Salary Circa £53,000 per annum
Contract type Permanent
Location Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)
Full Time

Published

Not Published

Closing

in X days

This is a Permanent, , Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

The Senior Social Media Manager will play a crucial role in leading Alzheimer's Research UK's social media function, driving supporter growth, brand awareness, engagement, and income; as well as significantly advancing our influencing and advocacy goals. This role is a key investment in transforming our social media output, aligning with the broader Digital, Data and Technology and Strategic Marketing plans that are developing our future operating model.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing a compelling, integrated, proactive and reactive organic social media strategy that positions Alzheimer's Research UK as the leading voice in dementia research in the UK. This role will ensure our social media presence consistently reflects the highest standards of quality and creativity, while driving our strategic roadmap across platforms. Beyond responding to conversations and trends, this role will help the charity contribute to discussions, shape narratives, and influence public dialogue in ways that support our mission and values. You will lead a talented and passionate team, continuing to build a high-performing environment and acting as a visible ambassador for our socials both internally and externally.

 

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

  • Social Media Strategy Development: Build on an existing comprehensive, integrated social media strategy aligned with our fundraising, brand, communication, influencing, and advocacy goals, ensuring it contributes to our organisational strategy.
  • Team Leadership & Management: Provide strong leadership and line management to the Social Media Manager, continue to build a high-performing social team of five others, setting clear objectives, and supporting their professional development.
  • Cross-Organisational Integration: Work closely with senior colleagues across the organisation to integrate social media into wider marketing and organisational objectives, ensuring a fully prioritised, holistic 'engagement-first' approach.
  • Future-Proofing & AI Adoption: Lead the strategic exploration, development, and implementation of AI tools within the social media function, identifying opportunities for AI while ensuring human guardianship for brand consistency and strategic alignment.
  • Performance Reporting: Be accountable for social media performance, providing detailed and accurate reporting to senior stakeholders, using data and insights to drive optimisation and inform future strategies.

 

Operational Excellence & Innovation

  • Content Strategy & Oversight: Oversee the development and delivery of proactive social media content that resonates with a range of audiences across multiple platforms (e.g. people with dementia/carers, decision-makers, supporters, wider public). This content should come from multiple teams and sources; and this role will focus on ensuring the highest levels of quality.
  • Breaking News & Responsiveness: Ensure the team can react quickly and appropriately to breaking news and channel-specific trends, developing and executing robust processes and protocols for rapid, impactful responses.
  • Community Management Excellence: Champion and oversee best-in-class community management, ensuring empathetic, timely, and on-brand interactions with our supporters, stakeholders and the public.
  • Target Audience Engagement: Work with teams across the organisation to develop and manage processes to engage with key target audiences including celebrities, influencers, politicians and fundraisers.
  • Out-of-Hours Coverage: Implement and manage a formalised structure for out-of-hours cover, ensuring consistent responsiveness and shared responsibility across the social team.

 

Collaboration & Empowerment

  • Internal Training & Upskilling: Drive internal digital and social literacy by providing expert guidance, training, and support to other teams across the organisation, enabling greater shared ownership of social media best practices.
  • External Partner Management: Provide strategic oversight and guardianship for any outsourced social media support, ensuring high standards of service, brand alignment, and value.
  • Stakeholder Influence: Influence and collaborate at the highest levels with senior stakeholders across the organisation, advocating for social media's critical role in achieving campaign and organisational goals.

 

Other Important Areas

  • Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify opportunities for innovation, experimentation, and optimisation across all social media activities.
  • Passion for the Cause: Demonstrate a genuine interest in dementia research and a commitment to our mission, enhancing motivation and engagement within the team and with supporters.
  • Trend Monitoring: Stay updated on social media trends, tools, and best practices to enhance content strategy and performance.
  • Organisational Ambassador: Act as a visible ambassador for Alzheimer's Research UK's values and mission, representing the organisation at internal and external events.
  • Out of Hours Cover: Prepared to provide pro-active support during weekends and evenings at key launch times for major initiatives, stories, and campaigns as required.

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Proven experience in developing and delivering comprehensive social media strategic plans within a complex organisation.
  • Extensive experience in managing social media functions across multiple platforms, with a strong understanding of platform-specific nuances and best practices.
  • Expertise in social media listening, data analysis, and reporting, with the ability to derive actionable insights to inform strategy and optimisation.
  • Experience in managing and optimising social media management platforms and analytics tools.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and senior stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to influence and collaborate at the highest levels.
  • Experience in developing and delivering social media training and upskilling initiatives for non-specialist teams
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and implement effective social media strategies that align with organisational goals.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proactive, results-oriented, and able to drive change and innovation.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and foster collaboration across diverse teams.
  • Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, able to shift approach in an appropriate, respectful, and supportive manner. Prepared to work outside of traditional working hours when required.
  • Ability to lead and inspire a team, developing them into trusted experts.
  • A visible ambassador for the organisation, promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion both internally and through social media.

 

The closing date for applications is the 7th September 2025, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

The Company

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country. Recently, the company has won multiple workplace environment awards and has an outstanding record of employee satisfaction.

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  • Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

  • Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

  • Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.

For more details on working for Alzheimer's Research UK click here.

Holiday entitlement

Healthcare

Sick pay

Pension

Cycle to work scheme

Family friendly policies

Learning & development

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