Social Media Lead, Executive Communications

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California is seeking a Social Media Lead to helm executive social media accounts and content strategy. You will own content calendars, approvals, and develop posts and campaigns from concept to completion, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high‑quality content.

The role requires the ability to work under pressure, respond quickly to opportunities, and drive meaningful engagement across platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, or other relevant fields.
• Four years' experience in communications, content development and writing/editing in corporate communications.
• Experience managing an executive or founder's public social media accounts, achieving growth and engagement.
• Demonstrated copywriting experience for a recognized brand or institution.

Responsibilities

• Managing executive social media accounts (Instagram, LinkedIn, X) and content calendars.
• Developing and executing posts and campaigns from concept through completion.
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver polished content.
• Providing real-time monitoring of social channels and analyzing engagement.

Skills

Social media strategy

Copywriting

Content production

Stakeholder management

SEO content

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Instagram

LinkedIn

X

Facebook

YouTube

Job description

The Social Media Lead manages executive social media accounts, and additional content strategy. The role oversees content calendars, approvals and develops social media posts and campaigns from concept through completion. The Social Media Lead owns the content strategy and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to deliver polished, high-quality content. The role requires the ability to work effectively under pressure, respond quickly to emerging opportunities, and drive timely and meaningful engagement across social media platforms.

Job Responsibilities

• Creating engaging, visually cohesive, and professional SEO/GEO-optimized communications content for traditional and digital/social channels (e.g., written copy, photos, videos, presentations, e‑mail blasts, etc.) tailored to platform formats and target audiences. Responsible for distilling complex topics into easy‑to‑understand information for varied audiences. Developing and executing short and long‑term content production plans.
• Designing and creating content that consistently meets deadlines and expectations. Responsible for analyzing the effectiveness of copy to convey intended messaging. Interpreting and applying industry standards (e.g., style guides) and best practices.
• Maintaining collaborative relationships with varied stakeholders, tailoring content to specified needs, adjusting priorities as appropriate, and anticipating future needs. Creating, optimizing, and analyzing social media advertisements as required. Collaborating with content, marketing, and underwriting departments to coordinate and implement various promotions and campaigns.
• Managing leadership's social media accounts (Instagram, LinkedIn, X) including designing and curating posts, and monitoring posts after they publish to gain insights and analyze engagement. Prioritizing and routing social media and additional leadership content through approvals.
• Working closely with the University Communications to align executive schedules with social media calendar(s), planning posts and digital content around speaking engagements, event participation, and other university activations.
• Maintaining excellent organizational skills working across university departments with the ability to balance requests from stakeholders across the university.
• Providing real‑time monitoring of social channels to identify strategic opportunities, provide community insights to help guide creative terms, and flag potential issues. Monitoring performance benchmarks and utilizes social media performance metrics and analytics for measuring and improving upon social media impact.
• After hours work may be required and potential occasional travel. This role will require a confident presence and the ability to work with senior leadership, including managing urgent, short and long‑term requests.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, or other relevant fields.
• Six years' experience in communications, content development and writing/editing in corporate communications.
• Demonstrable strong internet research skills with the ability to find and compile interesting and relevant content (blog posts, news items, photos, video, etc.).
• Experience in higher education, and knowledge of human resources functions and services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Four years' experience in communications, content development and writing/editing in corporate communications.
• Advanced knowledge of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.) and blog strategies.
• Experience Managing an executive or founder's public social media accounts, achieving measurable growth and engagement results.
• Demonstrated copywriting experience for a recognized brand or institution.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $90,000 - $95,875. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education

Bachelor's degree

Additional Education Requirements

Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience

4 years

Minimum Skills

• Four years' experience in communications, content development and writing/editing in employee/internal corporate communications.
• Advanced knowledge of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.) and blog strategies.
• Experience using social media to grow a consu