Social Media Manager

Lake Forest College; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Forest College is seeking a Social Media Manager within the Office of Communications and Marketing to lead the College's social channels. You will create authentic, data-informed content and oversee strategies that strengthen the College's brand and connect with key audiences.

The role requires collaboration with campus partners, hands-on content creation (photography & short-form video), and a robust student creator program. Evening/weekend events coverage may be needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of relevant professional experience in social media, digital communications, content marketing, or a related field.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and external partners.
• Professional experience managing social media channels and developing digital content for an organization or brand.
• Demonstrated experience creating social-first content, including photography and short-form video.
• Experience developing and executing social media content calendars and campaigns.
• Experience using social media management, scheduling, analytics, and reporting tools.
• Working knowledge of major social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and emerging platforms.
• Experience using photography, video editing, graphic design, or other digital content creation tools.
• Strong writing and editing skills with demonstrated ability to create engaging content for digital audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support College events and social media or photography coverage.

Responsibilities

• Social Media Content Creation and Management: Create, capture, edit, publish, and manage engaging content across the College's institutional social media channels, including photography and short-form video.
• Social Media Strategy and Content Planning: Develop and execute channel-specific social media strategies and manage the College's social media content calendar.
• Campus Collaboration and Story Development: Collaborate with OCM colleagues, campus partners, and students to identify compelling stories and content opportunities.
• Student Creator Program: Develop and manage a robust student creator program, mentoring student content creators.
• Social Media Analytics and Optimization: Monitor and analyze social media performance, audience engagement, and channel trends.
• Social Listening, Trends, and Issue Awareness: Stay attuned to conversations and trends to identify content opportunities and issues.
• Event and Institutional Content Support: Provide social media and photography coverage for select events and assist with visual content needs.

Skills

Social media management

Content creation

Photography

Video editing

Graphic design

Storytelling

Communication skills

Project management

Collaboration

Content calendars

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Social media management tools

Job description

Lake Forest College is seeking a Social Media Manager to join The Office of Communications and Marketing. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing, the Social Media Manager leads Lake Forest College's institutional social media presence, combining strategic oversight with hands-on content creation and execution. The position develops engaging, authentic, and data-informed social media strategies that strengthen the College's brand, tell compelling stories, and build meaningful connections with key audiences.

Responsibilities

• Social Media Content Creation and Management: Create, capture, edit, publish, and manage engaging content across the College's institutional social media channels, including photography and short-form video. Maintain a consistent and authentic College voice and ensure content supports institutional priorities, audience needs, and platform best practices.
• Social Media Strategy and Content Planning: Develop and execute channel-specific social media strategies and manage the College's social media content calendar. Plan content around institutional priorities, departmental goals, events, campaigns, and timely opportunities while adapting strategies based on platform trends and evolving audience behaviors.
• Campus Collaboration and Story Development: Collaborate with OCM colleagues, campus partners, and students to identify compelling stories and content opportunities that bring the Lake Forest College experience to life. Coordinate content across channels and initiatives and serve as a resource to campus partners on social media strategy and best practices.
• Student Creator Program: Develop and manage a robust student creator program, working with campus partners to identify, mentor, and guide student content creators who can authentically capture and share the student experience across the College's diverse campus community.
• Social Media Analytics and Optimization: Monitor and analyze social media performance, audience engagement, and channel trends. Translate performance data and audience insights into recommendations and adjustments that continually strengthen content strategy and effectiveness.
• Social Listening, Trends, and Issue Awareness: Stay closely attuned to conversations, trends, and activity across College social media channels to identify timely content opportunities and potential issues. Exercise sound judgment in recognizing sensitive conversations or concerns that should be elevated to College leadership.
• Event and Institutional Content Support: Provide social media and photography coverage for select College events and activities, including occasional coverage outside regular business hours, and assist with visual content needs that support broader OCM communications efforts.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of relevant professional experience in social media, digital communications, content marketing, or a related field. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including writing, editing, and storytelling. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and external partners. Professional experience managing social media channels and developing digital content for an organization or brand. Demonstrated experience creating social-first content, including photography and short-form video. Experience developing and executing social media content calendars and campaigns. Experience using social media management, scheduling, analytics, and reporting tools. Working knowledge of major social platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and emerging platforms. Experience using photography, video editing, graphic design, or other digital content creation tools. Strong writing and editing skills with demonstrated ability to create engaging content for digital audiences. Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support College events and social media or photography coverage.

Salary & Benefits

Starting range is dependent upon individual qualifications and experience but expected to be in the range of $55,000 - $65,000.

Benefits: Employee Benefits | Lake Forest College