Social Media Lead

RealClear was founded a quarter century ago on the idea of giving people the best reporting and analysis from across the political spectrum and trusting them to think for themselves. In a current media landscape crowded with ideologically-driven agendas, RealClear has remained a place that believes its readers want the whole story, not a predetermined conclusion. This editorial mission is backed by something tangible: an award-winning newsroom of journalists and analysts whose work is followed by the people who shape American politics. RealClear operates across key verticals, including its flagship Politics vertical, and Energy, Defense, and Health. RealClear also operates the RealClear Polling Average, the gold standard for political polling data – it’s even used to determine which presidential candidates get Secret Service protection. About the role: We are looking for a strategic social media leader to re-envision RealClear's social presence and accelerate multi-platform growth that builds loyal audiences over time. The Social Media Lead will be the editorial architect of how RC shows up on social — shaping not just what gets posted, but which stories, voices, and formats best communicate the depth and credibility of its coverage. That means rethinking how existing assets are programmed across platforms, working with the existing team to develop new audio and video formats, and bringing RC's polling and elections intelligence — one of the most distinctive assets in political media — into the foreground in ways native to each platform. Responsibilities: Develop and own RC's cross-platform social strategy, including the role and relevance of each platform, with a clear-eyed view of where to invest and why. Monitor the news cycle and cultural zeitgeist in real time, developing the editorial judgment to identify moments when RC should participate in ways organic to the brand. Cultivate genuine relationships with RC's readership across platforms — treating social not just as a broadcast channel but as a place where the audience's intelligence and engagement are an asset worth developing. Lead the build-out of a vertical video strategy from the ground up, establishing workflows, formats, and a content cadence that can scale. Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with the RC team to ensure social is integrated into the broader content ecosystem. Work in partnership with video and graphics to create high-impact visuals aligned to platform objectives. Serve as the connective tissue between editorial and distribution: embedding with the newsroom to identify high-value social moments, and creating formats that elevate their expertise to a new audience. Operations and Resourcing: Assess current capabilities and make a clear case for the people, tools, and budget needed to execute at a high level. Define roles (whether in-house, freelance, or agency) and build out the team accordingly. Establish performance frameworks and reporting that connect social metrics to editorial and business goals. Qualifications: 5-8 years of experience in social media at a fast-paced newsroom, network, or media brand, with strong editorial judgment and ability to make real-time decisions during breaking news and live coverage. An expert understanding of algorithm shifts and a proven track record of growing audiences on emerging and established platforms. Proven vertical video fluency, inclusive of repeatable formats, talent, and on-camera development, and clipping strategies. Experience with vertical-first shooting is a plus. Familiarity with data journalism and using data to ideate compelling, shareable visuals is a plus. Interest in political science, government, and civic affairs is a plus. The ability to translate social analytics into actionable insights for the editorial team to inform future coverage. #J-18808-Ljbffr