Social Media & Community Specialist

Overview

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.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. U.S. work authorization is required for the duration of employment.

• 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, You Tube, campaigns)
• Develop and align publication calendar with wider content marketing strategy, global, community, and University events

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 Linked In
• 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)

• 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

Minimum…