Social media manager

Employment Type: Full-time (Remote with some international travel required) Location: UK Preferred Reporting to: Head of Marketing Applicants must be age 18 About the John Locke Institute The John Locke Institute is an independent educational organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping exceptional students for academic and intellectual success. Through our prestigious international summer schools and Global Essay Prize, we cultivate a rigorous learning environment that fosters critical thinking, intellectual humility, and open-minded discourse. Our programmes bring together talented students and distinguished faculty, offering a unique platform for academic challenge and personal growth. By engaging with complex ideas and refining their reasoning skills, students develop the confidence to excel in their academic and professional journeys. Position Summary We are seeking a Social Media Manager to join our marketing department and to own and grow the Institute's presence across all major social platforms. The role is responsible for producing and curating content and maintaining the Institute’s voice in day-to-day output. Key Responsibilities • Own and grow the Institute's presence across all major social platforms • Help develop and execute the social media strategy, setting and reporting against channel-level growth and engagement targets. • Build and manage a content calendar aligned to the admissions cycle, competition deadlines, and programme calendar. • Adapt and publish material from the summer programmes and the Global Essay Prize and, going forward, the Locke Magazine, the podcast, and the debating championship, for social channels, whilst maintaining a consistent institutional voice. • Manage day-to-day community engagement, responding to comments and cultivating the Institute's online audience. • Develop and steward relationships with alumni, ambassadors, and student advocates as content contributors. • Train and supervise summer programme interns in capturing high-quality photography, video, and interviews suitable for use across the Institute's social channels. • Track and report on performance across platforms, using channel data to refine content, format, and timing. • Stay current with platform changes, trends, and best practice. Qualifications and Experience • Proven track record of growing and managing social media for an organisation or brand, with measurable results. • Mastery of the major social platforms and their native content formats. • Excellent written and spoken English and sharp editorial judgement. • Proficiency with social media management and analytics tools (e.g. Meta Business Suite, native platform analytics, scheduling tools). • Proficiency with design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, CapCut or equivalent) for producing and directing visual content. • The ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines across time zones. Who We're Looking For This is a role in which demonstrated output matters more than formal credentials. We are less interested in your degree subject than in what you have built: the accounts you have grown, the content you have made, and the audiences you have engaged. A strong portfolio will always outweigh an impressive CV. The strongest candidates will typically have three to six years' experience in social media and content, ideally having taken ownership of an organisation's channels in-house rather than only through an agency. Experience in education, publishing, the arts, think tanks, or membership organisations is a particular advantage: these are brands that earn their audience through credibility rather than transaction, as the John Locke Institute does. We are Looking for Someone Who • Can show measurable audience growth from a clear starting point, with both the numbers and the content open to scrutiny. • Writes as well as they design — this role adapts intellectually serious material for a general audience without diminishing it. • Is fluent in short-form video across social platforms, not only static design. • Understands instinctively how to engage our audience across the world, and can pitch to that audience without condescension. • Can represent the Institute's commitment to free inquiry, meritocracy, and rigorous debate with fidelity and good judgement across every platform. Skills & Attributes for Success • A strong writer in British English at publication standard. Writing sample and exercise will be required. • A commitment to quality, clarity, and the Institute's measured, authoritative voice. • Sympathy for the John Locke Institute’s intellectual positioning. • Self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team. • Openness to accept and implement constructive feedback. What We Offer • Remote Role — with some international travel to summer programmes required. • Inspiring Work — Engage with bright students and leading academics from top universities worldwide. • Mission-Driven Work — Be part of an organisation dedicated to inspiring the next generation of thinkers. • Supportive Team — Work alongside a highly competent and motivated team dedicated to your success. • Creative Freedom — Your ideas and initiatives are valued; we encourage innovation. • Competitive salary, depending on skills and experience.