Social Media Management

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Utah is seeking an Associate Director of Social Media Management to provide strategic leadership for the enterprise social media presence, guiding the development and execution of comprehensive strategies to strengthen the university’s reputation and engage audiences.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Brand Strategy, this role leads a team of social media professionals, collaborates with marketing, web development, and communications, and ensures initiatives align with brand

Qualifications

• Equivalency: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience.
• Associate Director requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the University’s comprehensive social media strategy across institutional platforms.
• Establish long-term strategic priorities that support brand awareness, enrollment, fundraising, and reputation management.
• Lead a team of social media professionals responsible for content creation, publishing, and campaign execution.
• Collaborate with campus communicators to amplify institutional priorities and align with broader marketing campaigns.
• Oversee analytics and reporting to continuously improve performance and audience engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Social Media Management

Title: Associate Director, Social Media Management

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000

Contract Type: Full Time

Hours: 40 Standard Hours per Week

Location: Campus, Salt Lake City, UT

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Social Media Strategy provides strategic leadership for the University of Utah’s enterprise social media presence, overseeing the development and execution of comprehensive social media strategies that strengthen institutional reputation, increase brand awareness, engage key audiences, and support university-wide strategic initiatives.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Brand Strategy, this position leads a team of social media professionals responsible for developing innovative content strategies, managing various institutional social channels, implementing paid and organic social campaigns, cultivating campus partnerships, and leveraging analytics to continuously improve performance.

This role serves as the University’s senior subject matter expert on social media strategy, emerging platforms, audience behavior, influencer engagement, and digital storytelling while ensuring all social media initiatives align with the University’s brand standards, accessibility requirements, and strategic marketing goals.

The Associate Director collaborates extensively with creative services, digital marketing, web development, project management, media relations, university leadership, and colleges across campus to create cohesive campaigns that advance the University’s mission and elevate its national reputation.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

Responsibilities

Enterprise Social Media Strategy

• Develop and execute the University’s comprehensive social media strategy across institutional platforms.


• Establish long-term strategic priorities that support brand awareness, enrollment, fundraising, research visibility, athletics, student engagement, and reputation management.


• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and audience behaviors to ensure the University remains an innovative leader in higher education social media.


• Develop annual social media roadmaps aligned with institutional objectives.


• Ensure social media initiatives support integrated brand and marketing campaigns across digital marketing, web, email, video, and traditional media.

Team Management

• Direct, manage, mentor, and develop a team of social media professionals responsible for content creation, publishing, community management, and campaign execution.


• Establish clear goals, expectations, performance metrics, and professional development opportunities.


• Conduct hiring, coaching, performance evaluations, and team development efforts.


• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and data‑informed team culture.


• Manage workloads and prioritize initiatives across multiple concurrent projects.

Content Strategy

• Lead the development of strategic content plans that elevate the University’s brand while engaging prospective students, current students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and community partners.


• Oversee editorial planning across institutional social channels.


• Collaborate with designers, photographers, videographers, writers, and marketing strategists to produce compelling, audience‑focused storytelling.


• Ensure content reflects institutional priorities, brand voice, accessibility standards, and inclusive communication principles.


• Guide real‑time storytelling during major university events and milestones.

Campaign Leadership

• Partner with Digital Marketing to integrate paid and organic social strategies.


• Lead social media planning for enterprise marketing campaigns.


• Develop channel strategies supporting various organizational units across the university.


• Coordinate with campus communicators to amplify institutional priorities.


• Identify opportunities to maximize campaign reach and engagement.

Community Management

• Develop strategies for audience engagement across institutional channels.


• Establish best practices for community management and moderation.


• Coordinate with University Communications during issues requiring strategic social response.


• Monitor sentiment, emerging conversations, and reputation trends.


• Develop crisis communication procedures related to social media.

Data Analytics Tracking and Reporting

• Define key performance indicators for institutional social media.


• Analyze campaign performance using platform analytics and third‑party tools.


• Translate data into actionable recommendations.


• Develop executive dashboards and reports for university leadership.


• Conduct testing and optimization to improve engagement, audience growth, and campaign effectiveness.

Campus Thought Leadership

• Serve as the University’s primary advisor on social media strategy and best practices.


• Develop governance standards, publishing guidelines, and platform policies.


• Consult with colleges, departments, and administrative units on strategic social media initiatives.


• Lead campus‑wide education and training related to social media.


• Build strong partnerships with university leadership and campus communicators.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Associate Director, Social Media Management: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Experience leading enterprise social media strategy for a complex organization, preferably in the higher‑ed space.


• Demonstrated success managing high‑performing creative or digital teams.


• Experience developing integrated marketing campaigns across paid, owned, and earned channels.


• Strong understanding of audience segmentation, content strategy, and digital storytelling.


• Experience managing social advertising budgets.


• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive digital communications.


• Experience using enterprise analytics platforms and social listening tools.


• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and executive presentation skills.


• Experience working within higher education, healthcare, government, or similarly complex organizations preferred.

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581‑7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post‑retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366‑7770 or (800) 695‑4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581‑7447 if you have questions regarding the post‑retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title X and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security‑related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

Contact Information

University Human Resource Management

250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Contact us: [phone] By Email: [e-mail]