Community Manager Job Description: Roles, Skills, and Career Path (How to Be a Great One)

Are you aspiring to become a Community Manager, or looking to hire one? Understanding the community manager job description is key.

Responsible for bridging the gap between a brand and its audience, community managers are tasked with creating and maintaining a strong, engaged online presence.

This article strips away the fluff, zeroing in on the core responsibilities, necessary interpersonal and technical skills, and advancement opportunities defining the community manager role.

What we'll learn together:

• A Community Manager serves as the gatekeeper of a brand’s digital persona, charged with fostering an engaged community and managing the brand’s online presence with strategic and operational roles, including content creation, analytics, and customer relationship management.
• Key skills for Community Managers include excellent communication, creativity, empathy, problem-solving, analytical acumen, and a thorough understanding of social media and marketing strategies, while experience in education and sales can also be beneficial.
• Career opportunities for Community Managers are varied and offer a clear path for growth, ranging from entry-level roles to senior leadership positions, with advancement reliant on a mix of definitive skills in marketing, strategy, communication, and an array of community-focused competencies.

What is the Role of Community Manager?

The role of a community manager is not merely operational but also strategic. In marketing, they play a key role in shaping a brand’s personality, a trait that resonates with the consumers. In fact, a study shows a 73% say they are willing to pay more for a product if they love the brand, a testament to the profound impact of a qualified community manager.

Acting as the brand’s ambassador in digital spaces, a community manager serves as the link between an organization and its audience. They are responsible for cultivating a positive brand image, fostering customer loyalty, and managing the brand’s online presence across various social media channels.

In essence, community managers are the voice and face of the brand, ensuring consistency across all platforms and working tirelessly to build a strong, engaged community.

A community manager must possess passion, dedication, a profound understanding of online brand management, and the ability to engage with community members to cultivate positive relationships and foster a favorable brand image.

Meanwhile, the role of community manager is not very different for learning businesses. Learn more.

What are the Essential Responsibilities of a Community Manager?

Community managers primarily serve as the stewards of engagement. They are responsible for conveying the brand’s voice and values, fostering connections within the community, and facilitating communication with the internal team. Their duties encompass managing social media accounts, creating and curating content, and coordinating marketing campaigns to ensure a consistent brand message.

A community manager’s role also involves strategic development and execution. They coordinate initiatives and strategies, operationalize community objectives, and provide guidance to junior members. Their role requires leadership, project management knowledge, strategic development capabilities, and the ability to analyze engagement metrics to refine strategies. These skills are crucial for career growth in community management roles.

Strategic Contributions and Management

Long-term planning, involving a wide range of activities, often falls under the responsibility of community managers. This includes community manager responsibilities such as:

• Assigning dedicated community managers
• Fostering a safe and inclusive environment
• Enhancing member engagement
• Fostering relationships and connections
• Setting clear community guidelines and policies
• Encouraging user-generated content
• Leveraging data and analytics to continuously iterate on their approach
• Collaborating with community members and stakeholders

Utilizing analytics to enhance their strategies is another key function of community managers. They analyze data to gain insights into member behavior, preferences, and needs, which enables them to personalize communication, improve engagement strategies, tailor content, and make informed decisions.

Maximizing external networks is of utmost importance, as it allows them to gather solutions from experienced individuals and obtain valuable insights from others who have faced similar challenges.

The Human Touch in Digital Spaces

Community managers play a critical role in bringing a human touch to a brand’s online presence in the digital realm. They handle both the positive and negative aspects of community interaction with grace and empathy, understanding that each interaction is an opportunity to build stronger relationships and foster community spirit.

As part of their responsibilities, community managers maintain a balance between promoting the brand and addressing the needs of the community members.

In community management, active listening skills hold crucial importance. By understanding the audience’s needs and concerns, a community manager can foster a more engaged and responsive community. Resilience is another key trait, enabling them to effectively manage the emotional complexities associated with interacting with a digital community and maintain a supportive and constructive atmosphere despite encountering difficulties.

Crafting the Ideal Community Manager Job Description (+Template)

A well-crafted job description for community managers provides a clear outline of the role’s qualifications, key responsibilities, and desired experience for a community manager position. It should highlight the need for a candidate with exceptional oral and written communication skills, adept at developing engaging content and excelling in customer service.

Community managers are typically required to hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as English, marketing, or journalism. They should also demonstrate strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills to effectively meet the needs of the community.

Preferred qualifications include a minimum of 2 years of experience in community management, social media, events, or marketing, strong organizational skills, and excellent communication abilities.

Qualifications and Skills

A blend of soft and hard skills is required for the role of a community manager. Some key soft skills required for the role include:

• Proficient communication
• Creativity
• Empathy
• Strong interpersonal abilities
• The capacity to listen and delegate

Marketing Skills

These skills are essential for engaging with the community, articulating the brand’s message, and collecting feedback to boost brand awareness coordinate. In a timely manner, build relationships with your audience to further enhance your brand’s presence.

Other essential marketing skills include content creation, copywriting, marketing strategy development, customer service, and audience research.

