Digital & Social Content Specialist

Maine College of Art & Design; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 54,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Maine College of Art & Design in Portland seeks a Digital & Social Content Specialist to tell our stories across Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. You will own day-to-day editorial planning, production, and publishing for institutional channels, translating priorities into platform-native storytelling.

Working with the Director of Marketing & Communications, you will supervise the in-house Content Creator Studio, mentor students, and collaborate with Admissions to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience required.
• 3+ years of related professional experience in digital content creation, social media, or marketing preferred.
• Experience planning, producing, editing, and publishing original photography, video, and written content for digital platforms.
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts and editorial calendars.
• Experience mentoring or supervising students or contributors is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day editorial planning, production, and publishing for institutional social media channels.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar aligned with recruitment objectives and campus life rhythms.
• Translate long-form content into optimized platform-specific social media content.
• Monitor performance and produce regular reports to inform strategy.
• Supervise the in-house Content Creator Studio and mentor student creators.

Skills

Storytelling

Editing

Social media management

Photography

Video production

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Photo editing software

Video editing software

Job description

Position Description:Digital & Social Content Specialist

Department:Marketing & Communications

Reports to:Director of Marketing & Communications

Date:October 19, 2026

FLSA:Exempt

Status:Full Time

Months:12

Basic Function:

The Digital and Social Content Specialist is a visual storyteller, digital communicator, and audience strategist who brings Maine College of Art & Design’s people, creative work, and community to life across digital platforms to build brand awareness, drive user engagement, and support marketing goals. The Digital and Social Content Specialist owns the day-to-day editorial planning, production, and publishing for the institutional social media channels, with a particular focus on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. The Specialist creates original photography and video, identifies and produces compelling stories, writes editorial content, and translates institutional priorities into authentic, platform-native storytelling.

Working closely with the Director of Marketing & Communications, the Specialist will build an integrated digital content ecosystem that strengthens MECA&D’s brand, deepens engagement with current and prospective students and families, and expands visibility across audience networks. The Specialist also works closely with the Admissions team to develop content that supports prospective student recruitment and enrollment, while maintaining an authentic brand voice and perspective. In collaboration with the Director of Marketing & Communications, the Specialist will supervise an in-house student Content Creator Studio/Lab, giving students meaningful opportunities to build professional skills in photography, video, storytelling, interviewing, and social and digital media.

Responsibilities:

Digital Editorial Planning & Social Media

• Collaborate across the College’s academic programs and administrative departments to identify and develop stories that highlight MECA&D’s people while supporting institutional priorities.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar aligned with institutional priorities, recruitment objectives, College initiatives, academic programming, and the rhythm of campus life.
• Proactively identify opportunities for timely, relevant, and culturally responsive content to align with institutional priorities while managing and balancing departmental requests.
• Translate longer-form content into optimized platform-specific social media content.
• Own day-to-day management of institutional social media accounts by creating platform-optimized content and responding to comments, messages, and mentions to boost community engagement.
• Work with sub-account social media owners at the College to support a cohesive brand network.
• In partnership with the Director of Marketing & Communications and Marketing & Communications Coordinator, interview, write, and produce news items, profiles, and other editorial content for the College’s digital platforms.
• Monitor digital and social performance to develop regular reports and insights for the Director of Marketing & Communications to inform strategy and editorial decisions.
• Develop a testing strategy to understand how variables like timing and format affect performance by platform.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and social media trends, and make recommendations to test opportunities to enhance MECA&D’s ability to tell compelling stories.

Photography & Video

• Serve as the primary institutional photographer and videographer for day-to-day digital content.
• Regularly document students, faculty, alumni, studios, exhibitions, events, campus life, community partnerships, and creative process.
• Produce short-form video and photography optimized for digital platforms and engagement.
• Maintain an organized digital repository along with asset sharing and permissions.
• Coordinate external resources for larger-scale photo or video projects as needed.

Student Content Creator Studio

Help establish and supervise the in-house Content Creator Studio.

Train and mentor student content creators in photography, video, storytelling, social strategy, and interviewing skills.

Identify and assign stories to student content creators that support MECA&D’s overall content strategy.

Review and edit student-produced content for accuracy and alignment with institutional standards.

Establish workflows, permissions, expectations, and production standards for student creators.

Help students build professional portfolios and transferable creative communication skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience required.

Experience:

• Three or more years of related professional experience in digital content creation, social media, communications, or marketing preferred.
• Experience planning, producing, editing, and publishing original photography, video, and written content for digital platforms.
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts, maintaining editorial calendars, and engaging with online audiences.
• Experience using performance data to evaluate content and recommend improvements to audience engagement and communications.
• Experience collaborating with colleagues or contributors to develop stories and manage content from concept through publication.
• Experience training, mentoring, supervising, or providing constructive editorial feedback to students or other content contributors preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong writing, interviewing, editing, and visual storytelling skills, with attention to accuracy, tone, audience, and institutional voice.
• Ability to adapt stories, photographs, and video for different platforms and audiences while maintaining consistent branding.
• Proficiency with digital cameras, smartphone cameras, microphones, and related photography and video production equipment.
• Proficiency with photo and video editing software and familiarity with design tools appropriate to digital content production; ability to learn new tools as needs evolve.
• Working knowledge of social media publishing, community engagement, analytics, and content testing.
• Ability to apply digital accessibility practices, including captions, alternative text, and accessible presentation of content.
• Sound judgment in handling comments, messages, sensitive information, image permissions, and situations requiring consultation or escalation.
• Ability to organize digital assets and maintain clear records of permissions, usage, and sharing.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including balancing requests, adjusting priorities, meeting deadlines, and completing projects independently.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners representing varied backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to translate institutional and enrollment priorities into authentic, engaging stories.
• Ability to establish clear assignments and production standards, provide constructive feedback, and support student creators’ professional development.
• Initiative, creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to evaluate emerging platforms and approaches.

Other duties:

Please note that this job description is not intended to cover or list in full the activities, duties, and responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation ranges from $53,500 to $56,000 based on experience. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement benefits, plus a generous PTO allotment.

Essential Functions & Work Environment:

The essential functions of this position must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. They include planning, creating, editing, and publishing written, photographic, and video content; managing institutional social media channels and audience engagement; evaluating content performance; conducting interviews; and documenting people, creative processes, exhibitions, events, and campus activities. The position also coordinates projects with campus partners and external resources, trains and supervises student content creators, reviews their work, and maintains organized digital assets and permissions.

Work is performed in office settings and throughout the campus, including classrooms, studios, galleries, and event spaces, with occasional work at community locations. The position involves regular computer use, movement between locations, and transporting, setting up, and operating photography and video equipment. Studio and event environments may involve varying noise levels, lighting, activity, and space constraints. Employees must follow applicable safety procedures and coordinate with space management. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to support performance of the essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Maine College of Art & Design is committed to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed based on their talents, qualifications, and achievements. We uphold the principles of fairness, merit, and equal opportunity in our academic and professional community. Maine College of Art & Design complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry, religion, genetic predisposition, familial status, receipt of a final protection order, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This commitment applies to all aspects of the College’s educational programs, admissions, employment, financial aid, and other institutionally administered programs. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply, and selection decisions are made based on individual merit and institutional needs.