Social Media Specialist

Ideal Candidate should be located in New York, Chicago or Austin
The Social Media Specialist will be responsible for developing and executing social media strategy for Vera Bradley Brand and Outlet channels across various platforms, creating engaging content, analyzing audience engagement, and managing online interactions to build brand awareness and community, while monitoring performance metrics to optimize campaigns and achieve marketing goals. This role requires someone who is actively aware of and passionate about what’s trending online and across social channels (Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Note: Other duties may be assigned)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Alongside the creative agency, define the day-to-day look and feel and storytelling of Vera Bradley’s social platforms. Create content that is on trend, relevant, engaging, modern, unique, authentic and personal.
• Ideate/create editorial content (imagery, animations, video, stories, etc.) under tight deadlines; proactively develop concepts and compelling treatments.
• Curate content, build shot list, write caption copy, manage feeds and oversee the upload of images as required.
• Collaborate with creative teams on photo shoots related to social including concepting, preparation, execution, editing, and retouching.
• Review and gain approval for all assets to include UGC and incoming influencer content.
• In collaboration with creative agency, oversee influencer program including outreach to identified influencers, negotiating fees within budget, coordinating shipment of product, finalizing contract, and managing payment and usage.
• Connect with audiences through community management, responding to comments on owned channels, influencer posts, and engaging in trending and relevant content to keep the brand top of mind.
• Monitor conversations related to the brand and industry on social to identify trends, customer sentiment, and potential issues to escalate.
• Work closely with customer service team to implement smooth process for responding to customer service content in comments and DMs that are timely, accurate, and in a casual and authentic tone that aligns with overarching brand tone.
• Track and report on results for all social channels and influencer programs.
• Work with the paid media and digital teams to share content, manage the boosting calendar and budget, and communicate terms and usage for paid influencer content

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing or fine arts, or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years of creative marketing experience working with a brand creating social media content.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Understands best practices and up-to-date design needs/restrictions across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Tok and YouTube.
• Knowledge of appropriate usage of the latest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premier, Rush, image optimization for web, and other web authoring/motion graphic tools.
• Knowledge of photo retouching and color correction.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment, readily adapting to continually changing priorities, nuanced feedback, and aggressive project time frames.
• Outstanding creativity in layout, design and typography.
• Clear understanding of the Digital World. Must be fluid in UX on all social platforms.
• Stays current with market trends to understand competitive landscape, as well as seek out new and emerging platforms that can help us grow our customer base and brand.
• Excellent organization and follow through skills.
• Ability to work with minimal direction, showing strong initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills including presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain good rapport with internal and external customers and handle situations with confidence, tact, and resourcefulness.
• Strong team player.

ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment. Utilizing a computer over 55% of time; utilization of office desk - sitting, reading, listening, or speaking with the ability to move intermittently throughout the day.
• Strong sensory skills, such as good eyesight, good hearing, and dexterity.
• Ability to operate office equipment, including computers, copiers, fax machines, and phones.
• Occasional travel required for Company business

We are proud of the competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefit package provided to our associates and their families. Our compensation package is designed to meet our associates today and help them plan for the future.

Health Benefits

VRA offers a variety of medical, dental and vision programs to meet your family’s health care needs.

• Medical plan options including both a HDHP/HSA plan and a PPO plan
• A no premium medical plan for employee only coverage
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending accounts

Survivor Benefits

Life insurance provides peace of mind for your family should the unexpected happen.

• Employer provided 2X your salary in life insurance
• Accidental Death and Disability insurance
• Voluntary life insurance for you, your spouse and your children

Income Protection  

If you are unable to work due to illness or injury VRA provides several programs to protect your income at no cost to you.

• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Paid family medical leave

Retirement Plan

The VRA 401k plan helps you accumulate savings for retirement

• 401k with generous company match, immediate vesting (age and service requirement)
• Strong line up of professionally managed funds
• Safe-harbor plan design

Paid Time Off  

Enjoy generous time off programs.

• Earn up to 3 weeks of paid time off in your first year of employment with opportunity to earn more
• 9 paid holidays a year
• Paid bereavement leave

Give Back Opportunities  

VRA offers the opportunity to serve your community.

•        Voluntary Time Off
•        Matching charitable donations and leadership grants

Holistic Wellness

• Access to a variety of financial, physical, and mental wellness experts

• Employee Assistance Program with access to work/life wellness support including no cost unlimited telephonic counseling services 
• Opportunities for leadership development, skill development and career advancement 

Product Discount

• Generous employee discount on Vera Bradley and Pura Vida products 

Ancillary Benefits and Programs

• Bonus opportunity, identity protection, legal services, pet insurance, cell phone discount, employee referral bonus, annual birthday gift, DailyPay, corporate fitness facility and individual policies through Aflac

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vets/Disabled

Vera Bradley is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. 

Vera Bradley provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

For more information, please click the following links:

Vera Bradley's Equal Employment and Affirmative Action Policy

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (in English)

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (in Spanish)

Pay Transparency (in English)

Pay Transparency (in Spanish)

E-Verify Participation Poster

Right to Work Poster (English)

Right to Work Poster (Spanish)

California Privacy Notice

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment application process, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  Please include the accommodation you are requesting and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation and other EEO/Affirmative Action issues will be responded to from this e-mail address.

Our intention is to fill this opening within 30 days of the original posting date and applications will be accepted on an on-going basis until the position is filled.