Social Media Strategist & Content Lead

About the Pope Francis Center
For more than three decades, the Pope Francis Center has stood at the front lines of Detroit’s fight against homelessness—restoring dignity, opportunity, and stability to our city’s most vulnerable neighbors. Each day, we welcome nearly 200 guests and provide nutritious meals, showers and laundry facilities, and on-site access to medical, dental, legal, and housing services through our network of free clinics.

Our vision is bold and unwavering: a Detroit without homelessness, where every person has the resources to achieve sustained stability. We are building the team that will carry that vision forward.

Position Summary

The Pope Francis Center seeks a creative, data-informed, and mission-driven Social Media Strategist & Content Lead to elevate our digital presence and translate the daily impact of our work into compelling content that moves audiences to act.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and partnering closely with the Development team, this role owns the strategy, production, and performance of social and short-form video content across all major platforms. The Strategist & Content Lead will be the storyteller-in-residence for our mission—capturing real moments, building recurring content franchises, and converting authentic narratives into measurable growth, donor engagement, and volunteer mobilization.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact position for a strategic creator who is energized by purpose-driven work and motivated by tangible outcomes.

Core Focus Areas

• Audience Growth & Reach — Expand the Center’s digital footprint across priority platforms through strategic content planning, audience targeting, and platform-native best practices.
• Storytelling & Brand Voice — Translate the lived experiences of guests, staff, and volunteers into authentic, dignified, and emotionally resonant narratives.
• Fundraising Through Content — Convert engagement into action by aligning content programming with development campaigns, giving days, and donor cultivation initiatives.
• Content Strategy & Experimentation — Operate with a test-and-learn mindset, using performance data to inform creative direction and continuously refine the content engine.

Key Responsibilities

Social Media Strategy & Audience Growth

• Develop, execute, and continuously refine a multi-platform social media strategy aligned with organizational priorities for awareness, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment.
• Own end-to-end performance: define KPIs, monitor analytics, report on growth and engagement trends, and translate insights into actionable strategy.
• Maintain a forward-looking content calendar that balances planned campaigns with timely, reactive moments.
• Stay ahead of platform algorithm changes, emerging formats, and cultural trends, identifying high-leverage opportunities for the Center to participate authentically.

Video Content & Storytelling

• Conceptualize, shoot, and edit short-form video content on a weekly cadence for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels.
• Capture authentic, dignified moments at the Center—guest stories, staff perspectives, volunteer experiences, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of mission delivery.
• Develop and sustain recurring content franchises and series that build audience loyalty and platform momentum.
• Maintain a consistent visual identity, tone, and editorial voice across all content.

Fundraising, Engagement & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the Development team to integrate social storytelling into fundraising campaigns, year-end giving, Giving Tuesday, peer-to-peer initiatives, and major donor cultivation.
• Translate the impact of philanthropic support into compelling content that demonstrates clear, tangible outcomes for the people we serve.
• Cultivate community in comments and direct messages, deepening connection with current supporters and welcoming new ones.
• Collaborate with program staff to surface stories of impact while upholding the privacy, dignity, and consent of every guest featured.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, digital media, or a related field—or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• 2–4 years of progressive experience in social media management, content creation, or digital marketing, ideally with a portfolio of measurable growth outcomes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in short-form video production: shooting, editing, captioning, and publishing across major social platforms.
• Sophisticated understanding of platform mechanics, audience behavior, and the cultural fluency required to create content that performs.
• Exceptional written and visual storytelling skills, with a portfolio that demonstrates range, authenticity, and craft.
• Comfort with analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Preferred

• Experience working in a nonprofit, advocacy, or mission-driven organization.
• Familiarity with content management, design, and editing tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut, Canva, Later, Sprout Social, or comparable platforms.
• Experience supporting fundraising or development campaigns through digital content.
• A deep personal commitment to addressing homelessness, poverty, and social inequity.

Measure of Success

Success in this role will be defined by clear milestones across the first 90 days and the first 12 months:

• First 90 Days: Develop a comprehensive strategic media plan, secure leadership approval, and begin implementation across priority platforms.
• Demonstrable growth in audience size, reach, and impressions across priority platforms.
• Sustained increases in engagement quality—meaningful comments, shares, saves, and direct messages.
• Measurable contribution to fundraising outcomes, including dollars raised, donor acquisition, and campaign performance attributable to social channels.
• Growth in volunteer interest, inquiries, and conversions originating from digital channels.
• Establishment of a consistent, recognizable content voice and at least two recurring content franchises.

How To Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume, a brief cover letter, and a portfolio or links to representative social and video work. Applications sent to [email protected] will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Pope Francis Center is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the diverse community we serve and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Do you have demonstrated proficiency in short-term video production: shooting, editing, captioning, and publishing across major social media platforms?
• Do you have an understanding of platform mechanics, audience behavior, and the cultural fluency required to create content that performs?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Social media management: 2 years (Required)
• Content creation: 2 years (Required)
• Digital marketing: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person