About this role
From food festivals and sports shows to large-scale expos and awards programs, the Events division of USA TODAY produces nearly 200 live experiences each year across the country.
We're looking for a Social Media Specialist who thrives in fast-paced environments and knows how to turn real-world moments into engaging, high-performing content. This role blends creative storytelling, live event coverage, and performance-driven thinking-supporting campaigns that drive awareness, engagement, and ticket sales across a national event portfolio.
If you can capture the energy of a live event and translate it into content that performs, this role is for you.
What You'll Do
Create Content People Actually Engage With
Plan, create, and publish content across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and moreBuild and manage content calendars aligned with multiple event timelinesDevelop captions, posts, and short-form video designed to drive engagement and action Be On the Ground at Live Events
Travel to select events to capture real-time contentExecute live coverage including stories, reels, behind-the-scenes, and audience momentsTurn in-person experiences into compelling digital storytelling Support Paid Social & Campaign Performance
Support paid social campaigns through setup, creative coordination, QA, and performance monitoringPartner closely with paid media teams to align organic content with campaign objectivesContribute to campaign optimization by identifying trends, suggesting creative or audience adjustments, and using performance insights to inform decisions Engage and Grow the Audience
Manage comments, DMs, and social engagement in a timely, brand-aligned voiceHelp build excitement and community before, during, and after events Think Beyond the Post
Monitor performance and identify what's working (and what's not)Contribute ideas to improve engagement, reach, and conversionsStay on top of trends and translate them into content opportunities What You Bring
1-3 years of experience in social media, content, or digital marketingStrong understanding of platform-specific content and engagement strategiesHands-on exposure to paid social campaigns (Meta, TikTok, or similar)Experience with scheduling or analytics tools (Sprout, Hootsuite, etc.)Strong writing, editing, and communication skillsAbility to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environmentWillingness to travel and work on-site at live events Nice to Have
Experience supporting paid social campaigns, including creative testing or optimizationsFamiliarity with performance metrics such as CTR, CPC, CPA, or ROASExperience creating high-performing short-form video contentBasic knowledge of tracking (UTMs, pixels)Experience capturing content in live event environmentsExposure to influencer, creator, or UGC-style campaigns Why This Role Stands Out
Work on a national portfolio of nearly 200 live events annuallyBe part of bringing experiences to life under the USA TODAY nameBlend creative content, live storytelling, and performance marketingGet out from behind the desk and capture content where it actually happens Growth Opportunity
This role is built for someone looking to grow into a more strategic marketing position over time, with increasing exposure to campaign planning, performance insights, and cross-channel collaboration.
#LI-REMOTE #LOCALiQ #LI-LL
The annualized base salary for this role will range between $40,000, and $50,000. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable