Do you have a way with words and an eye for imagery? Do you have experience in growing audience engagement on digital platforms?

We’re looking for a new team member to join our small but incredibly clever and dedicated team. We’re after someone who has a way with words, a creative mind and an attention to detail, to fill the position of Digital Content Manager at Shepherdess.

Along with your skill set, just as – if not more – important is finding team members who are the right fit for Shepherdess. You’ll need to be aligned with our values, enjoy working collaboratively and in a fast-paced environment, have an affinity with rural communities and an understanding of rural life. What we can offer in return is experience in media and events, working for an organisation that lives by its values, the ability to work from anywhere in the country (as long as you have internet), flexible working arrangements – many of us are mums with young kids and we juggle both across the week – and a supportive, creative team, who all believe in what we are doing and where we are headed.

This role would suit someone who is freelancing or contracting, with suitable capacity amongst their other responsibilities.

ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Title: Digital Content Manager

Responsible to: Marketing & Communications Manager, Deputy Editor

Supervisory Responsibility: Nil

Key Relationships: Partnerships Manager, Editor-in-Chief

Purpose Statement:
Management of Shepherdess’s digital platforms (social media, website and EDM) through beautiful, cohesive social feeds, engaging and well-written copy and interactive experiences for followers.

Responsibilities:

Managing all of Shepherdess’s digital platforms, including Shepherdess and The Shepherdess Muster, including:

Content creation across all social media channels and digital platforms, including:
Curating content to be shared through Shepherdess’s digital platforms, including the Shepherdess website, Muster website, Shepherdess Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn; Muster Instagram & Facebook.
Writing engaging copy for social media, website and EDMs.
Preparing regular EDMs, including our fortnightly and monthly EDMs.
Making our social media channels responsive to current events and to the needs and interests of our community of women living rurally, including interactive questions and answers.
Creating reels and finding other interactive ways to engage with our audience.
Arranging regular takeovers of our Instagram.
Community management of social channels, including replying to direct messages, and fostering community through comments.
Designing creative for socials, or liaising with design for the development of creative assets where necessary (depending on experience).
Delivering on partner commitments, including partner editorials.
• Ensuring all platforms up to date, including:
Setting up events on our website and social media channels;
Updating the website products/shop;
Ensuring the website is always up to date;
Supporting the editorial team through research and writing tasks:
Digital engagement with our audience to identify story ideas
Researching stories in a particular area/theme
Interviewing women and writing short pieces for the magazine and/or digital platforms
Other tasks relating to Shepherdess’s digital platforms as required.
Requirements:

Excellent written communication skills, including ability to write relevant and engaging copy for website, social media and email.
Exemplary attention to detail, including an excellent standard of grammar and spelling.
An eye for what works together colour, layout and imagery-wise.
Strategic thinking with regard to brand awareness and engagement.
Savvy using social media, including creating reels (or willing to learn).
A data-driven approach, using customer insights to drive growth and engagement.
A team player.
Ability to be flexible with work hours; working outside of usual business hours will be required to reflect the times when our community is online.
An affinity and understanding of rural and regional Aotearoa New Zealand.
Must live in rural or regional New Zealand and be able to work remotely, with internet access to connect with the team.
Must be proficient with a computer, including (or willing to learn) Planoly, Asana, Slack, Klaviyo, WordPress and Dropbox.
Experience working in media or with a journalism or writing background would be an advantage.

Commitment:

Freelance position, estimated at 180-240 hours per edition – between 15 and 25 hours per week, depending on time of the season. Potential to start with a smaller number of hours and increase in future and as projects ebb and flow. Hours and rate to be negotiated with the successful applicant – attendance at set weekly team meeting times is essential, otherwise hours are the candidate’s choice.