Sr Mgr, Earned and Social

About the role

The Sr. Brand Manager, Earned Media, Brand Social & Culture leads how KFC shows up in culture—bringing a social‑first, culture‑led mindset to everything, turning moments into movements and campaigns into talk‑worthy brand behavior. Reporting to the Director of Integrated Marketing Communications, the role partners with IMC leadership, cross‑functional teams, and agency partners to ensure social, earned media, and influencer thinking drive campaigns from day one.

Responsibilities

• Lead how KFC appears in culture by delivering bold, timely, and unexpected ideas that earn attention and spark conversation.
• Partner with the Director of IMC to embed social and earned thinking into campaign direction from the outset.
• Spot emerging trends before they peak and turn them into brand‑defining moments with speed and precision.
• Champion a multicultural, community‑driven lens to ensure authentic brand presence.
• Drive earned‑first thinking across campaigns, ensuring PR, social, and influencer work amplify impact.
• Lead and collaborate with agencies to create work that earns media, drives buzz, and appears in relevant feeds and conversations.
• Shape a reactive, relevant, and relentlessly engaging social presence.
• Build and activate a creator ecosystem that keeps KFC plugged into culture and expands its reach.
• Serve as the voice of culture and social at cross‑functional tables, ensuring ideas align with how people engage today.
• Partner across IMC, Media, and Creative to keep work fast‑moving and culturally in‑tune.
• Influence without authority, guiding teams and agencies toward sharper, more effective work.
• Support execution of social, earned, and influencer workstreams with focus on speed, quality, and impact.
• Manage budgets tied to social, PR, influencer, and experiential activations.
• Track performance through social listening, turning insights into action quickly.
• Continuously optimize brand presence based on real‑time cultural feedback.
• Support PR and communications efforts during key moments, ensuring the brand uses the right voice at the right time.
• Navigate fast‑moving or sensitive situations with a steady, culturally aware lens.

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of experience in social, PR, influencer, or culture‑led marketing roles.
• Proven ability to create or contribute to work that appears in culture and drives conversation.
• Deep understanding of social platforms, internet culture, and trend dynamics.
• Experience working with creators, influencers, and earned media strategies.
• Strong instinct for what will resonate with today’s audiences.
• Ability to move fast, stay scrappy, and operate in real time without losing strategic focus.
• Strong collaborator who can influence teams and agencies to push work further.

Pay

Salary Range: $150,840 to $159,220 annually + bonus eligibility. The final salary will consider the candidate’s location, experience, and other job‑related factors.