Reporting to: Director of Audience Engagement and Growth
Science Friday is seeking an experienced and creative Interim Community Manager to join our team during an exciting and transitional period. This role will support the development and execution of a refreshed social media strategy by leveraging their expertise to inform and enhance our approach, in close collaboration with the Director of Audience Engagement and Growth.
The Interim Community Manager will use Science Friday’s award-winning reporting and programming to inspire interest, foster belonging, and encourage participation in science for diverse, worldwide audiences. This role requires a strong understanding of how to tailor messaging and implementation to the unique needs and nuances of different communities, with an emphasis on inclusive and accessible science communication.
A major focus of our upcoming fiscal year will be deepening community engagement and expanding the reach of our podcast, which welcomed a new host in January. The Interim Community Manager will play a key role in supporting these goals by helping shape our platform strategies and ensuring our content reaches and resonates with both loyal listeners and new audiences.
We’re looking for someone with demonstrated experience and interest in using social platforms—particularly YouTube and Instagram—as well as an understanding of the broader social landscape. Science Friday currently uses Facebook, Threads, BlueSky, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X, and familiarity with these platforms will be necessary to effectively support and engage our audiences. Candidates must have an understanding of journalistic standards and the ability to write about science accurately for a lay audience.
This role also requires hands-on content creation skills, including designing social graphics, creating/editing short-form videos, and developing creative assets that amplify all that Science Friday does—across radio, podcasts, educational resources, live events, digital articles, and more.
This is a remote, part-time, six-week contract position for the period of May 19 – July 3 to support the Audience Team while the Community Manager is out on parental leave, with the opportunity to continue for an additional six weeks starting in mid-October. The role offers up to 20 hours per week at an hourly rate of $35–$40, based on experience. While the schedule is mostly flexible, it does require participation in a few recurring weekly meetings aligned with the Audience Team’s schedule.
Responsibilities
In close collaboration with the Director of Audience Engagement and Growth, the Interim Community Manager will:
- Support the development and execution of SciFri’s social media strategy, bringing platform-specific expertise, creative ideas, and audience insights to the table.
- Write compelling, on-brand social media copy for each segment of the SciFri radio show; create visual assets; tag guests and institutions as appropriate; and actively monitor all platforms before and during the Friday radio show broadcast. (~4 hours/week)
- Promote each podcast episode and relevant archival content with engaging copy and eye-catching visuals (including short videos and graphics) tailored to each social platform. (~4 hours/week)
- Moderate and nurture our social media communities, fostering inclusive, safe, and engaging conversations that align with SciFri’s values and community guidelines. (~2 hours/week)
- Surface audience feedback, ideas, questions, and concerns from social media and beyond—bringing valuable insights to the audience and editorial teams and helping ensure we’re always “reading the room.” (~1-2 hours/week)
- Monitor and respond to listener inquiries from our community email inbox, addressing comments, complaints, and questions, and routing messages to the appropriate SciFri staff when needed. (~1 hour/week)
- Lead the weekly promotion of social media call-outs tied to upcoming broadcast and podcast topics—crafting compelling posts that invite audience participation (e.g., questions, stories, personal experiences), tracking responses across platforms, and sharing insights with the Audio team to help shape show content. Ensure any follow-up information, credits, or audience highlights are thoughtfully communicated back to our communities across social. (~1-2 hour/week)
- Track and analyze social media performance across platforms on a monthly basis, using data to inform future content decisions. Support social advertising efforts and contribute content performance insights to the broader Audience and Audio teams. (~1 hour/week)
- Upload daily podcast episodes to YouTube, ensuring accessibility and metadata accuracy. (~1 hour/week)
- Ensure all SciFri social platforms are optimized with the most up-to-date and accurate branding, bios, and links. (<1 hour/week)
- Support SciFri’s digital agency in managing paid social media campaigns by ensuring smooth access to social platforms, tracking campaign progress, flagging any issues, and helping maintain timelines and deliverables. (<1 hour/week)
- Meet regularly with members of the audience and audio teams to coordinate content, review copy, and maintain alignment across platforms. (~2 hours/week)
Job posted on April 23. We are accepting applications until this page is taken down.