Social Media Content Designer*in (m/w/d) at Athletia Sports GmbH

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Social Media Content Designer*in (m/w/d)
Company: Athletia Sports GmbH
Location: Köln, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Marketing Operations / Content Operations
Date Posted: 2025-08-28
Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

This role is focused on the creation and execution of engaging social media content, aligning with brand messaging and current digital trends.
It requires a strong understanding of visual storytelling across various social media platforms and a keen eye for detail in graphic design and video editing.
The position involves active participation in trend research and implementation, ensuring content remains fresh, relevant, and impactful for the target audience within the sports digital market.
As part of a dynamic team, the Social Media Content Designer will contribute to branding initiatives and support the overall digital marketing strategy of Athletia Sports.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is not directly in Revenue or Sales Operations, the principles of GTM (Go-to-Market) strategy, brand consistency, and audience engagement are critical. The operations aspect lies in the efficient creation, distribution, and optimization of content assets that drive brand visibility and potentially lead generation, supporting broader GTM objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Design and produce visually compelling graphics for various social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok) to enhance brand presence and engagement.
Support the editing and post-production of short-form video content, ensuring high-quality output that aligns with industry standards and platform best practices.
Conduct research into emerging social media trends, formats, and platform features to identify opportunities for innovative content creation and campaign execution.
Collaborate with the marketing and content teams on branding projects, ensuring all visual assets adhere to brand guidelines and contribute to a cohesive brand identity.
Assist in the conceptualization and development of new content ideas, translating marketing objectives into creative visual narratives.
Monitor social media performance metrics related to content engagement and provide input for content optimization strategies.
Potentially explore and implement video animation techniques for both short- and long-form content to elevate visual appeal and storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on content creation and visual execution, which are foundational to GTM strategies. The operational aspect involves managing the content pipeline, adhering to brand standards, researching market trends for content relevance, and contributing to the overall digital marketing ecosystem.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

A degree or equivalent practical experience in Graphic Design, Multimedia Arts, Digital Media, Marketing, or a related field is beneficial for understanding design principles and marketing strategies.

Experience:

0-2 years of experience in social media content creation, graphic design, or video editing, with a demonstrable portfolio showcasing relevant skills.

Required Skills:

Adobe Creative Cloud Proficiency: Excellent command of Adobe Photoshop for graphic design and Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing is essential for creating high-quality visual assets.
Social Media Platform Expertise: Deep understanding of the functionalities, best practices, and content requirements of major social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.).
Visual Design Acumen: A strong sense for aesthetics, composition, typography, and color theory to create engaging and brand-consistent graphics.
Video Editing Skills: Competence in editing video content, including cutting, sequencing, adding effects, and basic color correction for short-form social media videos.
Trend Awareness: Ability to identify and interpret current social media trends and cultural relevancy to inform content creation strategies.
Structured Work Approach: Self-driven, reliable, and organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain a high standard of work.
Detail Orientation: Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of content creation, from pixel-perfect graphics to accurate video cuts.
Language Proficiency: Good command of both German and English, both written and spoken, for effective communication and content adaptation.

Preferred Skills:

Video Animation Experience: Familiarity with creating video animations using tools like Adobe After Effects to enhance content dynamism.
Sports Industry Interest: A genuine interest in sports is advantageous for understanding the target audience and creating resonant content within the sports digital market.
Branding Project Experience: Prior involvement in branding initiatives or brand guideline implementation.
Content Research Skills: Ability to efficiently research relevant topics, trends, and competitive content strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Cloud and social media platform knowledge aligns with standard requirements for content roles supporting GTM efforts. The "0-2 years" experience level suggests a focus on foundational skills and potential for growth within the operations of content marketing.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Graphic Design Showcase: A portfolio section dedicated to social media graphics, demonstrating proficiency in visual hierarchy, brand adherence, and platform-specific design considerations.
Video Editing Examples: Clips or reels showcasing short-form video editing capabilities, including pacing, transitions, and integration of graphics or text overlays.
Trend Implementation: Examples of content that successfully adapted a relevant social media trend or format.
Brand Consistency: Visuals that illustrate an understanding of maintaining brand identity across different platforms and content types.