Technical Skills

On the technical side, community managers need to possess problem-solving and analytical skills. This is crucial for analyzing community engagement data and devising effective solutions for any challenges that may arise. Knowledge of social media platforms is also beneficial, enabling them to engage audiences on various networks and maintain a brand’s online presence.

Key Responsibilities Set

Generating regular content to establish and cultivate a brand’s community is a common task for community managers. This can include developing polls and surveys, showcasing community members, and crafting compelling social proof content.

They are also responsible for community moderation and qualifying content, facilitating community contribution, engaging with the community to foster growth, and integrating the community’s authenticity into other aspects of the business.

Promoting inclusivity within an online community is also part of a community manager’s role. They do this by:

• Implementing clear guidelines for behavior
• Actively moderating and addressing instances of harassment or discrimination
• Encouraging diverse perspectives and voices
• Providing resources and support
• Celebrating the achievements of all community members

Desired Experience (Nice-to-Haves List)

Typically, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as English, marketing, or journalism is a requirement for a community manager. Some companies may have a preference or requirement for a Master’s degree in business or a related field.

In addition to educational qualifications, community managers should possess marketing experience that encompasses empathy, good listening skills, adaptability, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, strategic and planning skills, communication and engagement, creativity, knowledge of the target audience, community-market fit, various growth tactics, success measurement, and customer service skills.

Experience in social media is crucial for community managers as it encompasses the expansion of audiences on social platforms and the proficient application of social media marketing strategies. Experience in sales also contributes to the community manager role by equipping individuals with the skills to establish a compelling brand personality, cultivate consumer trust, and develop connections within the community.

Community Manager Job Description Template

How to use this template? Copy and paste in a blank space, then edit according to your company's information:

About Us: [Company Name]

[Insert Company Name] is a leading [industry] company committed to [brief description of the company's mission and values]. We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Community Manager to join our team and help us further cultivate our thriving online community.

About the Role

As our Community Manager, you will serve as the brand ambassador in our digital spaces, fostering an engaged community and managing our online presence across various social media channels. You will be the voice and face of our brand, ensuring consistency across all platforms and working tirelessly to build a strong, engaged community.

Key Responsibilities

• Conveying the brand’s voice and values, fostering connections within the community.
• Managing social media accounts, creating and curating content.
• Coordinating marketing campaigns to ensure a consistent brand message.
• Strategic development and execution of community objectives.
• Utilizing analytics to enhance engagement strategies and make informed decisions.
• Fostering a safe and inclusive environment within the community.

Must-Haves Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as English, marketing, or journalism.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in community management, social media, events, or marketing.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in problem-solving and analytical skills.

Nice-to-Haves Credentials

• Master’s degree in business or a related field.
• Experience in sales.
• Knowledge of the target audience and community-market fit.
• Proficiency in various growth tactics and success measurement.

Perks

• [List of benefits, e.g., health insurance, flexible work hours, etc.]

Compensation

The annual salary for this position ranges from $41,000 to $65,000, depending on experience. Experienced professionals may earn up to $115,000 annually.

To apply, please [application process].

[Insert Company Name] is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Where to post? Job Marketplaces

• LinkedIn Job board or Groups
• Indeed.com
• Google for Jobs
• Upwork and Fiverr
• Local job marketplaces near your region or area

Where to post? Online Communities for Community Managers

• The Community Roundtable
• CMX Hub
• The Community Club
• Uncommon Community
• Other local communities that accept job posting

Disco Platform - The Intersection of Technology and Community

Platforms like Disco, in the digital age, equip community managers with advanced tools for managing and growing their online communities.

Disco is a complete community platform that employs AI-driven automation to streamline tasks in community management and improve member engagement. It also offers membership and curriculum development tools to promote increased member engagement within online learning communities.

Disco streamlines operations for online learning communities by enabling the creation of live cohort-based courses and facilitating the scaling of learning communities, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience. It also provides Insights, offering analytics on total members, and distinguishing between lurkers and active chatters, to provide valuable data for community managers of communities.

Enhancing Online Learning Communities with Disco's 24 Notable Features

Through the provision of advanced automation, streamlined member onboarding, and AI Co-Pilot, Disco enhances operational efficiency in online learning communities. By integrating Disco with Slack, it provides seamless event hosting, management, and tracking capabilities. Moreover, Disco’s AI-powered automation fosters dynamic interaction, collaboration, and personalized learning experiences among learners.

Disco’s functionalities enhance member engagement by offering:

• A mobile app for participating in community discussions, accessing learning content, and receiving notifications (will be released this 2024!)
• Custom groups based on interests, expertise, geography, or learning stages to cultivate a sense of belonging
• Integration of AI and productivity tools to support learning teams in achieving optimal efficiency

These features enable an engaging and intuitive learning experience.

Leveraging Disco’s Features for Community Growth

The design of Disco’s features facilitates community growth. It provides:

Advanced automation significantly reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks and allows for more focus on strategic initiatives and community engagement.

Custom Member Onboarding, ensuring that new members feel welcomed and understand the community's guidelines and culture, which is crucial for their long-term engagement and participation.

