Job Title: Manager, Social Media

Date: January 2024

Department:  Marketing & Communications

Reports to:  Director, Marketing & Communications

# Direct Reports: 1

Perks and Benefits:

FREE: breakfast, lunch, parking, on-site gym and training classes, and gym membership at Chicago Athletic Clubs.  Free Peloton membership, casual dress environment, access to United Center concert events, one-time stipend for home office equipment, competitive total rewards package, full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid life insurance), comprehensive PTO package, social events, volunteer opportunities, and focused learning and development. 

What It’s Like Working Here:

The Chicago Blackhawks experience isn’t just on the ice.  Our office, located in the United Center, promotes a fun, engaging, fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where we can celebrate both hockey and each other.  Our commitment to curating an environment where all individuals feel empowered to bring their best self to work each day can be seen throughout our organization.   Whether you are a job seeker looking to join the organization, a current member of our amazing team, or someone looking to help support our mission, our goal is the same – to reimagine the potential of hockey through memorable, inclusive experiences.  

The Ideal Candidate:  

This role requires a deep passion for creating fan affinity and community, striking a balance across team narrative and cultural trends. Hockey knowledge is a plus, as the next era of Blackhawks hockey begins. 

The Top Shelf:   
The Chicago Blackhawks are seeing a growth-minded Social Media Manager to lead Chicago Blackhawks social strategy and execution. The Social Media Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management across all major social channels including, but not limited to: Meta (Instagram, Facebook), TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, in addition to other enterprise accounts such as Blackhawks Amateur Hockey and the Blackhawks Store. Key responsibilities include creating and managing the social content calendar and developing social content strategies that build fandom, engage followers and amplify key moments that drive the business forward.

  
How You’ll Contribute:   

• Manage and set strategy for social aligned with brand's short and long-term goals that contributes to expanding our audience, drives engagement, and help grows the game of hockey; with a particular focus on brand building, awareness, and relevancy to help continue growing the Blackhawks brand.
• Curate and manage Blackhawks social media calendar and publishing across all Blackhawks team accounts and subsidiary channels, including @BlackhawksStore, @BHYouthHockey, @BHawkTommyHawk. 
• Cover live events alongside the Digital team across multiple platforms and create in-the-moment content exclusive to social media for all Blackhawks games, practices or other events with the community, sponsor and NHL, etc.
• Research, write, and create 'attention-grabbing' social content (text, photos, short videos, illustrations, etc.) + actively engage within social communities 
• Be an active part in brainstorming, creating, and executing content ideas for all company initiatives, including social-first rollout of Digital- or Production-led initiatives
• Manage Social Media Coordinators and oversee their development, tasks and growth within in the company; additionally manage all part-time game night creators, including communication with NHL LSC program
• Monitor relevant social conversation around the Blackhawks, NHL, and the current global landscape and lead community management efforts to continue engaging with and growing audience.
• Collaborate with Corporate Partnership department to ensure sponsored content delivers and complies with platform and partner requirements.
• Partner with Business Strategy & Analytics teams to set learning agenda and incorporate findings into real-time improvements for social plans.
• Communicate and collaborate with league office on sponsored activations and content. 
• Assist in content management/social media consultation with all internal and ancillary accounts.
• Conceptualize and execute high-impact campaigns around Blackhawks large brand moments.
• Keeps up to date on social trends and happenings, youth culture, new social platforms, and the competitive landscape.

Player Stats and Qualifications:   

• 5+ years of relevant experience directly managing brand accounts, with sports and/or team experience a plus
• Passion and deep knowledge about the social media landscape - demonstrated thought leadership in the space a plus.  
• Should be extremely organized and detail oriented, with a focus on quality and consistency.
• Strong understanding of social media platforms, trends, and strategy.
• Strong hockey knowledge is preferred, particularly as it pertains to the NHL.
• Experience and proficiency with all social platforms as well as social listening/analytics tools such as Blinkfire, Sprout Social, or equivalent products.
• Experience using DSLR cameras, and the Adobe Creative Suite is preferred, but not required.
• Ability to prioritize, manage, and complete multiple projects and activities with simultaneous deadlines.
• Ability and internal drive to demonstrate a winning attitude and a strong work ethic in the performance of all job responsibilities.
• Positive attitude and strong work ethic a must, must have a “team-first” mentality with an eagerness to learn.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to address, adapt to, and overcome challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Demonstrated aptitude for driving results
• High attention to detail
• Demonstrates Chicago Blackhawks core values of integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality
• Ability to work outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays 

The Team:   

The Chicago Blackhawks started their journey as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” professional ice hockey teams in 1926.  Members of the Central Division in the NHL’s Western Conference and six-time Stanley Cup Champions (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015), the team calls the United Center home.  

Each day the Team works to uphold our mission to reimagine the potential of hockey..  At its core, the team and greater organization uphold its mission through its core values centered around integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality.  They are fiercely dedicated to evolving and delivering new and legendary fan experiences and captivating new and diverse audiences, both on and off the ice.  As part of their unwavering commitment to drive impact and purpose in the Chicago community, the organization opened the Fifth Third Arena (the team’s official practice facility and community space for youth hockey development), continues to make expansions to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, and acquired the AHL team the Rockford IceHogs. 

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in its commitments to honor and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities they live amongst and alongside. They engage in this work through their formal partnership with Black Hawk’s ancestral tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, which the tribe established with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.  

The Chicago Blackhawks is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels.   All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.  All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases.