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    Social Media Strategist vs Social Media Director: what is the difference?

    Social Media Director is the more senior of the two. Social Media Strategist typically expects 4-8 years of experience and reports to Director or Head of Marketing, while Social Media Director expects 8-12 years and reports to CMO, VP Marketing, or CDO.

    Social Media Strategist

    Senior Level

    The Social Media Strategist is a senior specialist role focused primarily on strategy development and audience insight, rather than day-to-day execution. Strategists design the frameworks, channel plans, and measurement approaches that others execute against.

    Experience
    4-8 years
    Reports to
    Director or Head of Marketing
    Owns
    • Developing comprehensive social media strategies
    • Audience research and persona development
    • Competitive benchmarking and landscape analysis
    • Channel selection and investment recommendation
    • Measurement framework design
    Core skills
    Strategic thinkingAudience researchData analysisCompetitive intelligencePresentation skillsBusiness acumen

    Social Media Director

    Leadership

    The Social Media Director holds strategic and operational ownership of the entire social media function. They set the vision, define the strategy, manage large teams, control significant budgets, and are responsible for demonstrating the commercial value of social media to the business.

    Experience
    8-12 years
    Reports to
    CMO, VP Marketing, or CDO
    Owns
    • Setting social media vision, strategy, and standards
    • Leading and developing the social media team
    • Managing significant budgets and commercial relationships
    • Executive stakeholder management and board reporting
    • Crisis leadership and brand protection
    Core skills
    Executive leadershipCommercial acumenTeam buildingBudget ownershipCrisis managementBoard-level communication

    Which title should the job ad use?

    • Use Social Media Strategist when the work centres on developing comprehensive social media strategies and the hire will report to Director or Head of Marketing.
    • Use Social Media Director when the work centres on setting social media vision, strategy, and standards and the hire will report to CMO, VP Marketing, or CDO.
    • If the remit covers both, split the role or advertise at the more senior band and pay accordingly. Benchmarks are in the Salary Report.

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