Social & Content Lead

Deverellsmith; Grove; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Location Wantage

Job summary

Deverellsmith in Wantage, Oxfordshire, is seeking a Social & Content Lead to own the organic social and content strategy for its market-leading PBSA brand. The role is hybrid, blending strategic direction with hands-on content creation and creator management to engage students across platforms.

You’ll lead a programme of authentic UGC, work with students and creators, and continuously evolve the brand’s social narrative in line with trends, platforms and audience behaviours.

Qualifications

• Strong experience across social media, content or digital marketing with evidence of owning or developing social/content strategy.
• Hands-on with content creation and shooting/editing.
• Portfolio of social-first content, including short-form video.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the organic social and content strategy, setting direction and channel approach.
• Lead the social content calendar, aligning activity with brand, marketing and commercial objectives.
• Use student insight, social listening, trends and performance data to evolve the strategy.
• Create engaging social-first content, including short-form video, photography and interviews.
• Shape and lead the student creator programme, building a network of creators for authentic UGC.
• Identify emerging platforms and determine where the brand should be present.
• Work with Creative, Digital, Campaigns and operational teams as the social/content expert.
• Track performance and translate results into clear recommendations and actions.
• Explore opportunities around AI and changing content discovery behaviours.
• Regularly visit locations across the UK to capture content and engage with students.

Skills

Social media strategy

Content creation

Video content

TikTok

Instagram

UGC

Job description

Salary: GBP40000 - GBP44000 per annum

We’re recruiting for a Social & Content Lead to join a market-leading and growing Purpose-Built Student Accommodation operator, taking ownership of its organic social and content strategy.

The business has a significant UK presence, providing over 10,000 beds across 34 sites, with further growth ahead. At its heart is the student experience - creating places where students feel comfortable, supported and part of a community.

This is a genuine lead role for someone who can set the direction for social and content, rather than simply manage the channels. You’ll define the strategy, identify opportunities and take responsibility for how the brand connects with current and future students.

It’s also hands-on. You’ll create original content, work with students and creators, visit locations and ensure the brand stays relevant as platforms, trends and audience behaviours evolve.

Key responsibilities

• Own and develop the organic social and content strategy, setting the direction, priorities and channel approach
• Lead the social content calendar, aligning activity with wider brand, marketing and commercial objectives
• Use student insight, social listening, trends and performance data to continually evolve the strategy
• Create engaging social-first content, including short-form video, photography and interviews
• Shape and lead the student creator programme, defining the approach and building a strong network of creators to deliver a consistent pipeline of authentic UGC.
• Identify emerging platforms, formats and behaviours and determine where the brand should be showing up
• Act as the internal social and content expert, working closely with Creative, Digital, Campaigns and operational teams
• Track performance and translate results into clear recommendations and actions
• Explore opportunities around AI, emerging technology and changing content discovery behaviours
• Regularly visit locations across the UK to capture content and engage with students

What we’re looking for

• Strong experience across social media, content or digital marketing, with evidence of owning or developing social/content strategy
• Someone comfortable setting the direction and taking ownership, while remaining hands-on with content creation
• A strong portfolio of social-first content, particularly short-form video
• Hands-on experience with TikTok, Instagram and other relevant platforms
• Strong understanding of social trends, audience behaviour and content performance
• Confidence shooting and editing content and working with people on camera
• The ability to combine creative instinct, audience insight and commercial thinking
• A proactive approach - someone who brings ideas, makes recommendations and gets things moving
• Experience with creators, influencers or UGC
• Experience within student, youth, lifestyle, hospitality, property or another consumer-facing sector would be beneficial

What’s on offer

• Location: Wantage, Oxfordshire - Hybrid working (with potential flexibility for candidates based further afield)
• Genuine ownership of organic social and content within an established, growing PBSA business
• The freedom to shape the strategy and experiment with new ideas, formats, platforms and technology
• A varied role combining strategic ownership with hands-on creativity, creators and audience insight

This is a brilliant next step for a social/content marketer who is ready to take the lead – owning the strategy, shaping the direction and building how a growing consumer brand connects with its audience.