Process Documentation:

While formal process documentation is less critical for this entry-level creative role, demonstrating an organized approach to project management and asset creation within your portfolio is key. This can include showing the evolution of a concept from brief to final output.
Evidence of research methodologies used to inform content creation, such as identifying trending topics or successful competitor content.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a content-focused role, the "portfolio" is the primary operational output. The emphasis here is on showcasing the practical application of design and editing skills in a social media context, which directly supports the GTM objective of engaging the target audience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry standards for entry-level (0-2 years) Social Media Content Designers in Cologne, Germany, a typical salary range would be between €28,000 - €36,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Cologne, the specific skills required (Adobe Suite, video editing), and the company's focus on the digital sports market.

Benefits:

Creative Design Freedom: Opportunities to explore and implement innovative design ideas in a creative and supportive environment.
Collaboration with Renowned Clients: Work with well-known clients in the international sports business, offering exposure to high-profile projects.
Open Work Culture & Collegial Team: Experience a collaborative and open atmosphere with a supportive team, fostering a positive work environment.
Short Decision Paths: Benefit from efficient decision-making processes, allowing for agile project execution.
Hybrid Work Arrangement: Flexibility with a hybrid model, allowing for a balance between remote work and office presence in Cologne.
Discounted Germany Ticket: Access to an affordable public transportation pass for nationwide travel.
Regulated Time Off: Compensatory time off for any work performed on weekends or evenings, ensuring a sustainable work-life balance.

Working Hours:

Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexibility and regulated time off for weekend/evening work, reflecting the dynamic nature of social media content management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general German market data for similar roles and locations. The benefits listed are directly from the provided input and are tailored to highlight aspects attractive to creative professionals in operations support roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Sports Market / Sports Technology & Services. Athletia Sports operates at the intersection of sports, technology, and media, providing digital solutions for clubs, leagues, broadcasters, and associations. This context means a fast-paced environment driven by digital trends and the passion of sports fans. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "short decision paths" and a "collegial team" suggests a company that is likely mid-sized, or a smaller, agile team within a larger structure. This often translates to more direct impact and less bureaucracy for individuals. Founded: 2014. This founding date indicates Athletia Sports is a relatively established player in the digital sports market, having navigated the evolving landscape of digital media and sports technology for over a decade.

Team Structure:

Social Media Team Focus: The role is specifically within the Social Media Team, implying a dedicated unit focused on managing and growing Athletia's social presence and potentially client social media efforts.
Reporting: Likely reports to a Social Media Manager, Content Lead, or Marketing Manager, with potential collaboration across broader marketing, creative, and client-facing teams.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect to collaborate with marketing strategists, account managers (if client-facing roles are involved), and potentially other creative professionals within the company to ensure content aligns with broader campaign goals and brand messaging.

Methodology:

Data-Informed Creativity: While creative freedom is emphasized, the role also involves researching trends and likely implies an understanding of how content performs on social media, suggesting a data-informed approach to creative decision-making.
Agile Content Production: The fast-paced nature of social media and the sports industry suggests an agile approach to content creation and adaptation, responding quickly to events and trends.
Brand Consistency Management: A core operational methodology will be ensuring all produced content adheres to established brand guidelines and quality standards.

Company Website: https://athletia.net/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on the digital sports market is crucial. It implies a need for content that resonates with sports enthusiasts, understands sports-specific trends, and leverages digital platforms effectively. The "operations" of this role involve managing the creative workflow to meet these industry demands.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level position (0-2 years experience) within the broader marketing and content operations spectrum. It's a foundational role for aspiring social media specialists, content creators, or digital marketers. Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Social Media Manager or Content Lead. This provides a clear line of guidance and mentorship, crucial for developing operational skills in content creation and platform management. Operations Impact: As a Social Media Content Designer, the impact is primarily on brand visibility, audience engagement, and supporting marketing campaign objectives. Efficient and creative content directly contributes to the company's Go-to-Market strategy by attracting and retaining audience attention.

