Help Wanted: AICPA seeks to hire “social media specialist”

Getting serious about new community-building strategies.

The AICPA is looking for a social media specialist, according to a new job listing on CareerBuilder. Based on the ad, you can expect the AICPA to be building it’s social media presence geometrically from here.  See what an degree in English is good for? More details, here.

Social Media Specialist

Please respond via our website at www.aicpa.org/careers and post your resume directly online with us.

Purpose: Serve as internal expert on social media and its application for communications and other disciplines (conferences, media relations, marketing, etc)

Reports To: Senior Manager – Communications, Advertising and Brand Management

Direct Reports: None

Required Competencies:

Must be able to synthesize complex data into actionable information; think strategically; provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to the AICPA Communications & Media Channels team; and also be willing to implement and manage new social media programs and interaction, hands-on. Excellent new-media writing and journalism skills with readiness to use them are a must. Qualified candidates should be able to point to his/her own body of work through his/her blog, Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, or Facebook page.

Individual must be motivated, flexible, organized, and multitask-oriented and committed to high quality work product.  Also must be able to work independently and perform well under pressure to meet project deadlines and goals and resolve problems.  In addition, individual must have strong interpersonal skills, able to deal effectively with diverse groups of people at all levels.  Ability to work in team environment, including managing multi-faceted projects with multiple partners. Passion for and deep facility in social media is a must.

Individual must be self-motivated, deadline-driven and results-oriented. Regular reports on the status and success of online communications will be required.  Individual must be strategic, a problem solver and deeply curious about the possibilities opened up by social media and online communications.  Dedicated to continuous learning and exploration of new social media techniques.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter, results oriented
• Ability to build strong team relationships and build consensus
• Quantitative skills.  Individual must understand and be comfortable with creating and tracking meaningful and relevant metrics and be able to communicate them in dashboard format.

Responsibilities:

This position would work to maximize the AICPA’s reputation and reach on the internet by continually monitoring the ever-changing Internet landscape and making recommendations for adjustments to stay on the leading edge.  The position will be expected to guide exploration of new and alternative ways to engage in and leverage social media activities, sites, memberships, relationships, and traffic in support of institutional strategic priorities.  This position combines communications expertise and sensitivity with on hands knowledge of social media and emerging Web 2.0/3.O technologies.  The individual in this position will work with partners internally and externally to identify and assess new opportunities and technologies for communications viability.  The position also will educate internal teams on how new/emerging technologies can be utilized to achieve AICPA objectives.

Key responsibilities include monitoring relevant news, conversations, and trends in social media sites, tools, and applications; applying that knowledge to increasing the use of social media for AICPA communications; strategizing with, advising, and educating AICPA staff on incorporating relevant social media techniques into AICPA communications and other outreach activities; and measuring the impact of social media on the Institute’s overall strategic communications efforts and initiatives.  Writing, directly contributing, and monitoring and measuring social media usage are the key accountabilities.

Accountabilities include:

• Ensure that communications opportunities and positioning on the Web is monitored and pursued.
• Continually survey the Internet landscape to stay on top of emerging trends.
• Identify and communicate compelling strategic reasons for implementing new/emerging Web technologies across the Institute.
• Identify and assess emerging online communications practices and work with IT and CPA2Biz to implement solutions to facilitate the integration of such technologies across the Institute.
• Educate AICPA staff on new/emerging Web technologies and how they can achieve key objectives.
• Continually survey the Internet landscape to stay on top of emerging trends.
• Identify and assess emerging online communications practices and work with IT and CPA2Biz to implement solutions to facilitate the integration of such technologies across the Institute.
• Protect and promote the AICPA’s reputation through and on social media.
• Drive coordinated, systematic and energetic AICPA social media efforts.
• Coordinate on a programmatic, systematic effort with membership marketing to ensure effective usage of social media and social networking opportunities.

Expected Metrics:

• Timely, effective monitoring of AICPA and CPA commentary, traffic and usage on a broad range of social media platforms.
• Demonstration of knowledge and mastery of broad range of social media platforms.
• Quality of writing, metrics, tracking and outreach efforts
• Ability to facilitate and influence AICPA team usage of social media
• Development of systems and vehicles to educate colleagues on appropriate and effective usage of social media
• Documented demonstration to innovation

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Preferably a degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or a related discipline;
• 4 or more years of experience in a corporate communications, agency or newsroom environment demonstrating facility with Web and new media technologies, especially social media and Web 2.0/3.0.
• A skilled communicator and writer comfortable with technical and technological subject matter.
• Experience and knowledge of the CPA profession and/or the financial services industry.
• In-depth knowledge of Web 2.0/3.0 technologies and communications vehicles, video editing and Web editing tools.
• A passion for engaging in online communications and educating others in social media usage.

Please respond via our website at www.aicpa.org/careers and post your resume directly online with us. You can upload your resume and cover letter directly via our website.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AICPA is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected status.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Posted on July 11, 2009