Job detail for Senior Social Media Specialist, Leadership Communications

Job Profile:

Outreach and Marketing Specialist 3

Job Family:

Outreach and Marketing

Time Type:

Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:

Responsible for creating and implementing intermediate to complex marketing campaigns and initiatives to promote the institution's programs, events, and brand.

Job Description:

Position Salary Range: $72,000-$75,000 per year; DOE

The Media Relations and Strategic Communications (MRSC) team at Arizona State University seeks a senior social media writer and communicator to manage social media content for a small group of university leaders and contribute to the social media team's broader work.  The role is generally divided between supporting leadership accounts and shared work across ASU News and other university social media accounts, including contributions to ASU’s central flagship accounts. The balance will shift based on university priorities, news cycles and major events.

Writing is central to this position. The successful candidate will ghostwrite in the voices of university leaders, interview faculty and subject-matter experts, and turn complex research and institutional ideas into accurate, accessible social content. The work helps audiences understand ASU's research, its role in expanding access to education and its impact on communities. Strong editorial judgment is essential, including attention to accuracy, timing, audience relevance and reputational risk.

The position reports to the Social Media Manager, who sets the team's overall social strategy and provides editorial oversight. The specialist will work directly with the leaders whose accounts they support, manage day-to-day planning and content development for those accounts, and bring story ideas and recommendations to team planning. This position collaborates with colleagues across MRSC, university leaders and the Enterprise Brand social team.

Essential Duties:

• Ghostwrite, edit and publish approved social media content for assigned university leaders, preserving each leader's authentic voice while aligning content with university priorities and brand standards.

• Build strong working relationships with assigned leaders, faculty members and subject-matter experts, conducting interviews and conversations that surface ideas, perspectives and opportunities for social content.

• Identify and propose timely story opportunities through interviews, research, university news and relevant public conversations, recommending angles and formats that suit the intended audience.

• Contribute writing, editing, content planning and publishing support to the social media team's broader work across ASU News and other university accounts, including content for central ASU flagship accounts.

• Manage weekly planning, editorial calendars, scheduling and publishing for assigned leadership accounts, coordinating priorities and deadlines with the Social Media Manager.

• Monitor audience conversations across assigned accounts, recommend or execute appropriate engagement and responses and coordinate sensitive decisions and escalations with the Social Media Manager.

• Verify factual accuracy, voice, tone, timing, accessibility and brand alignment, coordinate any needed input from leaders and partners, and submit content to the Social Media Manager for approval before publication.

• Adapt content across leadership, ASU News and other university accounts, tailoring the voice, format and message to each account's audience.

• Collaborate with Presidential Communications, Media Relations, ASU News, Visual Communications and the Enterprise Brand social team on campaigns, major milestones and live-event coverage, including writing carousel copy, short video scripts and interview prompts as needed.

• Evaluate content performance and audience engagement, recommend changes to topics and formats, and test approaches that help reach relevant audiences.

• Support colleagues leading creator and influencer partnerships by drafting outreach copy and briefing materials, adapting social content and coordinating leader or expert participation as needed.

• Maintain project and editorial workflows in Airtable or comparable tools and communicate progress, risks and next steps clearly across teams.

• Stay current on platform changes, accessibility practices, emerging formats and audience behaviors, and recommend practical adjustments to content and team processes.

Desired Qualifications:

• Exceptional writing, editing and ghostwriting skills, including demonstrated ability to write authentically in another person's voice.

• Experience working directly with executives, senior leaders, public figures, clients or subject-matter experts, including handling sensitive information with discretion and incorporating feedback with diplomacy.

• Experience interviewing executives, faculty, researchers or subject-matter experts and identifying compelling ideas, quotes and narratives for digital audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex, technical or research-based information into accurate and engaging content for general audiences.

• Sound editorial judgment regarding accuracy, tone, timing, audience relevance, accessibility and reputational risk.

• Professional experience planning, publishing and evaluating social media content across multiple platforms, with evidence of using audience insights to improve content.

• Knowledge of social media accessibility practices, AP style or comparable editorial standards, and organizational brand guidelines.

• Strong organizational skills, including experience maintaining editorial calendars, managing concurrent deadlines and keeping partners informed about progress.

• Experience in higher education, journalism, a communications agency or another complex, mission-driven organization.

• Experience writing for social-first formats, including short-form video scripts, carousels or other platform-native content.

Additional Instructions to Apply:

Provide two or three work professional samples demonstrating writing you personally developed, including at least one example of social media copy. Where available, include work that captures another person's voice or makes a complex topic accessible to a general audience. For each sample, briefly identify the intended audience, communication objective and your specific contribution. Links, screenshots or PDFs are welcome.

If relevant work is confidential or covered by a nondisclosure agreement, you may submit a concise case description explaining the assignment, your approach, your specific contribution and the result in place of that sample. Share only material you have permission to disclose.

Working Environment:

• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse.

• Work involves multiple concurrent assignments, time-sensitive decisions and priorities that may change quickly.

• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for live events, urgent communications or major university moments.

• This position is based at ASU's Tempe campus. A hybrid schedule may be available in accordance with department and university policy; on-site work is required for meetings, events and operational needs.

Media Relations & Strategic Communications advances the ASU charter through news, public relations, strategic communications and creative work. The office brings together writers, media relations professionals and creative specialists to tell stories about ASU's research, education and public impact and connect those stories with audiences in Arizona and beyond.

The MRSC social media team manages ASU News social accounts and supports a range of university and leadership accounts. The team also contributes to ASU's central flagship accounts in collaboration with the Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management social team.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location:

Campus: Tempe

Funding:

No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:

• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.

ASU’s comprehensive benefits package is a key part of your total compensation. Visit the ASU Compensation Estimator

Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

A fingerprint check is not required for this position.