Growth Opportunities:

Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like video animation, motion graphics, or advanced video editing techniques.
Platform Expertise: Develop comprehensive knowledge of emerging social media platforms and their content strategies.
Content Strategy Development: Progress to roles involving content strategy planning, campaign management, and performance analysis.
Client Account Management: In a client-facing company like Athletia, there might be opportunities to transition into roles managing client social media accounts or content strategies.
Marketing Operations Progression: Gain experience in broader marketing operations, understanding the interplay between content, analytics, and campaign performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role serves as a critical entry point into marketing operations, specifically within content creation. Growth paths will likely involve mastering more complex creative tools, understanding content performance metrics, and potentially moving into strategic content planning or broader marketing campaign management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The mention of "Home Office Regelung (+ Büro in Köln)" indicates a hybrid work environment. This suggests a modern approach to workplace flexibility. Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Cologne, Germany. This provides a central hub for team collaboration, meetings, and access to office resources.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Hub: The Cologne office likely serves as a space for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative project work, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Creative Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Cloud) and potentially other creative tools or hardware provided by the company to facilitate content creation.
Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues on the social media team and potentially other departments, facilitating knowledge sharing and creative synergy.

Work Schedule:

A standard 40-hour work week is outlined, with the crucial caveat of "Bereitschaft zur Arbeit am Wochenende und abends" (willingness to work weekends and evenings) and "Geregelter Freizeitausgleich bei Einsätzen am Wochenende und abends" (regulated time off for weekend and evening work). This indicates the need for flexibility, common in roles managing live social media channels and sports events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and potential for weekend/evening work are key operational considerations for candidates. It implies a need for self-discipline and time management skills to balance creative output with personal life, especially when covering events or responding to real-time social media trends.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: Likely a review of your CV and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative output.
Creative Task/Case Study: Expect a practical assignment, such as designing a social media graphic for a hypothetical sports event or editing a short video clip, to evaluate your skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and your understanding of social media aesthetics.
Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion about your experience, portfolio, understanding of social media trends, and cultural fit within the team. This may include behavioral questions.
Final Interview (Potentially): A discussion with a senior leader or department head to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Strategically: Showcase your strongest, most relevant work, focusing on social media graphics and short-form video editing. Tailor the selection to highlight skills mentioned in the job description (Adobe Suite, trend adaptation, branding).
Demonstrate Process: For key pieces, briefly explain your thought process, the problem you were solving, and the tools used. This shows your operational approach to creative tasks.
Highlight Results (if possible): If any of your past work achieved notable engagement or performance metrics, mention it. This demonstrates an understanding of content effectiveness.
Include Work Samples: Ensure clear examples of image editing (Photoshop) and video editing (Premiere Pro) are readily accessible. If you have animation experience, include that as well.
Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and professionally presented, reflecting your attention to detail.

Challenge Preparation:

Adobe Suite Practice: Brush up on your skills in Photoshop and Premiere Pro, focusing on creating social media-ready assets efficiently.
Trend Research: Familiarize yourself with current social media trends in the sports industry. Be ready to discuss what makes content engaging on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Brand Understanding: Research Athletia Sports and its existing social media presence. Think about how you would contribute to their brand voice and visual style.
Sports Knowledge: While broad interest is mentioned, being able to speak intelligently about current sports events or popular sports content formats can be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a creative operations role heavily relies on the portfolio. Preparation should focus on demonstrating both technical proficiency and a strategic understanding of social media content within the sports context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Adobe Creative Cloud:
- Photoshop: Essential for graphic design, image manipulation, and creating visual assets for social media posts. Proficiency in layers, masks, typography, and export settings for web/social media is key.
- Premiere Pro: Critical for editing short-form video content, including cutting, sequencing, adding text overlays, basic color grading, and exporting in various social media formats.
Social Media Platforms: In-depth familiarity with Instagram (Stories, Reels, Feed posts), Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and potentially others relevant to the sports industry. Understanding their specific content requirements and algorithm nuances is operational.

Analytics & Reporting:

While not explicitly a primary responsibility, familiarity with social media analytics dashboards (e.g., Instagram Insights, Facebook Analytics) will be beneficial for understanding content performance and informing future creative decisions.

