Social Media Specialist

Help Us Set Hearts on Fire!

Ave Maria Press is seeking a creative, strategic, and mission-driven Social Media Specialist to join our growing marketing team. In this role, you will lead the planning, creation, and execution of social media content and advertising campaigns that grow our reach, engage our community, drive traffic and sales, and communicate the heart of our Catholic mission.

The ideal candidate is equal parts storyteller, digital marketer, and trend-watcher—someone who understands how to move seamlessly from writing a heartfelt caption to optimizing a Facebook ad campaign. You’ll play a key role in shaping the voice of Ave Maria Press online and creating meaningful connections with readers, schools, parishes, and ministry leaders.

About Us

At Ave Maria Press, we believe in the transformative power of words to inspire, enlighten, and uplift. With a rich legacy of publishing high-quality, trustworthy Catholic content, we are dedicated to spreading messages of faith, hope, and love. We are looking for a Social Media Specialist to enhance our digital platforms, improve discoverability, and optimize the customer journey.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day content creation and publishing across all key platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X/Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Develop and maintain a strategic publishing calendar that aligns with product launches, campaigns, seasonal promotions, and the liturgical calendar.
• Plan, write, and design original posts that reflect our brand voice and values, including graphics, stories, reels, and short-form video content.
• Monitor platform trends and propose creative content formats and campaign ideas that increase engagement and reach, particularly with younger Catholic audiences.
• Own and manage the Ave Maria Press social shops, ensuring products are properly tagged, featured, and integrated into relevant content and campaigns.
• Lead the execution of paid social advertising, including boosting posts, creating conversion-focused ad campaigns, and testing audiences and creative. Work with the Marketing Brand Manager to develop strategy, track results, and adjust campaigns based on performance data.
• Plan and manage influencer campaigns, including sourcing and onboarding influencers, coordinating promo codes, maintaining clear and consistent communication, and developing strategies to maximize reach, engagement, and sales impact.
• Use platform analytics and reporting tools to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), prepare monthly reports, and make data-informed recommendations to improve effectiveness.
• Respond to comments, messages, and mentions across platforms in a warm, timely, and mission-aligned voice.
• Collaborate with internal team to ensure consistent messaging and campaign coordination.
• Support product launches, influencer outreach, giveaways, partnerships, and events through social content and campaigns.
• Attend regular staff, acquisition, and launch meetings and participate in occasional travel for events or team collaboration.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of professional experience managing social media for a brand, preferably in publishing, ministry, or a nonprofit.
• Demonstrated success with social media content creation and paid advertising strategy and execution (Meta Ads Manager experience required).
• Strong copywriting skills with the ability to adapt tone for different platforms and audiences.
• Proficiency with tools such as Meta Business Suite, TikTok Business Center, Canva, Buffer, and native platform analytics.
• Basic graphic design, photography, and video editing skills (especially for short-form video content).
• Strong understanding of ecommerce marketing, especially the use of social media to drive traffic to Shopify and maintain shoppable posts.
• Familiarity with Catholic audiences, Church teaching, and the liturgical calendar is strongly preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills, creativity, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Position Details

• This is a full-time salaried position. The expected work hours are 37.5 hours per week, between the business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday.
• This role is based in Notre Dame, Indiana. Candidates should be committed to being integrated into our company culture and contributing to our team’s success.
• This role offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off and a 403(b) retirement plan. Ave team members are part of a supportive company culture and contribute to a dynamic, mission-driven team committed to collaboration and innovation.

Why Join Us?

At Ave Maria Press, your work is more than just a job; it’s a mission. We offer a vibrant, collaborative workplace where your contributions make a real impact. Enjoy a balanced workday, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to be part of a team that shares your passion for faith-driven content.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re ready to bring your creative vision to life and lead innovative marketing campaigns that inspire and engage, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your resume and cover letter to Lisa Hanback at lhanback@nd.edu.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Ave 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.