Overview
Department: Brand Marketing
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Head Office, Chelsea House
Reporting To: Grace Goodhind
Description
As Social Lead, you will own the social strategy across all platforms – from TikTok to Instagram, Threads to YouTube – crafting innovative, thumb-stopping content that brings the River Island brand to life. You will work closely with brand, content, creative, PR and performance teams to ensure our social media is best-in-class, culturally relevant, and always on-brand. This role blends creative vision with commercial awareness to ensure social content builds brand equity and drives engagement, traffic, and revenue.
Key Responsibilities
* Strategy & Leadership: Develop and lead the overall social media strategy for River Island across all platforms.
* KPIs & Reporting: Define KPIs, reporting frameworks, and clear success metrics.
* Monitoring & Trends: Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and platform updates to stay ahead.
* Internal Expert: Act as the internal expert on all things social – educating and inspiring wider teams.
Content & Campaigns
* Oversee the planning, creation, and execution of always-on and campaign content.
* Collaborate with internal creative and content teams to ensure social-first thinking is embedded from the start.
* Identify and leverage key cultural moments, trends, and platform opportunities.
* Champion and grow River Island’s presence on emerging platforms like TikTok and Threads.
* Work closely with the Paid Media team to identify key content for boosting and paid social.
Team Management
* Manage and mentor the small social team.
* Set clear objectives, support career development, and foster a creative, collaborative team culture.
Influencer & Community Engagement
* Partner with PR and influencer teams to build and scale influencer strategies that align with social objectives.
* Work closely with the Senior Community Manager and CRM team to build on customer loyalty, ensuring tone of voice is always on-brand and reflective of our values.
Analytics & Optimisation
* Use data and insights to inform decision-making and optimise content performance.
* Produce regular performance reports and share learnings across the business.
* Stay informed on social commerce, audience behaviours, and paid/organic synergy.
About You
Essential Experience:
* 6+ years of experience in social media, with at least 2 in a leadership or strategic role.
* Proven track record of growing social media audiences and delivering high-performing content.
* Deep understanding of the social landscape, especially TikTok, Instagram, and emerging platforms.
* Fashion, retail, or lifestyle brand experience highly desirable.
* Strong leadership and team management skills.
* Comfortable working cross-functionally and presenting to senior stakeholders.
Skills & Attributes:
* Highly creative with strong storytelling instincts.
* Commercially aware with an understanding of brand and performance marketing.
* Agile, adaptable, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
* Analytical, data-literate, and results-driven.
* Up to date with youth culture, trends, memes, and moments that matter to our audience.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. What we can offer you includes a generous 50% staff discount, reward benefits, an on-site gym and subsidised restaurant, flexible working, and a generous bonus scheme and private pension plan. We also support with upskilling, healthcare options, holiday allowance, and family-friendly policies. All Islanders are welcome, with equality of opportunity and flexible working considerations where possible.
Keeping You Safe
River Island is committed to safeguarding all employees. We promote British Values and encourage inclusion and respect. To learn more, visit gov.uk. We welcome applications from individuals of all ages, genders, ethnicities, disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, and beliefs. We will consider flexible working requests where operational requirements allow.
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