AI Co-Pilot is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to aid in community management tasks, from moderating discussions to providing personalized recommendations to members.

Discussions foster an environment where community members can share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences, thereby building a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Member Management offers different levels of access and benefits to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of community members, thereby promoting a sense of belonging and loyalty.

A revamped Content Library provides a wide range of resources for community members to learn, grow, and engage with the community at their own pace.

Disco’s AI-powered automation streamlines the workload for community managers by efficiently handling member queries, offering actionable intelligence, and automating workflows, content moderation, and report generation, thus minimizing the need for manual intervention.

Community managers can leverage Disco’s deep analytics features to make well-informed decisions. By presenting metrics such as total members, earned revenue, and weekly active users on the Admin Dashboard, these analytics play a critical role in comprehending community performance and facilitating data-driven decision-making.

Career Advancement for Community Managers

Not only is the role of a community manager rewarding, but it also offers numerous opportunities for career advancement. These encompass roles such as Associate Community Manager, Community Manager, Director of Community, VP of Community, and Chief Community Officer.

Community managers can also transition into positions like Senior Community Manager, Head of Community, or even Social Media Manager or Digital Marketing Manager. Moreover, acquiring education in traditional business fields such as marketing and finance can aid in career development.

To progress from a social media specialist to an industry professional, a Community Manager must possess skills in:

• Marketing
• Strategy
• Copywriting
• Customer service
• Communication
• Social media outreach
• Social customer service
• Platform expertise
• Project management
• Influencer marketing

These skills are crucial for community managers aspiring to move into a higher-level role within marketing or communications.

From Social Media Specialist to Industry Professional

For a Community Manager, career progression often involves advancing through roles like Associate Community Manager, Community Manager, Director of Community, VP of Community, and Chief Community Officer.

To advance to a position such as Director or VP of Community, a Community Manager should focus on gaining experience as an Associate Community Manager and then progressing to a Community Manager role. It is also important to engage in networking, seek mentorship, and specialize in community management.

To move into a higher-level role within marketing or communications, community managers need to possess the following skills:

• Leadership
• Project management
• Strategic thinking
• Strong communication
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Analytical thinking
• Creativity

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as English, marketing, or journalism can be advantageous, along with a solid understanding of growth management, strategy, budget management, and stakeholder management.

Building a Portfolio of Success

By strategically selecting their best projects and achievements for presentation, effectively demonstrating their capabilities despite limited experience, establishing a strong online presence, and formulating a marketing plan, community managers can showcase their accomplishments and advance their community management career.

Community managers can quantify community expansion by monitoring metrics such as engagement, growth rate, retention rate, response time, sentiment, conversion rates, and membership growth. It is also advisable to emphasize community engagement activities by detailing roles, impacts, and acquired skills in a portfolio. This may involve presenting testimonials, sharing content, emphasizing collaborations, and soliciting feedback.

Expert Tip: Want to stand out from the crowd? Build your portfolio in a no-code website such as Notion, Wix.com, Squarespace, Webflow, and Super.so to make it more presentable. Feel free to collect testimonials from different stakeholders showing their feedback regarding your work.

Compensation Insights: Community Manager Salary Expectations

In terms of compensation, the total pay range is between $57K - $90K annually in the US according to Glassdoor, while experienced professionals might earn up to $115,000 annually. The compensation of a community manager is primarily affected by factors such as their level of experience and the geographical location of their employment.

Measuring Success: Relevant Community Metrics

Key metrics such as engagement data (likes and comments), community health, and community growth and attrition are used for evaluating the performance of a community manager. These metrics should align with the brand’s overall social media goals.

Community engagement metrics play a crucial role in contributing to the expansion of the brand’s reach, revenue growth, and favorable effects on marketing and sales results. This connection between community activities and the company’s overall business objectives underscores the importance of the community manager’s role in achieving business success through effective community communications.

Enhancing Engagement through Content and Events

By providing valuable resources to the community, stimulating active discussions, and enhancing engagement levels and brand sentiment, content marketing plays a vital role in community management. Community managers can improve community engagement by:

• Showcasing issues that affect the community
• Illustrating how their organization can collaborate with the community
• Promoting user-generated content
• Integrating live streaming into their engagement efforts
• Producing high-quality, valuable content.

To improve engagement, community managers can arrange a variety of events, including seasonal-themed activities, community events, and networking lounges. They can enhance community bonds by strategically organizing a variety of events that align with the diverse interests and needs of the community, delivering valuable experiences, and fostering a sense of inclusivity.

Wrapping Up...

In conclusion, community managers play an instrumental role in building and maintaining online communities, acting as the liaison between an organization and its audience. They are tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, from content creation and strategy development to fostering inclusivity and managing public relations. Their work is pivotal in shaping a brand’s personality and fostering consumer trust.

With the right skills, qualifications, and tools, such as Disco, community managers can effectively manage and grow their online communities, setting the stage for career advancement and success in the field. Try Disco's 14-day free trial, or experience it firsthand with an interactive product tour without signing up.

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