Graduate Intern - Social Media and Content

Derby; East Midlands; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave 38 days (incl. B

Onsite gym

Staff discounts

Flexible working

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

The University of Derby is offering a 24‑month internship within the External Relations team to gain hands‑on experience in social media and content creation. You will work closely with the Social Media Manager to support day‑to‑day activity across channels, content scheduling, and engagement analysis.

You will also help capture stories from events, develop copy and visuals, and learn how social media supports the university’s marketing and recruitment objectives in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience creating and updating social media content.
• Experience coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience editing photos and videos.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and post content across social media channels following brand guidelines.
• Write engaging copy for social posts under review by senior team members.
• Develop and produce new content including photos, simple videos and graphics.
• Monitor comments and messages; flag items needing a response.
• Track engagement metrics and prepare simple summary reports.
• Support events with content capture and on‑the‑day social coverage.
• Organise content files and maintain the media library.

Skills

Social media content

Photo & video editing

Digital marketing trends

Copywriting for social media

Visual content design

Education

Recent University of Derby graduate (within 3 years)

Tools

WordPress

Job description

£27,547 to £28,381 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,638.15 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The External Relations Department is responsible for enhancing the University of Derby's reputation and profile, driving student recruitment and supporting the University's strategic ambitions. Through specialist teams spanning marketing, communications, digital, social media, events and student recruitment, the department delivers impactful campaigns, engaging events and outstanding customer experiences that connect prospective students and stakeholders with the University, both nationally and internationally.

This internship offers an excellent opportunity to gain 24-months of hands‑on experience in social media and content creation within the University of Derby's External Relations Team. Supporting the University's marketing, recruitment, and engagement activities, you will work closely with the Social Media Manager to help deliver day‑to‑day social media activity across a range of channels.

You will assist with content creation, scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and supporting the promotion of key campaigns, events, and University initiatives. The role will also involve capturing content at events and sourcing stories that showcase the student experience and wider University community.

Working within a supportive environment, you will develop practical skills in social media management, content creation, digital communications, and audience engagement, gaining valuable experience and insight into how social media supports the University's marketing and recruitment objectives.

We're looking for a creative and enthusiastic graduate with a genuine interest in social media, content creation, and digital communications. You will have a good understanding of major social media platforms and enjoy creating engaging content that connects with different audiences.

You will be an excellent communicator, with strong written skills and the ability to adapt your style to suit different channels while maintaining a consistent brand tone of voice. You'll have a keen eye for detail, be highly organised, and able to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Confident using digital tools and Microsoft Office applications, you will be comfortable creating basic content such as social media posts, photography, graphics, and short‑form video. You should also be curious about social media performance and interested in using engagement data and insights to improve content.

A proactive and collaborative approach is essential, as you'll be working closely with colleagues across the University and supporting content capture at events. Most importantly, you'll be eager to learn, contribute new ideas, and develop your skills within a fast‑paced communications environment while demonstrating the University's Core Values and Behaviours.

• Support the Social Media Manager with scheduling and posting content across social media channels in line with brand guidelines.
• Help write engaging copy for social posts under review from senior team members.
• Develop and implement new, innovative content for social media. Assist with content creation, including taking photos, simple video clips and graphics for social media.
• Monitor social media channels for comments and messages, flagging items that need a response.
• Help track engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments) and put together simple summary reports.
• Support the wider team at events (e.g. Open Days) by capturing content and helping with on‑the‑day social coverage.
• Assist with organising content files, images and videos for the team's content library.
• Follow brand tone of voice and guidelines consistently across all content produced.
• Adopt the University’s Core Values and Behaviours.
• A recent University of Derby Graduate (within the last 3 years)

Experience

• Experience of creating and updating social media content
• Experience of co‑ordinating multiple projects at the same time
• Experience of photo and video editing

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Understanding of digital marketing and emerging trends
• Ability to generate and edit video content
• Ability to design and create visual content that can be published on social media
• Ability to write quality copy that can be published as press releases, website and social media content
• Good team player, but able to work under own initiative
• Editing and proofing skills

Business requirements

• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University in a cost effective and timely manner
• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days.

Experience

• Experience of using website content management systems such as WordPress

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Basic knowledge of design tools (e.g. Canva) or video editing apps
• Interest in marketing, communications or digital content creation.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Leanne Faben, Social Media Manager via [e-mail]

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.