Social Media Specialist

Mississippi State University; Starkville (MS); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design seeks a social media marketing professional to develop and manage content across platforms, analyze metrics, and engage with prospective students. The role is 75% in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design and 25% in CALS/MAFES communications.

Responsibilities include creating content, managing campaigns, training staff on WCAG compliance, and establishing a benchmarked analytics program to improve

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; 4 years related experience.
• Equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered.
• Bachelor's degree in communications/related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Write clear, compelling communications for website, email campaigns, newsletters, news releases, and social media.
• Work with program coordinators and admissions staff to maximize recruitment and communication with prospective students.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive social media marketing strategy to expand reach and establish social media as a communications channel.
• Integrate social media into overall marketing initiatives with AI-era SEO best practices.
• Develop and manage paid digital campaigns; track performance.
• Create, manage, and monitor content calendars and reporting analytics; benchmark against competitors.

Skills

Adobe Creative Cloud

MS Office Suite

Paid digital campaigns

Organic social media

Marketing budget management

Communication skills

Team player

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Communications/related field

High School Diploma

Tools

Facebook Insights

YouTube Insights

Google Analytics

Hootsuite

Job description

Position Function

Develop and manage a social media marketing strategy for the department. Produce content (including stories, photography, graphics and videos) for all social media platforms and the departmental website. Analyze metrics. Track and communicate with prospective students and applicants. Optimize day-to-day social media. Serve as a resource for departmental training on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA Standards. This position will be primarily based in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design (75%), with a smaller appointment (25%) liaising in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and the MAFES Communications Office.

Salary Grade

12

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile

The mission of the Mississippi State University Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design is to foster the will and ability to plan, design, build, and manage regenerative communities. The department offers three degree programs: a 4-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, first and second professional Master of Landscape Architecture, and a B.S. in Landscape Contracting and Management. Our department is a recognized national leader within these disciplines. We are at the forefront of addressing many critical issues, including service-learning, water resources, green infrastructure, and the planning, design and development of healthy, resilient communities.

As a comprehensive department of a land grant university, the department embraces the land grant mission of teaching, research and community engagement through outreach and Extension.

To learn more about the Department of Landscape Architecture at Mississippi State University, please visit our website at www.lalc.msstate.edu.

Area of Specialization

Communication

Anticipated Appointment Date

September 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Write clear, compelling communications and stories for publication on the department’s website, email campaigns, newsletters, news releases, and social media outlets to engage various audiences (prospective students, parents, high school counselors, etc.).
• Work with Department Program Coordinators, Department Head, CALS Director of Enrollment, Retention, and Outreach, and CALS Admissions Coordinator to maximize recruitment efforts and communication with prospective students and applicants. Track and communicate with prospective students and applicants.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive social media marketing strategy to expand our reach and to establish social media as a sustainable communications channel for building our MSU brand and increasing enrollment.
• Integrate social media into overall marketing initiatives for the department. Written web and social content that follows best practices for AI-era “clickless search,” plus traditional SEO
• Develop and manage paid digital campaigns; track performance
• Recommend, develop, and manage a marketing budget
• Provide training as needed for departmental staff and faculty. Develop and utilize best practices for creating, managing, monitoring and developing dynamic and innovative content for social media channels.
• Establish and monitor benchmarks for measuring the impact of social media efforts, and report analytics on the effectiveness of such efforts. Benchmark against competitors and make recommendations for improvements.
• Work with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing team to gather and create branded content ensuring consistency across multiple marketing channels.
• Create and maintain content calendars for all departmental communication efforts.
• Develop/create, order, and manage promotional inventory for the department.
• Manage Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design presence in social media networking sites, and work with the CALS/MAFES website development team to ensure social media tools are kept up to date.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma. Experience: Four (4) years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities described. Substitution: An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Communication, Graphic Design, Marketing, Public Relations, English, Journalism, or a related field
• Experience with online monitoring and measurement platforms is preferred, including but not limited to Facebook Insights, YouTube Insights, Google Analytics, and HootSuite.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong computer skills, specifically in Adobe Creative Cloud and MS Office Suite.
• Experience setting up and managing paid digital campaigns, in addition to organic social media campaigns.
• Experience establishing and managing a marketing budget.
• Superior communication skills, team player, ability to work independently.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Some travel may be required to table at high school recruiting events.
• Some outdoor work is required during on campus outdoor tabling events.
• No unusual physical requirements.
• Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
• Frequent - Externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
• Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
• Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds.
• Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
• Hearing requirements: Heavy telephone contact requires ability to hear and respond to telephone conversations .

Screening Date

September 2, 2026, until filled.

Restricted Clause

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and wouldlike to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi StateUniversity, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human ResourcesManagement at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of thisjob listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.