Social Media Specialist

Social Media Specialist

Application Deadline: 28 September 2026

Department: Global Brand

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Bend, OR

Reporting To: Dani Reese

Compensation: $55,000 - $60,000 / year

Description

Job Type: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt, Salaried

Department: Global Brand

Location: Bend, OR (hybrid)

People Leader: No

The Social Media Specialist is responsible for taking an active, hands-on role in representing the Ruffwear brand and expanding our community across social media platforms. This position drives community engagement, leads intermediate content planning, and independently coordinates segments of brand and seasonal campaigns. Acting as a key bridge between data and creativity, this role collaborates with cross-functional teams to elevate Ruffwear's digital presence and deepen regional partner relationships. Like all roles at Ruffwear, this person has a first-hand understanding of the interactive bond between canines and humans and a passion for the outdoors.

What the Role Looks Like

• Represent the brand daily by engaging with our diverse social community in an inclusive, genuine, and supportive way.
• Responsible for daily management of social media channels, ensuring posts are deployed accurately according to the content calendar.
• Manage core channel programming while actively identifying and researching new emerging platforms that present a strategic value alignment for the brand.
• Brief the Creative Team on upcoming social media asset requirements, ensuring technical standards and algorithm optimization are met.
• Partner with the Global Social Media Manager to build relationships with external content contributors, handle ambassador communications, and assist in seeding initiatives.
• Brainstorm, capture, and create native content for owned social channels (e.g. filming quick-turn TikToks/Reels, capturing iPhone photography, and drafting raw video assets).
• Work directly with global partners to share social media toolkits and align community messaging across all international regions.
• Represent and champion a diverse, inclusive global social community while maintaining a flawless command of the brand's tone, voice, and style guide.
• Prepare, analyze, and distribute routine reports on social media KPIs, offering data-backed recommendations and actionable strategies to improve organic reach and brand affinity.
• Assist in tracking the social media budget and coordinate contract execution for external content contributors.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This position is based in Bend, Oregon and available to candidates already authorized to work in the country in which the position is based. Ruffwear is unable to sponsor work authorization for this position.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities of the employee to do this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting (Ruffwear office or home office, as necessary). Our headquarters operates in Pacific Time (PT), but as a global company, we collaborate across multiple time zones. This role requires flexibility to support teams and business needs across regions.

As a salaried, exempt employee, you'll manage your time with the expectation that workweeks may fluctuate (sometimes above, sometimes at or below 40 hours) to ensure availability for essential meetings and collaboration, including those across various time zones.

TravelFrequent domestic travel (6-8 times per year) required to support marketing events and brand activations, and to attend company meetings/events.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Infrequently lifting heavy objects, such as boxes of product (up to 20 lbs).
• Occasionally standing, bending, and/or kneeling for extended periods.

What a Great Candidate Brings to this Role

• At least 2 years of experience in direct brand marketing, market research, community brand engagement, or similar roles.
• Comprehensive understanding of social media platform mechanics, trends, and discovery-based algorithms.
• Strong data interpretation skills and ability to translate platform metrics into creative plans.
• Exceptional copywriting, copy-editing, and visual presentation skills.
• Proficiency in social media analytics tools (e.g. Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Google Analytics, native platform insights).
• Proficiency in project management software (e.g. Asana, Basecamp, Monday)

Preferred Education and Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• Experience in the outdoor, apparel, and/or consumer products industries.

How We Invest in You

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their dependents
• Company-paid employee assistance plan, life insurance, AD&D, and long-term disability
• Flexible Time Off for full-time roles, PTO for part-time roles
• 12 weeks of paid parental, family, and medical leave
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Month of Unleashed Discovery (sabbatical leave) every 5 years
• Quarterly Bonus Incentive Opportunity
• Discounts on Ruffwear gear and Industry Pro Deals
• 2 Field Days per year to test product samples with dogs in action
• Annual company-wide outings and regular virtual/in-person events
• Dog friendly office (of course!)
• Incredibly talented peer community & industry leading brand

*Compensation - In the spirit of pay transparency, we're excited to share the expected base salary range for this role is $55,000-$60,000 annually (exclusive of fringe benefits & potential quarterly bonuses). If you are hired at Ruffwear, your final base salary will be determined based on factors such as job-related skills and competencies and experience brought to the role. In addition to those factors, Ruffwear also prioritizes internal equity of current Pack members as part of any final offer. Total cash compensation is contingent on targeted company performance achievement. Therefore, target total cash compensation may vary annually.