Digital Marketing Specialist

We are seeking a Digital Marketing Specialist to join or Marketing team. The Digital Marketing Specialist is a support-focused role responsible for coordinating and executing SEO-related tasks in partnership with IRT's internal marketing team and external SEO partner. This role serves as the internal point of contact for SEO activity - implementing recommendations from the SEO partner, conducting research, and ensuring updates are completed accurately and on time. This role also supports social media, content, reputation, and paid media programs as part of a broader integrated marketing team.

*We are considering candidates in/near Philadelphia, PA or Tampa, FL

Duties include but are not limited to:

SEO Support & Coordination

• Serve as the internal coordinator for SEO activity, working closely with IRT's external SEO partner to implement on-page recommendations across property and corporate landing pages.
• Execute SEO updates including metadata, header structure, internal linking, image optimization, and content edits as directed by the SEO partner.
• Conduct keyword and competitive research to support the SEO partner's strategy, providing findings and local market context relevant to IRT's portfolio.
• Track and document the status of SEO recommendations, ensuring tasks are completed, communicated, and followed up on in a timely manner.
• Monitor organic search performance using Google Search Console and Google Analytics, pulling and sharing reports with the SEO partner and internal team as needed.
• Share keyword insights and organic performance trends with the paid search team to support alignment across search channels.

Paid Media Collaboration

• Serve as the SEO liaison to the paid search team, proactively sharing keyword data, organic performance trends, and landing page insights to inform and strengthen paid search strategy.
• Support paid media initiatives as needed, contributing to reporting or landing page alignment - this role does not own or manage paid campaigns.

Organic Content & Social Media

• Support the drafting, coordination, and publishing of content across social media platforms, blogs, and review sites, contributing to the maintenance of a monthly content calendar for corporate and property accounts.
• Assist in the development of an outcome-based social media strategy to expand online presence, advance brand visibility, and grow resident engagement.
• Support site-level teams on timely, professional responses to comments, posts, and reviews.
• Optimize images and creative assets for digital marketing efforts, including SEO and user experience best practices.

Reputation Management & Emerging Platforms

• Manage and grow the company's review presence across platforms including Google, Yelp, and other relevant directories, leveraging tools such as Birdeye to streamline outreach and response workflows.
• Monitor and optimize review content visibility on AI-powered search platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, Gemini) that increasingly surface local business and property listings.
• Stay current on emerging digital channels and recommend strategies to capitalize on evolving search and discovery trends.

Collaboration & Field Support

• Partner with on-site apartment community teams to support digital marketing efforts that drive awareness and leasing activity.
• Coordinate with the Renovation/Value Add team to ensure photography and digital content are current and optimized.
• Assist in planning and promoting community events, grand openings, and resident events.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with third-party vendors, community partners, and industry groups.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• This position requires travel to properties, markets, and corporate events as needed. Travel frequency will vary based on business needs and may include overnight stays.

Requirements:

• 1-3 years of digital marketing experience, with exposure to SEO principles and on-page optimization practices.
• Familiarity with Google Search Console and Google Analytics; experience with SEO tools such as SEMrush or Ahrefs is a plus.
• Ability to execute on-page SEO updates including metadata, content edits, and structural changes with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working within a team structure, taking direction from an external partner and coordinating tasks across internal stakeholders.
• Familiarity with paid search (SEM/PPC) and the ability to collaborate effectively with a paid media team.
• Experience with reputation management platforms (Birdeye or similar) preferred.
• Familiarity with how AI-powered search platforms surface local content and property listings is a plus.
• Proficiency with video and photo editing tools, digital media formats, and content management platforms. (Adobe Suite, Canva, etc.)
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills is a plus (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, custom functions, macro recording, etc.).
• Strong copywriting, copy-editing, and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Must be able to accommodate a hybrid work schedule
• HTML experience a plus.

Independence Realty Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, familial, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected classes