Social Media Manager
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Posted 25 days ago
About the role
element MEA is supporting a well-established Dubai-based integrated creative agency in appointing an experienced Social Media Manager.
The agency works with leading government, corporate and consumer brands across the UAE and wider GCC. Its capabilities span advertising, experiential marketing, brand communications, social media, digital campaigns, content production and large-scale activations.
The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary agency environment and manage the complete social media function for a portfolio of client accounts.
The agency's identity will be shared with shortlisted candidates during the recruitment process.
Role Purpose
The Social Media Manager will lead the planning, management and continuous improvement of social media activity for assigned client accounts.
Acting as an extension of each client's marketing team, the role holder will develop social media strategies, manage content planning, oversee campaign execution and use performance insights to achieve defined communication and business objectives.
The position combines social media strategy, content leadership, community management, paid-media coordination, influencer marketing, client advisory and performance analytics.
Working closely with Client Servicing, Strategy, Creative, Production, Media and Project Management teams, the Social Media Manager will ensure that social media is integrated into every stage of a campaign—from concept development and content production through publishing, community engagement and post-campaign analysis.
Key Responsibilities
Social Media Strategy
- Develop annual, quarterly and campaign-specific social media strategies for assigned client accounts.
- Build platform-specific strategies aligned with client business objectives, audience behaviour and marketing priorities.
- Recommend the appropriate channel mix, content pillars, publishing cadence and engagement approach.
- Translate wider brand and marketing strategies into practical social media plans.
- Present strategies, recommendations and campaign opportunities to clients and internal teams.
- Regularly review and refine strategies based on platform changes, audience insights and campaign performance.
- Develop social media campaigns that support wider advertising, experiential, digital, PR and activation initiatives.
- Collaborate with Strategy and Creative teams to strengthen the role of social media within integrated campaigns.
- Create detailed campaign rollout plans across multiple platforms and audience segments.
- Ensure online content supports and amplifies on-ground events, activations and brand experiences.
- Identify real-time content and audience-engagement opportunities during live campaigns and events.
- Coordinate campaign timelines, deliverables, approvals and publishing schedules.
- Develop monthly and campaign-specific content calendars aligned with client priorities and marketing objectives.
- Prepare clear creative briefs for Designers, Copywriters, Photographers, Videographers, Animators and Motion Designers.
- Manage content development from initial concept through production, approval and publishing.
- Ensure content is platform-native, audience-focused and consistent with client brand guidelines.
- Maintain the appropriate balance between planned, reactive, educational, promotional and engagement-led content.
- Review content for accuracy, quality, tone, platform suitability and cultural relevance.
- Manage multiple client accounts while maintaining consistency and meeting deadlines.
- Oversee daily community engagement across client social media channels.
- Respond to comments, direct messages, enquiries and audience interactions in line with approved guidelines.
- Develop response frameworks and escalation procedures for sensitive or high-risk issues.
- Monitor online sentiment, customer feedback and emerging reputational risks.
- Escalate complaints, crises or potentially damaging conversations promptly.
- Develop engagement initiatives that encourage meaningful audience participation and community growth.
- Ensure community management reflects each brand's tone of voice and service standards.
- Collaborate with media specialists to plan and execute paid social media campaigns.
- Recommend campaign objectives, audience targeting, budget allocation, creative formats and platform selection.
- Ensure alignment between organic content strategies and paid-media activity.
- Monitor campaign performance and recommend adjustments to improve reach, engagement, leads or conversions.
- Coordinate the development of campaign assets required for different audiences, placements and media formats.
- Support testing of messaging, creative formats, audiences and calls to action.
- Identify influencers and content creators who are relevant to campaign objectives and brand positioning.
- Manage influencer shortlisting, assessment, onboarding, briefing, approvals and content delivery.
- Coordinate contracts, timelines, deliverables and internal or client approvals with the relevant teams.
- Build productive, long-term creator relationships that benefit client brands.
- Monitor influencer content for quality, brand alignment, compliance and authenticity.
- Measure influencer performance, audience quality and campaign return on investment.
- Develop performance dashboards for assigned client accounts.
- Monitor key metrics including reach, impressions, engagement, audience growth, conversions, click-through rate, cost per result, CPM and return on investment.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and campaign-specific performance reports.
- Move beyond reporting numbers by clearly explaining what changed, why it changed and what should happen next.
- Present results and recommendations confidently to clients.
- Use performance insights to improve content, targeting, platform investment and future campaign planning.
- Establish relevant benchmarks for each client, platform and campaign type.
- Act as a trusted social media advisor to assigned clients.
- Participate in planning meetings, campaign reviews, workshops and content discussions.
- Understand each client's commercial priorities, audience challenges and approval processes.
- Educate clients on platform developments, audience behaviour, emerging trends and digital opportunities.
- Manage client expectations regarding timelines, approvals, content performance and platform limitations.
- Identify opportunities to expand social media, content, influencer and integrated marketing services.
- Build strong relationships while maintaining professional boundaries and clear accountability.
- Work closely with Client Servicing, Creative, Strategy, Production, Media and Project Management teams.
- Ensure briefs, timelines, approvals and accountabilities are clearly communicated.
- Provide constructive feedback that improves creative work while respecting specialist expertise.
- Support junior social media and community-management team members where required.
- Contribute to agency pitches, new-business proposals and social media audits.
- Promote strong working practices, documentation and knowledge-sharing across the team.
Social Media Strategy
Builds platform-specific strategies that connect audience behaviour with business and communication objectives.
Campaign Management
Plans and manages integrated social media campaigns from concept development through reporting.
Content Leadership
Oversees content planning, briefing, creation, publishing and continuous optimization.
Client Management
Builds trusted relationships and provides clear, commercially relevant advice to client marketing teams.
Community Building
Develops engaged online communities while protecting brand reputation and customer experience.
Analytics and Performance
Interprets campaign data and converts insights into practical actions and recommendations.
Collaboration
Works effectively with creative, strategy, production, media, client servicing and project management teams.
Innovation
Introduces relevant content formats, platform features, creative opportunities and digital trends.
Commercial Awareness
Understands how social media contributes to brand growth, customer acquisition, engagement and business performance.
Qualifications And Experience
- Four to seven years of experience in social media management within an integrated, digital, creative or advertising agency.
- Proven experience managing social media activity for multiple brands or large client accounts.
- Strong understanding of Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X, Snapchat and emerging platforms.
- Experience using tools such as Meta Business Suite, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later or similar platforms.
- Experience working with influencers, content creators, paid-media teams and integrated campaigns.
- Strong presentation, reporting and client-management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal English.
- Arabic communication capability is highly desirable.
- Experience managing government, corporate, retail, hospitality, lifestyle or consumer-brand accounts would be advantageous.