Senior Social Media Specialist, Leadership Communications

Arizona State University; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona State University’s Media Relations and Strategic Communications team is seeking a senior social media writer to ghostwrite for university leaders, interview faculty, and translate complex research into accessible social content.

You will balance leadership accounts with ASU News and flagship channels, maintain editorial calendars, and ensure accuracy, tone, and brand alignment while adapting content for each audience.

Qualifications

• Exceptional writing, editing and ghostwriting skills, including demonstrated ability to write authentically in another person's voice.
• Experience working with executives, senior leaders, public figures or subject-matter experts, handling sensitive information with discretion and diplomacy.
• Experience interviewing executives, faculty or researchers to surface compelling ideas and narratives for digital audiences.
• Ability to translate complex research into accurate and engaging content for general audiences.
• Strong editorial judgment on accuracy, tone, timing, accessibility and reputational risk.
• Experience planning, publishing and evaluating social media content across platforms, using audience insights to improve content.
• Knowledge of accessibility practices, AP style, and editorial standards.
• Strong organizational skills with editorial calendars and multi-deadline management.
• Experience in higher education, journalism, or complex mission-driven organizations.
• Experience writing for social-first formats (short-form scripts, carousels, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Ghostwrite, edit and publish content for assigned university leaders, preserving authentic voices while aligning with brand standards.
• Interview leaders and subject-matter experts to surface ideas and opportunities for social content.
• Identify timely story opportunities through research and university news for engaging content.
• Provide writing, editing and publishing support to ASU News and flagship accounts.
• Manage weekly planning, calendars and publishing for leadership accounts with deadlines.
• Monitor audience conversations and coordinate responses with the Social Media Manager.
• Verify factual accuracy, voice, tone, and accessibility before publication.
• Adapt content across leadership and ASU accounts for different audiences.
• Collaborate with other departments on campaigns and live-event coverage, including writing carousel copy and interview prompts.
• Evaluate content performance and test approaches to reach relevant audiences.
• Support partnerships with creators and influencers via outreach copy and briefing materials.
• Maintain editorial workflows in Airtable or comparable tools and communicate progress clearly.
• Stay updated on platform changes and accessibility practices and adjust content accordingly.

Skills

Ghostwriting

Editing

Interviewing

Social content strategy

Editorial judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Airtable

CMS

Social media platforms

Job description

Job Profile:

Outreach and Marketing Specialist 3

Job Family:

Outreach and Marketing

Time Type:

Full time

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'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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.