining
Working knowledge of LLM AI tools
Strong project ownership, with the judgment to prioritize across competing programs and stakeholders
What You’ll Build Audiences of curious, like-minded people who came for a good post and stayed for the ideas
A content engine that scales across five programs without sounding like five different organizations, with an evergreen library plus campaign content for launches, application windows, and seasonal moments
A national community of learners and educators engaging with the principles of a free society
How You’ll Work Partner day to day with the Marketing Manager for Education Growth, so social and campaign strategy move as one
Work with program owners across all six programs, Sphere included, to set priorities and plan content around launches, sessions, application windows, and milestones
Build social media audience by publishing daily across Meta, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging platforms
Determine platform strategy according to performance metrics, analysis, and content testing
Create and edit social-first content, including short-form clips with strong hooks and longer features for YouTube, while also utilizing Cato’s in-house designers, videographers, editors, and marketing colleagues as necessary
Attend Cato University sessions, Sphere events, and student briefings for live posting, video capture, and real-time engagement, resulting in up to 10% travel
Coach scholars, speakers, and participants to be compelling on camera
Tailor messaging by audience segment, and collaborate in the development of organic and paid campaigns that drive awareness, registration, and other KPIs
Report on follower growth, engagement, reach, click-through, and conversion, with recommendations on what to do next
Stay ahead of platform changes and format shifts, and perform other duties as assigned
What Success Looks Like In the first 90 days: Launch the education programs' social presence
Establish a content calendar
Build reporting and baseline metrics
Develop relationships with program teams
Within the first year: Demonstrate measurable audience growth
Contribute meaningfully to registrations and applications
Establish a repeatable content engine
Grow Sphere's educator audience
Benefits All Cato employees are offered the following benefits:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Generous vacation and sick leave
Paid parental leave
Employer-provided life and disability insurance
401(k) with employer match
Transit/Parking benefits
Pet discount plan

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