Social Media & Community Specialist

Utah State University's Online & Digital Learning Technology (ODLT) team is seeking a Social Media & Community Specialist to lead and grow USU Online's social presence and digital community. This role is responsible for developing and executing a social media strategy that strengthens brand awareness, drives engagement, and supports enrollment and student success goals.

This individual will own day-to-day social media operations while building a scalable, audience-first community strategy that connects prospective students, current students, alumni, and partners to the USU Online experience., Social Media Strategy & Execution (40%)

• Develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy aligned with USU Online's enrollment and brand goals
• Manage and grow USU Online social channels (organic and paid)
• Create and publish high-performing, platform-native content across channels (high-performing means impressions and click-through rates)
• Maintain a consistent brand voice tailored to online learners and adult audiences
• Align social media efforts with broader content strategy (blog, podcast, YouTube, campaigns)
• Develop and align publication calendar with wider content marketing strategy, global, community, and University events

Community Building & Engagement (25%)

• Build and nurture a strong digital community that reflects the Aggie spirit in an online environment (MyUSU)
• Actively engage with prospective and current students through comments, messages, and community initiatives
• Develop programs to increase student-generated content, testimonials, and advocacy
• Partner with internal teams to elevate student stories and experiences

Content Creation & Storytelling (20%)

• Produce and/or coordinate creation of short-form and long-form social content (video, graphics, copy)
• Identify and elevate compelling student, faculty, and alumni stories
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to source content

Analytics & Performance Optimization (10%)

• Track, analyze, and report on social media performance (engagement, reach, conversions, traffic)
• Optimize content and campaigns based on data and audience insights
• Establish reporting cadence and dashboards aligned with key KPIs

Cross-Functional Collaboration (5%)

• Partner with University Marketing & Communications (UMAC) to align with institutional brand and campaigns
• Collaborate with Enrollment, Student Success, and Academic units to support recruitment and retention initiatives
• Support integrated marketing campaigns and key university initiatives

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Growth in social media engagement and audience
• Increased traffic and conversions from social channels (RFIs, applications)
• Improvement in brand awareness and sentiment
• Growth in community participation and user-generated content
• Contribution to enrollment and retention goals, 2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application (iForm)

3. Samples of Work to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"
4. Answer the following questions within the application:

• Describe your ideal office culture.
• Detail your experience with social media strategy & execution.

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.

Advertised Salary Minimum of $53,010; commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work each department performs. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, in an office space, event space, or public space are protected from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Incumbents may nearly continuously sit and often use repetitive hand motion (such as typing).

Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Additionally, indoor or outdoor work environments may include being confined or in narrow spaces for periods of time. The incumbent may also be exposed to loud noises or vibrations from equipment, and conditions that may affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 50 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time.

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Three years of experience managing social media accounts for a brand or organization
• Demonstrated ability to create engaging, high-performing social content
• In-depth knowledge of Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn
• Experience with social media management and analytics tools
• Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills, * Experience in higher education, online education, or mission-driven organizations
• Experience building and managing online communities
• Knowledge of paid social media strategy and campaign support
• Experience with video production and editing for social platforms
• Familiarity with CRM and marketing automation tools (e.g., Salesforce)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of social media platforms, trends, and best practices
• Audience-first mindset with strong storytelling instincts
• Ability to balance creativity with performance and data-driven decision making
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Collaborative approach with ability to work across teams and stakeholders

USU Online at Utah State University delivers high-quality, career-focused education designed for real life. Serving thousands of learners across Utah and around the world, USU Online creates flexible, student-first experiences that prioritize access, convenience, and meaningful outcomes. With decades of nationally recognized leadership in online education, USU Online continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern learners balancing education with work and life. Rooted in the Aggie tradition of belonging, the mission is simple: make it easier for anyone, anywhere to start, return to, and complete their education with the confidence to build what's next. Apply today and join the Aggie community! University Highlights Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact. USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state. Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies' long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women's volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women's soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement. Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.