Head of Social Media

Crystal Bridges Museum Of American

Full-time

Bentonville, AR, US

About the job

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization. Job Description: Position Title: Head of Social Media

Position Type: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Department: BEAT – Brand Experience and Activation Team

Reports to: Senior Director of Integrated Marketing

Date Reviewed: 12/08/2025 About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary: Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission. The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. Position Summary: The Head of Social Media leads the strategic development, execution, and optimization of social media for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary. Reporting to the Senior Director of Integrated Marketing, this role is responsible for shaping the institution’s social media vision, driving platform strategy, elevating creative storytelling, and building strong digital engagement across channels. The Sr. SMM oversees daily social operations, manages the museum’s ambassador and influencer programs, mentors junior staff, guides contract creators, and collaborates with colleagues across PR, Digital, Content, Creative, Music, Curatorial, and Learning & Engagement. The position ensures that social content aligns with institutional brand standards, supports key museum priorities, and strengthens reputation and visibility. This role is both strategic and hands-on, setting long-term direction while producing high-quality, platform-optimized content and driving measurable outcomes Principal Responsibilities:* Lead Social Media Strategy: Develop annual social media strategies, KPIs, and platform priorities for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and integrated marketing plans.

  • Platform Oversight: Oversee all social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn), ensuring audience growth, engagement, and brand consistency.
  • Content Strategy & Creative Direction: Direct the creation of compelling, platform-native content in collaboration with creative, multimedia, and digital teams. Oversee editorial calendars and ensure a high bar for visual storytelling.
  • Team Leadership: Supervise and mentor the Assistant Social Media & Public Relations Coordinator and manage contract creators. Provide leadership, coaching, and quality oversight.
  • Influencer & Ambassador Programs: Lead influencer strategy, manage creator partnerships, and evolve the in-house ambassador program to expand reach and impact.
  • Paid Social Collaboration: Partner with the integrated marketing and paid media teams to align organic and paid strategies, optimize for performance, and develop campaign-aligned social content.
  • Social Listening & Analytics: Oversee monitoring tools and reporting; analyze engagement, sentiment, and audience behavior; translate insights into action.
  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with programming, curatorial, learning & engagement, and music teams to identify storytelling opportunities and amplify exhibitions, performances, and initiatives.
  • Reputation & Issues Management: Support the Senior Director of Integrated Marketing and PR leadership during crisis communications. Manage engagement and responses across review platforms, including Yelp, Google, Facebook, and Tripadvisor.
  • Live Event Coverage: Provide real-time social coverage for key openings, performances, and institutional moments.
  • Governance & Standards: Maintain social media style guides, processes, and policies to uphold brand integrity and risk mitigation.
  • Innovation & Trend Monitoring: Stay current with platform evolutions, emerging technologies, and best practices; pilot new approaches to ensure CB/MO remains relevant and leading-edge.
  • Budget Oversight: Manage budgets related to social media production, creator partnerships, influencer activations, and tools.
  • Channel Management: Oversee additional related properties (e.g., Send it South) and develop guidelines for future channels as needed.

Additional Responsibilities:* Support cross-institutional initiatives and major announcements with social strategies and messaging.

  • Provide staff training on social media best practices.
  • Participate in planning and execution of occasional virtual events or livestreamed programs.
  • Support after-hours, weekend, and holiday needs tied to exhibitions, events, and museum moments.
  • Collaborate with IT and Digital teams on platform security and access governance.

Qualifications and Skills:* Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.

  • 7+ years of professional social media management experience, preferably in cultural, nonprofit, or brand-driven environments.
  • Demonstrated leadership designing and implementing multi-platform social strategies.
  • Strong creative judgment and experience directing video, photography, and graphic content.
  • Proficiency with analytics tools and ability to translate data into insights and strategy.
  • Experience managing influencer partnerships and creator networks.
  • Excellent writing, communication, and brand voice development skills.
  • Strong organizational, project management, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
  • Commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving diverse audiences.
  • Ability to work evenings, weekends, and periodic travel.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical Demands: Use of a computer and phone for extended periods; verbal and written communication; occasional lifting up to 10 lbs.

Work Environment: Work performed in office and gallery environments; noise level low to moderate; some overnight travel may be required.*All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.*Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.