Assistant Director, Content and Social Media Strategy

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 64,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Graham School seeks an Assistant Director of Content and Social Media Strategy to amplify and coordinate messaging across platforms. You will design marketing plans, coordinate production, and ensure consistency across content and promotional assets.

You will manage the editorial calendar, collaborate with freelancers, and optimize blog content for search and learner engagement, while leading social media initiatives and event-based content creation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or related field.
• Proven experience in content creation and social media management.
• Strong writing and editing skills to create engaging content.

Responsibilities

• Develops and oversees the Graham School content strategy and editorial calendar.
• Establishes a content style guide aligned with the UChicago brand.
• Produces high-quality content including articles, videos, and infographics.
• Manages social media strategy, posting across platforms and engaging with the community.
• Reviews content performance using Google Analytics and SEO insights.

Skills

Content creation

Social media management

Writing

Editing

Analytics tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing/communications

Tools

Google Analytics

Wordpress

Hootsuite

Canva

Active Campaign

Job description

Department

Graham School Marketing & Student Recruitment

About the Department

The Graham School is a one-of-a-kind intellectual community that brings the best of the University of Chicago to lifelong learners who are seeking discovery and discernment. Through an array of distinctive programs and courses in the Great Books, the liberal arts, and advanced leadership, we welcome learners who seek to deepen their understanding of the world and lead examined lives of purpose.

Job Summary

The Graham School seeks an Assistant Director, Content and Social Media Strategy to amplify and coordinate messaging across platforms. This position designs and develops marketing plans for a department, program, product or business with moderate guidance and direction from others. Coordinates and evaluates the production of marketing communication and research programs, using existing procedures to solve routine problems that may arise.

Responsibilities

• Develops and oversees the Graham School content strategy and ongoing editorial calendar to ensure blog content aligns with the guiding marketing and communications plan and meets the needs of learners.
• Establishes a content style guide for the Graham School, in alignment with the UChicago brand.
• Liaise with others in the Graham School to identify content opportunities. Conducts interviews and research to develop thorough content and creative briefs for freelancer and agency partners.
• Produces high-quality, engaging content including articles, videos, infographics, and other multimedia formats.
• Works with freelance writers and the SEO agency to develop blog content that meets the needs of learners, aligns with Graham voice and tone, and is optimized for search engine results.
• Conducts interviews of students and donors, and draft articles highlighting their experiences.
• Refreshes ageing blog content to maintain relevance for organic search engine rankings.
• Performs content audits and leverages Google Analytics to assess content performance.
• Conducts content gap analyses to determine additional content needs.
• Ensures consistency across all content, including websites, social media channels and other promotional assets.
• Supports the development and owns the execution of the Graham School social media strategy while giving consideration to competitor programs, platform relevance, messaging, and audience identification.
• Identifies key social media platforms for the brand and tailors content for each platform.
• Generates, edits, publishes and shares content (text, images, video) to build meaningful connections and awareness of Graham’s program and course offerings.
• Oversees community management; engages thoughtfully with current and prospective students on social channels, bring forward information and perspectives that help build brand value and spark thoughtful dialog.
• Implements strategies to encourage user-generated content and user participation.
• Manages content calendar and publishing schedules to ensure timely delivery of content.
• Attends virtual and in person events to capture pictures and other information to promote across social platforms.
• Sets KPIs for social campaigns and reports regularly on their effectiveness utilizing engagement data.
• Posts new content to the Graham School’s Wordpress websites, including blog posts, webinar recordings, and event registration pages.
• Collaborates with agencies on specialized website and design requests.
• Develops marketing communications, advertising, or publicity materials with a moderate level of guidance from others. Develops, plans, and coordinates the development and production of marketing and publicity materials and campaigns, ensuring deadlines and budgets are met.
• Performs one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications /advertising; Web blogs or digital marketing; market research; development or review and update of the marketing infrastructure and management of external sales agency relationships.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

—

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field.

Experience:

• Proven experience in content creation and social media management.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Strong writing and editing skills to create engaging content.
• Proficiency in Google Analytics, Wordpress, Hootsuite, Canva, and Active Campaign is strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality and accuracy.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$63,750.00 - $82,500.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.