Paid Social Media Intern
West Des Moines, IA
Internship
Student (College)
*Open to local candidates who will work out of our West Des Moines, IA office, as well as remote candidates*
About SA - Our People
Think of the world’s most talented creative thinkers. Problem-solvers. Strategists. At Strategic America, we don’t bring on anything less. The way we see it, if you’re going to make the best work of your life, you may as well do it with people you like.
At SA, we’ve always been passionate about our employees. Since 2021, we’re also employee owned with participation in an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership ensures SA remains independent and allows our talented team members to share in the company’s success. With each year of employment, SAers build equity in the company, becoming fully vested after six years.
Our employee-led, leadership-supported ERGs celebrate the diversity of our team, foster inclusivity and belonging, and create a space to connect to each other. Through connections and understanding, we build a stronger and more dynamic team and help every person reach their personal peak.
About SA – The Company
When you join SA, you join a strategic team (yes, it’s in our name!) who is also wired for action. Authenticity is our focus, and every day we help our clients propel their potential. If you’re ready for a fast-paced environment that challenges you, supports you, and rewards you, then look no further. Our clients rely on us and we rely on each other to go the extra mile, to hold ourselves accountable because we’re better together and we know we can always find the better way.
We strive to create meaning in work and provide more than just a job; a place to belong and grow. As we leap toward our goals that will shape our future, our employee experience is unique. Flexibility, connection, inclusiveness, and collaboration support our well-being and help us be our best. Because when you feel like you belong, work is no longer work – it's personal. We believe better employees lead to better results.
Join us as we transform your career!
Strategic America recognized as Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher
About the Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical SEM & Programmatic Vendor Intern to support our Paid Media team in executing and optimizing digital advertising campaigns across search and programmatic platforms.
This role is ideal for someone interested in performance marketing, data analysis, and emerging ad technologies (AI, automation, audience targeting). You’ll gain hands-on experience working with enterprise-level campaigns and industry tools while learning how paid media drives measurable business outcomes.
As a Paid Social Media Intern, you will be a part of...
What You'll Learn...
Minimum Qualifications
A Successful Candidate is...
This Role is Valuable Because...
We realize applying for jobs can feel daunting at times. Even if you don’t check all the boxes in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Our Commitment to Inclusivity and Diversity
We are proud to be one of only 25 agencies nationwide, and the first in the Midwest, to earn the 4A’s Workplace Enlightenment Certification®, and we couldn’t have done it without our associates, who participated in digital learning sessions on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities, and faith. At SA, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where people of every background can thrive and feel welcome.
Don’t meet every single requirement for this role? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Because we are fully committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that reflects the clients we serve and communities we work in, if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications don’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
The internship is paid at a rate of $17/hour and will run through summer 2026.
About SA - Our People
Think of the world’s most talented creative thinkers. Problem-solvers. Strategists. At Strategic America, we don’t bring on anything less. The way we see it, if you’re going to make the best work of your life, you may as well do it with people you like.
At SA, we’ve always been passionate about our employees. Since 2021, we’re also employee owned with participation in an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership ensures SA remains independent and allows our talented team members to share in the company’s success. With each year of employment, SAers build equity in the company, becoming fully vested after six years.
Our employee-led, leadership-supported ERGs celebrate the diversity of our team, foster inclusivity and belonging, and create a space to connect to each other. Through connections and understanding, we build a stronger and more dynamic team and help every person reach their personal peak.
About SA – The Company
When you join SA, you join a strategic team (yes, it’s in our name!) who is also wired for action. Authenticity is our focus, and every day we help our clients propel their potential. If you’re ready for a fast-paced environment that challenges you, supports you, and rewards you, then look no further. Our clients rely on us and we rely on each other to go the extra mile, to hold ourselves accountable because we’re better together and we know we can always find the better way.
We strive to create meaning in work and provide more than just a job; a place to belong and grow. As we leap toward our goals that will shape our future, our employee experience is unique. Flexibility, connection, inclusiveness, and collaboration support our well-being and help us be our best. Because when you feel like you belong, work is no longer work – it's personal. We believe better employees lead to better results.
Join us as we transform your career!
Strategic America recognized as Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher
About the Role
We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical SEM & Programmatic Vendor Intern to support our Paid Media team in executing and optimizing digital advertising campaigns across search and programmatic platforms.
This role is ideal for someone interested in performance marketing, data analysis, and emerging ad technologies (AI, automation, audience targeting). You’ll gain hands-on experience working with enterprise-level campaigns and industry tools while learning how paid media drives measurable business outcomes.
As a Paid Social Media Intern, you will be a part of...
Campaign Setup & Execution
- Assist in building and launching campaigns across:
- Meta Ads Manager (Facebook & Instagram)
- Pinterest Ads
- Snapchat Ads
- Support campaign structure development (objectives, audiences, placements)
- Help implement tracking (pixels, conversion events, UTMs)
Creative & Messaging Support
- Assist in organizing and trafficking creative assets (video, static, carousel)
- Partner with internal teams to ensure ads align with campaign goals
- Learn how creative impacts performance across platforms
- Help QA ads for accuracy before launch
Data & Reporting
- Pull performance data from platforms and tools
- Assist in reporting on key metrics such as:
- Cost-per-lead (CPL)
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Conversion rate (CVR)
- Engagement rate
- Help identify trends and performance insights
Optimization & Testing
- Support campaign optimizations, including:
- Budget reallocations
- Audience refinement (lookalikes, interest targeting)
- Creative testing (A/B testing formats and messaging)
- Assist in analyzing which creatives and audiences drive the best results
Platform & Vendor Coordination
- Work with internal teams to:
- Secure access to ad accounts
- Ensure proper pixel and event tracking
- Troubleshoot campaign delivery issues
- Learn best practices for scaling campaigns efficiently across platforms
Emerging Trends & AI Exposure
- Gain exposure to platform automation tools:
- Meta Advantage+ campaigns
- Algorithmic audience expansion
- Assist in testing new features and identifying opportunities to improve performance
- Stay up to date on social platform trends and ad innovations
What You'll Learn...
- How paid social fits into the full funnel (Awareness → Consideration → Conversion)
- Real-world experience managing budgets and pacing campaigns
- How creative strategy and performance marketing work together
- How to evaluate success beyond vanity metrics
Minimum Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business, Analytics, or related field
- Strong interest in social media and digital advertising
- Comfortable working in Excel / Google Sheets (basic formulas preferred)
- Strong attention to detail and organization skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
- Familiarity with Meta Ads Manager or other social platforms
- Understanding of paid vs. organic social strategies
- Experience with content creation or social media management
A Successful Candidate is...
- Curious and eager to learn
- Data-driven thinker who asks “why”
- Comfortable balancing creative + analytical work
- Strong communicator and team collaborator
This Role is Valuable Because...
- Hands-on experience managing real paid social campaigns
- Exposure to multi-platform strategy and execution
- Opportunity to learn advanced targeting and creative testing
We realize applying for jobs can feel daunting at times. Even if you don’t check all the boxes in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Our Commitment to Inclusivity and Diversity
We are proud to be one of only 25 agencies nationwide, and the first in the Midwest, to earn the 4A’s Workplace Enlightenment Certification®, and we couldn’t have done it without our associates, who participated in digital learning sessions on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities, and faith. At SA, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where people of every background can thrive and feel welcome.
Don’t meet every single requirement for this role? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Because we are fully committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that reflects the clients we serve and communities we work in, if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications don’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
The internship is paid at a rate of $17/hour and will run through summer 2026.
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