CRM & Automation:

Not directly relevant to this role's core functions, but understanding how content integrates with broader marketing automation or CRM systems could be a plus for career growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core operational tools are clear: Adobe Creative Cloud. Proficiency here is non-negotiable. Understanding how these tools produce assets optimized for specific social media platforms is the operational skill being sought.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Creativity & Innovation: Valuing fresh ideas and the willingness to experiment with new design and video formats to keep content engaging.
Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively within a team, sharing ideas, and supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.
Efficiency & Agility: A focus on producing high-quality content efficiently, adapting quickly to new trends and project demands.
Attention to Detail: A commitment to producing polished, error-free work that uphns brand standards and visual quality.
Passion for Sports: An appreciation for the sports industry and its culture, enabling the creation of authentic and resonant content.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with marketing teams to align content with campaign strategies and brand messaging.
Feedback Exchange: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on creative work to drive continuous improvement.
Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share insights on new tools, techniques, and social media trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a blend of creative freedom and structured execution. Understanding how to translate marketing objectives into creative outputs, manage feedback, and maintain brand consistency are key operational aspects of the team's collaborative style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Rapid Trend Cycles: Keeping pace with the constantly evolving landscape of social media trends and platform updates requires continuous learning and adaptability.
Balancing Creative Freedom with Brand Guidelines: Effectively translating creative ideas within the constraints of brand identity and marketing objectives.
Meeting Diverse Content Demands: Creating a variety of content formats (graphics, short videos, animations) for different platforms and client needs.
Time Management and Prioritization: Juggling multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment, especially with the potential for weekend/evening work.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Advanced Creative Software Training: Opportunities to learn more advanced features within Adobe Creative Cloud or explore new creative software.
Social Media Strategy Insights: Gaining exposure to how content creation aligns with broader social media and marketing strategies.
Industry Best Practices: Learning from experienced team members and clients about best practices in digital sports marketing and content creation.
Portfolio Expansion: Building a robust portfolio with diverse and high-impact work that can lead to further career advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is operational: managing creative output efficiently in a dynamic environment. Growth opportunities are centered on deepening creative skills and understanding the strategic impact of content within the GTM framework.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"How do you stay updated on the latest social media trends and how would you apply them to Athletia Sports' content strategy?" - Preparation: Research current sports social media trends, identify 2-3 relevant to Athletia, and explain how you'd adapt them.
"Describe your process for creating a social media graphic from brief to final output." - Preparation: Outline your workflow, mentioning research, concept development, tool usage, feedback incorporation, and final optimization.
"How do you ensure brand consistency across different social media platforms?" - Preparation: Discuss understanding brand guidelines, using templates, and maintaining a consistent visual language.
"What is your experience with video editing for social media, and what are key considerations for short-form video?" - Preparation: Prepare to talk about pacing, music, text overlays, and platform-specific aspect ratios.

Company & Culture Questions:

"What attracts you to Athletia Sports and the digital sports market?" - Preparation: Research Athletia's mission, clients, and recent work. Connect your passion for sports and digital media.
"How do you handle constructive criticism on your creative work?" - Preparation: Emphasize an open, learning-oriented approach to feedback, focusing on improvement.
"Describe a time you had to manage competing priorities. How did you approach it?" - Preparation: Use the STAR method to describe your time management and prioritization skills.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Tell a Story: For each piece or project in your portfolio, briefly explain the objective, your role, the tools used, and the outcome.
Highlight Key Skills: Specifically point out examples that demonstrate your proficiency in Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and your understanding of social media best practices.
Be Ready for Live Edits: Be prepared for a potential live demonstration or a request to quickly modify a piece of work to test your real-time problem-solving skills.
Quantify Impact (if possible): If you can mention any engagement metrics or positive feedback associated with your work, do so.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating both creative talent and an understanding of the operational aspects of content creation for social media, particularly within the sports industry context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

Submit your application through the provided link on join.com.
Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link provided) and highlights your strongest social media graphics and short-form video editing work. Tailor it to showcase skills relevant to the sports industry and Athletia's brand if possible.
Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly list your proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere Pro), social media platforms, and any relevant design or video editing experience. Use keywords from the job description.
Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio pieces, your understanding of social media trends, and your approach to creative challenges. Prepare answers to common interview questions about teamwork and problem-solving.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Athletia Sports, their clients, and their current social media presence. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Social Media Content Designer*in (m/w/d)